Arizona Diamondbacks vs Minnesota Twins Prediction and Betting Odds June 17

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Minnesota Twins Betting Preview

WagerTalk MLB analyst Brian Ochsner offers his Arizona Diamondbacks vs Minnesota Twins betting preview for Friday, June 17. The Twins maintain a two game lead in the AL Central while the Diamondbacks are sitting forth in the NL West.

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Friday, June 17	MLB Betting Notes, Courtesy of Caesars
Moneyline:	Arizona Diamondbacks +113 vs Minnesota Twins -123
Runline:	Diamondbacks +1.5 (-150) / Twins -1.5 (+130)
Total:	9 Runs (Over -120 / Under +100)
Game Time:	9:40pm ET / 6:40pm PT
Where:	Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ
Weather:	Retractable Roof

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Minnesota Twins Analysis

The Minnesota Twins travel to Chase Field to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first of a three game set.

It’s a battle of southpaws with Devin Seltzer (3-0, 2.38 ERA) taking the mound against Madison Bumgarner (2-6, 3.50 ERA). The Twins won two of three games in Seattle, while Arizona dropped two of three to the Reds at home.

Minnesota is 37-28 and leading the AL Central, and the D-Backs are 30-35 in 4th place in the NL West. The line opened with the visitors as a -140 favorite and the home team a +120 dog and the total at 9.

There’s been some steam for Arizona as the Twins are -123 favorites and the Snakes are +113 underdogs and the total is still 9.

Minnesota Twins Betting Preview

Devin Smeltzer has posted pretty good numbers in six starts and 34.0 innings, he’s 3-0 with a 2.38 ERA – but only 16 strikeouts. He pitches more to contact instead of missing bats, and that’s been a problem in recent games.

In his last two starts and 10.0 innings at Toronto and at home against Tampa Bay, the Twins southpaw has given up five earned runs, five home runs and five walks. Three of those long flies were to the light-hitting Rays, and that gives me cause for pause.

The Twins have pitched and hit well this year, with an 8th best OPS of .731 and 10th best team average of .251. They have a 12th best ERA of 3.79 and a WHIP of 1.25, while their bullpen ERA is 15th lowest at 3.82.

Arizona Diamondbacks Betting Preview

Madison Bumgarner is on the “back 9” of his major league career and has decent numbers, but his skills have declined with age. In 13 starts and 64.1 innings he’s posted a 3.50 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and struck out 45.

Arizona isn’t a great hitting team with a 25th best OPS of .676, but they can dial long distance pretty well.

They’re tied for 9th in home runs with 74 with the Dodgers and Twins. Given Smeltzer’s problems with the long ball and MadBum’s declining skills, these are two big reasons why I think this game could be a sneaky slugfest.

Arizona Diamondbacks vs Minnesota Twins Prediction

The Twins are a better team than Arizona, but Smeltzer’s recent form in his last two starts is a big red flag.

MadBum has pitched OK this season, but he’s given up an average of seven hits in his last four starts and five total home runs. The D-backs bullpen is one of the worst in baseball while the Twins bullpen is in the middle of the pack.

It’s June in the Arizona desert, the ball should carry pretty well and both teams are in the top ten in home runs. That’s why I’ll go with the full game over.

Prediction: Over 9 Total Runs Scored

First Pitch | MLB Predictions for Friday, June 17

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Meet the Author

Brian Ochsner graduated from Kansas State University with degrees in Accounting and Agribusiness. He’s a life-long baseball fan and “numbers guy” who tolerates the Colorado Rockies (bad ownership), and is a Denver Broncos and Kansas State Wildcats fan. Along with his interest in the sports wagering industry, he enjoys eating good BBQ, reading books on marketing, finance and economics, and playing Texas Hold ‘Em poker.

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