Minnesota Twins vs Tampa Bay Rays Prediction, Preview and Odds - 06/06/2023

Game Time: 6:40 pm ET, Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Venue:  Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL

Where to Watch: BSSUN

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Twins +135, Rays -155; Over/Under:  8 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Twins +135, Rays -155; Over/Under:  8 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Twins +135, Rays -155; Over/Under:  8 runs

Minnesota Twins:  31-29 (1st place, AL Central)

Tampa Bay Rays:  42-19 (1st place, AL East)

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Minnesota Twins:  5-5 last 10

Tampa Bay Rays:  6-4 last 10

The Twins are entering this game on a 2 game losing streak but split their 4-game series against the Cleveland Guardians 2-2 in their last series. They enter this game with a 31-29 record overall and have a road record of 13-15. This is the series opener of a 3-game series with the Rays on Tuesday and they have Monday off as a day of rest. Their offense ranks 20th in the MLB with a .718 OPS. Joe Ryan was their starting pitcher on Sunday while Louie Varland is making his start in this game on Tuesday. He is 3-1 with a 3.51 ERA this season. His team won 3 of their last 4 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 0 ER, 0 HR, and 1 BB with 5 Ks on 4 hits through 7 IP against the Houston Astros.

The Rays are entering this game on a 2 game winning streak but lost their 3-game series against the Chicago Cubs in their last series. They enter this game with a 42-19 record overall and have a home record of 26-6. This is the 1st game of a 3-game series with the Twins on Tuesday with the series finale of their series against the Boston Red Sox still to be played on Monday. Their offense ranks 1st in the MLB with a .821 OPS. Shane McClanahan is their starting pitcher on Monday while Zach Eflin is making his start in this game on Tuesday. He is 7-1 with a 3.30 ERA this season. His team won their last 4 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 3 earned runs, 0 homers, and 1 BB with 5 strikeouts on 4 hits through 6 innings played against the Chicago Cubs.

The current betting odds have the Rays listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Rays have been rolling all season as they enter this game with the best record in the MLB and the best offense in the MLB too. The Twins are entering this game as the leaders of the AL Central but they are also barely hanging onto their winning record. The Rays have one of the best home records in the MLB too and as good as their offense has been this season, their pitching has been just as good as usual. They have Eflin starting here and even though he hasn't been a shutout starter in his starts, he has still been pitching well in his starts and the team has a lot of success with him on the mound as they have won most of the games he started in. Their offense has also been really strong in the games he has started and they will get their scoring opportunities with Varland pitching for the Twins here. Varland has been getting better in his starts lately but he still hasn't been great this year and he will struggle with the best offense up to bat here. The best way to place a bet here is on the Rays to win this game.

Twins Rays Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Tuesday, June 6, 2023 (6:40 pm ET start time) is Rays 9 Twins 4.

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Minnesota Twins: 4-13 (-8.2 units) on the moneyline as an underdog of +100 to +150. 31-43 (-12.2 units) on the moneyline on the road when the total is 8 to 8.5. 48-26 OVER as a road underdog of +100 to +150. 15-8 OVER off a loss to a division rival as a home favorite.

Tampa Bay Rays: 42-19 (+18.5 units) on the moneyline in all games. 24-6 (+15.9 units) on the moneyline as a home favorite of -110 or higher. 21-10 OVER in home games. 11-4 OVER at home when the total is 8 to 8.5.

Minnesota Twins:  R. Lewis (SS) Ques Tues - Face. C. Correa (SS) Ques Tues - Heel. B. Buxton (DH) Ques Tues - Ribs. A. Kirilloff (RF) Ques Tues - Illness. C. Sands (SP) Out indefinitely - Shoulder. J. Gallo (1B) Out indefinitely - Hamstring. T. Larnach (RF) Mid June - Illness. G. Celestino (CF) Late June - Thumb. N. Gordon (2B) Out indefinitely - Shin. K. Maeda (SP) Mid June - Tricep. J. Alcala (RP) Out indefinitely - Forearm. T. Mahle (SP) out for season - Elbow. C. Paddack (SP) Early Sept - Elbow.

Tampa Bay Rays:  B. Lowe (2B) Ques Mon - Back. W. Franco (SS) Ques Mon - Hamstring. J. Siri (CF) Ques Mon - Shoulder. J. Fleming (SP) Out indefinitely - Elbow. D. Rasmussen (RP) Early Aug - Elbow. P. Fairbanks (RP) Out indefinitely - Hip. Z. Littell (RP) Mid June - Shoulder. G. Cleavinger (RP) out for season - Knee. J. Springs (RP) out for season - Elbow. S. Baz (SP) out for season - Elbow. A. Kittredge (RP) Late July - Elbow.

“We didn’t have enough good at-bats. You’re not going to win striking out that many times and struggling when you do get a guy on base and you can’t bring him in.” - Rocco Baldelli after his team’s loss against the Guardians in their game on Sunday.

“Put pressure on the defense. Took a little while for them to get to the ball after Yandy kind of dribbled it past the second baseman, and a lot of things kind of went in our favor. It was a pretty unique play. You don’t see that very often.” - Kevin Cash after his team’s win against the Red Sox in their game on Sunday.

Jorge Polanco (S) 2B

Royce Lewis (R) DH

Donovan Solano (R) 1B

Max Kepler (L) RF

Ryan Jeffers (R) C

Kyle Farmer (R) SS

Willi Castro (S) 3B

Kyle Garlick (R) LF

Michael A. Taylor (R) CF

Yandy Diaz (R) 3B

Josh Lowe (L) RF

Randy Arozarena (R) LF

Harold Ramirez (R) DH

Luke Raley (L) 1B

Isaac Paredes (R) 2B

Taylor Walls (S) SS

Manuel Margot (R) CF

Christian Bethancourt (R) C

Batting Average:  Matt Wallner (.368)

Hits:  Byron Buxton (40)

Home Runs:  Joey Gallo (11)

RBI:  Trevor Larnach (27)

Stolen Bases:  Willi Castro (11)

Wins:  Joe Ryan (7)

Saves:  Jhoan Duran (8)

ERA:  Cole Sands (0.73)

Batting Average:  Yandy Diaz (.312)

Hits:  Wander Franco (68)

Home Runs:  Yandy Diaz (12)

RBI:  Randy Arozarena (40)

Stolen Bases:  Wander Franco (21)

Wins:  Shane McClanahan (8)

Saves:  Jason Adam (8)

ERA:  Chase Anderson (0.00)

Managers:

Minnesota Twins: Rocco Baldelli (5th season)

Tampa Bay Rays: Kevin Cash (9th season)