The season series is tied three a piece between these two. Minnesota is 3-7 SU in their last 10 and have scored three runs, or less, in seven of those outings. The A’s are the opposite of Minnesota currently, winners of seven of their last 10 while hitting .276 over their last 30 days. Jose Urena has been a pitcher to fade since his days with the Rangers and Colorado. The Twins bullpen is also very depleted and not what it once was since trading away key pieces there and offensively as well.

Purely a pride play in that I think the Twins show some by trying to avoid a home sweep. It's also the end of a homestand. Jose Urena has been solid since being acquired by Minny with a 2.13 ERA in 12.2 innings. The Athletics fly back to the West Coast after and taxed the bullpen on Wednesday. Pitcher Jack Perkins has a 6.43 ERA in three August starts. A few A's regulars are out led by catcher Shea Langeliers (28 HR, 67 RBI). Our model has the Twins winning somewhat easily. I'm fine with a one-run loss.

Tyler Soderstrom homered in yesterday's game against the Twins, and we actually have better value for him to homer today compared to yesterday. He now has at least one hit in his last 17 games started and is having a strong season against RHPs, with 20 of his 23 HRs and an .878 OPS. Despite Jose Urena coming off a strong start, he's historically been more vulnerable against left-handed hitters. We like this matchup of the hot-hitting Soderstrom vs. Urena and set Soderstrom's line at +330.

The hottest team in the American League? Try the A's, winners in 16 of their last 24. That 1-20 skid that stretched into early June scuttled any playoff hopes, but throw that out and the A's are in the postseason mix, and are on the verge of sweeping out the Twins. Jack Perkins has gotten plenty of run support in his last two starts, both A's wins, and the bullpen has been closing down foes late. Minnesota? Going nowhere, losing five of its last six, and recently-added journeyman Jose Urena, whose best performance as a Twin came out of the bullpen last Friday vs. the Tigers, didn't last beyond four innings in either of his two earlier starts. Play A's on the Money Line.