Reds vs. Twins Friday Prediction
Interleague play heads to Target Field this weekend when the Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins open a new series. Will the Reds pull off a small upset on Friday night in Game 1 in Minnesota?
Game Snapshot & Odds
979 Cincinnati Reds (+100) at 980 Minnesota Twins (-115); 9 runs
Friday, April 27, 2018
8:10 p.m. ET, Target Field
TV: CIN (FSO); MIN (FSNO)
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook YouWager currently list the Twins as a -115 favorite. As of this writing, 76% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Twins to beat the Reds on the money line. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Reds’ Castillo off to rough start
Luis Castillo allowed seven hits and three runs over five innings in Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals. Castillo struggled from the outset, loading the bases in the first inning before escaping unscathed. A solo homer in the second and a rally in the third, which included a softly hit ball that Castillo failed to field, resulting in a run.
It’s been a rough go of it this year for the young right-hander, who, outside of a six-inning stretch against the Brewers his last time out, has struggled to get much of anything going. With the loss, Castillo fell to 1-3 with a 6.51 ERA and 1.45 WHIP through five starts. He’ll face the Twins in an interleague matchup Friday.
Twins’ Hughes needs to shake off rust
Phil Hughes gave up two runs over 3 1/3 innings in his first start of the season on Sunday against the Rays. Hughes needed 70 pitches to get through his three-plus innings, and he walked two and struck out two. He missed the first month of the season with an oblique injury, and there was clearly some rust to shack off for the 31-year-old right-hander. He’s tough to trust as a fantasy option, and you should probably avoid him in his next start on Friday against the Reds.
MLB Betting Trends
Cincinnati
The Reds are just 1-4 in Castillo’s last five starts and are 0-4 in his last four outings after allowing five runs or more in their previous game.
Minnesota
The Twins have won seven of Hughes’ last nine interleague starts but are just 2-6 in his last eight home outings.
Prediction:
I don’t trust either pitcher but I trust the Reds even less as a team so I’ll back the Twins at an inexpensive price. The Reds are 11-42 in their last 53 interleague road games, are 3-10 in their last 13 contests versus the American League Central, and are 15-37 in their last 52 road games overall. The Twins, meanwhile, are 11-1 in their last 12 interleague games and are 4-1 in their last five home games. Hopefully, Hughes is a bounce-back candidate tonight.
The Pick: Minnesota Twins -115