This series kicked off with a 7-3 win by the home team yesterday.
The Minnesota Twins (79-72) still saw their magic number shrink yesterday, thanks to a Cleveland loss. Only five games, either Twins wins or Guardians defeats, separate Minnesota from an AL Central title. Today is another chance to inch closer to that reality.
Last night’s winners, the Cincinnati Reds (79-73), can’t afford to lose like the Twins can. They’re tied for the final NL wild-card spot and have a team trailing them by 0.5 games. Arizona is also only 0.5 games ahead in possession of the second wild-card seed. It’s still bunched up, and consistently winning is the safest way to gain ground.
There are going to be playoff implications for every game of this series. Let’s look at how Twins vs. Reds should shape 2023’s postseason after tonight.
Match Details
Fixture: Minnesota Twins @ Cincinnati Reds
Date and Time: Tuesday, September 19, 6:40 p.m. EST
Venue: Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio
Twins vs. Reds Betting Odds
| Team | Run Line | Total | Money Line |
| Twins | -1.5 (+124) | Over 9.5 (+100) | -135 |
| Reds | +1.5 (-148) | Under 9.5 (-120) | +114 |
Starting Pitchers
Minnesota has Kenta Maeda scheduled for this start. He has a 5.47 ERA in his past five starts. However, Maeda also has a 3.31 ERA on the road, and the Twins have been victorious in three of his last four MLB outings.
Reliever Fernando Cruz will get the ball first for the Reds tonight. Cruz has had four consecutive scoreless relief outings before this start. He won’t pitch deep into this game, ceding early to a bullpen that’s third in WAR this season.
Twins vs. Reds Prediction
Yesterday’s game finished with double-digit runs, but tonight’s won’t. The Twins’ Kenta Maeda has been strong on the road and will keep that up tonight. The Reds have a strong group of relievers, and that bullpen will baffle Minnesota’s bats again all night. Neither offense is awful, but the pitching will be better today. Roll with the under.
