Twins vs Rays Picks and Prediction – 9/5/2024

Tropicana Field will play host to a Thursday afternoon MLB battle between the Minnesota Twins and the Tampa Bay Rays. Be ready for the baseball season with all of our MLB predictions. The Twins (75-64) are two games above .500 on the road and are sitting in second place in the AL Wild Card standings. Last night, Minnesota P Louie Varland (0-6) was tagged for eight runs and recorded just five outs during a 9-4 road loss against Tampa Bay. 

Twenty-eight year old righty Pablo Lopez (13-8 4.05 ERA) will head to the hill for the Twins in this contest. Minnesota has won three of Lopez’s last four starts and he has allowed just two runs over his last 26 plus innings. 

The Tampa Bay Rays have won consecutive games and are 5.5 games back in the race for the final AL Wild Card spot. During Wednesday’s home victory, 1B Yandy Diaz’s two-run shot capped an eight-run Tampa Bay fourth inning. 3B Jose Caballero added two hits and scored a pair of runs for the Rays (69-70), who evened their home record at 37-37.

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash will turn to talented right-hander Taj Bradley (6-9 4.35 ERA) on Thursday. The Rays have dropped four of Bradley’s last five starts and he has surrendered 28 runs across his last 23 plus frames. 

Minnesota OF Byron Buxton (hip) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Monday and should return to the lineup by this weekend. Through 139 games, Minnesota ranks 7th in OPS and 11th in runs scored. For the season, Tampa Bay ranks 26th in OPS and 28th in runs scored. Take the Rays to win at home. Final Score Prediction, Tampa Bay Rays win 5-2.