Twins vs. Athletics Prediction, Betting Tips & Picks 5/18/2022

The Minnesota Twins (21-16), led by the red-hot Gary Sanchez and his two-game homer streak, are -157 favorites to pick up a win over the Oakland Athletics (16-23) Wednesday at 3:37 PM ET, live from Oakland Coliseum. Sonny Gray will get the ball for Minnesota while Oakland counter with Daulton Jefferies.

Twins vs. Athletics Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Twins vs. Athletics

Our computer pick: Oakland Athletics (+136) and Over (7.5)

Twins vs. Athletics Game Info

• Minnesota Twins probable starting pitcher: Sonny Gray
• Oakland Athletics probable starting pitcher: Daulton Jefferies
• Game Day: Wednesday, May 18, 2022
• Game Time: 3:37 PM ET
• Location: Oakland, California
• Stadium: Oakland Coliseum

Minnesota Twins vs Oakland Athletics Pitching Matchup

Twins Starter Sonny Gray

• Gray (0-1) takes the mound for the Twins in his fifth start of the season. He has a 3.68 ERA in 14 2/3 innings pitched, with 20 strikeouts.
• His last time out came on Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians, when the right-hander threw 4 1/3 innings, surrendering two earned runs while giving up four hits.
• In four games this season, the 32-year-old has an ERA of 3.68, with 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are hitting .204 against him.
• He will take the mound against an Athletics offense that ranks 29th in MLB with 250 total hits (on a .201 batting average). The squad also slugs a collective .310 (30th in MLB) with 23 total home runs (28th in MLB).
• Gray has pitched four innings without giving up an earned run on two hits, while striking out seven against the Athletics this season.

Athletics Starter Daulton Jefferies

• The Athletics’ Jefferies (1-6) will make his eighth start of the season.
• The right-hander gave up two earned runs and allowed five hits in six innings pitched against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday.
• The 26-year-old has pitched to a 4.84 ERA this season with 5.9 strikeouts per nine innings compared to 1.3 walks per nine across seven games.
• In seven starts this season, he’s earned a quality start in two of them.
• Jefferies will look to pitch five or more innings for the fourth start in a row.
• The Twins rank 20th in MLB with 142 runs scored this season. They have a .236 batting average this campaign with 40 home runs (eighth in the league).
• The Twins have gone 7-for-21 with two doubles and four RBI in five innings this season against the right-hander.

Twins Betting Picks & Insights

• This season, the Twins have been favored 21 times and won 15, or 71.4%, of those games.
• Minnesota is undefeated in six games this season when favored by -157 or more on the moneyline.
• The moneyline for this contest implies a 61.1% chance of a victory for the Twins.
• Minnesota and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 13 of their 37 opportunities.
• The Twins are 16-21-0 ATS in their 37 games with a spread this season.

Athletics Betting Picks & Insights

• The Athletics have been underdogs in 30 games this season and have come away with the win 11 times (36.7%) in those contests.
• This season, Oakland has been victorious six times in 17 chances when named as an underdog of at least +136 or longer on the moneyline.
• The moneyline set for this matchup implies the Athletics have a 42.4% chance of coming away with a victory in the contest.
• Oakland and their opponents have hit the over in 14 of their 39 games with a total set by oddsmakers this season.
• In 39 games with a line this season, the Athletics have a mark of 19-20-0 against the spread.

Twins Leaders & Batting Stats

• Byron Buxton’s 11 homers in 2022 are the most on the Twins. He’s also driven in 20 runs while hitting .256.
• Buxton has collected a hit in three games in a row. In his last five games he is hitting .167 with two home runs, two walks and three RBI.
• Max Kepler’s .254 batting average is a team-high mark.
• Kepler is 48th in homers and 91st in RBI on the season.
• Kepler carries a two-game streak with at least one hit into this matchup. In his last five games he is hitting .353 with a double, two walks and three RBI.
• Jorge Polanco paces the Twins with 21 runs batted in.
• Luis Arraez is hitting .308 with three doubles, a home run and 15 walks.

Athletics Leaders & Batting Stats

• Sean Murphy has managed a team-high four home runs and has driven in 20 runs.
• Murphy is 72nd in home runs and 41st in RBI among all hitters in the majors.
• Sheldon Neuse is batting .281 to lead the lineup.
• Neuse is currently 168th in home runs and 111th in RBI in the big leagues.
• Tony Kemp has four doubles, a home run and 13 walks while hitting .213.
• Elvis Andrus has seven doubles, a home run and 12 walks while hitting .225.

Betting Tips for Twins vs. Athletics

Our best bet is the Athletics on the moneyline at +136 after taking a look at all of the key trends and stats for this matchup. Our computer predicts the total score will over the total of 7.5 runs.