The Cardinals (47-61, 23-30 home) host the Twins (55-53, 25-29 away) in game two of this interleague series. Getting the start for the Cardinals is Dakota Hudson while the Twins are turning to Joe Ryan. Read on to get my best bet for this St. Louis Cardinals vs. Minnesota Twins matchup.

MINNESOTA TWINS VS ST. LOUIS CARDINALS BETTING PICK

The Pick: St. Louis Cardinals +110

This game will be played at Busch Stadium at 7:45 ET on Wednesday, August 2nd.

WHY BET THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS:

  • The Twins have gone just 1-4 in their last five games.
  • In their five most recent games as the favorite, the Twins have gone just 1-4 straight-up.
  • Joe Ryan has given up five home runs across his last five starts.

CAN THE MINNESOTA TWINS PULL OUT A WIN AS ROAD FAVORITES?

With an overall record of 55-53, the Twins are 1st in the AL Central. When playing at home, they are 30-24 and 25-29. So far, Minnesota has a record of 28-28 against below .500 teams and have played in 34 series, going 15-15-4.

Twins starter Joe Ryan has posted a 9-7 record over 21 appearances this season. His ERA stands at 4.06, while his K/9 rate is an impressive 10.92. His FIP is 3.77 and opponents have managed to hit just .271 against him.

Joe Ryan’s most recent start was not a successful one, as he allowed four earned runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings of work. The Twins ultimately fell to the Mariners 8-7 in the contest.

This season, the Twins are 18th in the league at 4.4 runs per game. Over their last five games, they have a combined batting average of .254 (12th) leading to 4.6 runs per contest. Overall, they are generating 3.3 walks per game compared to 10 strikeouts. Minnesota’s on-base percentage of .314 has them 14th in the MLB.

The Twins’ offense has been bolstered this season by the presence of Byron Buxton. The center fielder has compiled an impressive .207 batting average while driving in 42 runs, and his 17 home runs have been a major factor in the team’s success.

WILL THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?

On a record of 47-61, the Cardinals are 5th in the NL Central. At home, they have put together a win percent of 43.4% compared to 43.6% on the road. This season, St. Louis has gone 32-46 against teams who are above .500, and hold an overall series record of 13-17-4.

Dakota Hudson has yet to suffer a defeat in seven outings this season, boasting a 1-0 record. His ERA is 4.19 and opponents are slugging .415 against him. He has racked up 13 strikeouts, good for a 6.05 K/9 rate, while surrendering seven walks for an OBP allowed of .348.

Dakota Hudson’s most recent outing saw him pitch 4 1/3 innings for the Cardinals, yielding five runs on nine hits and notching a no-decision. Unfortunately, the team was unable to secure a win against the Cubs, falling 10-3.

So far this season, the Cardinals’ has gone deep 147 times, placing them 5th in the league. Over St. Louis’ previous five games, they are 17th in runs scored, with their season average of 4.7 runs per game putting them 12th in the league. The Cardinals’ overall team batting average stands at .256 along with an OBP of .330.

The Cardinals’ offensive leader Paul Goldschmidt is batting .280 this season, with a slugging percentage of .464 and an on-base percentage of .368.