MLB Game Preview: Minnesota Twins (60-72) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (77-56)

Game Details

First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. ET.

Pitching Matchup

• Toronto will hand the ball to left-hander Eric Lauer, who enters with an 8–2 record, a 2.76 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 88⅔ innings. Opponents are batting just .215 against him, and he’s registered four quality starts this season.
• Minnesota counters with righty Simeon Woods Richardson, who is 5–4 with a 4.24 ERA and returning from an illness-related IL stint. He’ll look to improve on a mixed run of performances and quiet a potent Toronto lineup.

Team Overviews

Toronto leads MLB with a .337 OBP and the fewest strikeouts per game, while Minnesota ranks in the bottom half in most offensive categories.

Key Storylines

• The Blue Jays have won two of three to maintain pressure in a tight AL East race, while Minnesota is hunting its first series win on the road since mid‐July.
• Rogers Centre’s friendly confines have helped Toronto hit .313/.379/.498 at home, where they’re 41–25 this season.
• This duel pits Toronto’s high-octane offense against a Twins pitching staff that ranks 23rd in ERA and is 3–8 in its last 11 starts as underdogs of +150 or worse.

Players to Watch

• Eric Lauer (TOR): His 2.76 ERA ranks among the AL’s best, and he’s held opponents to two runs or fewer in 10 of his last 12 starts.
• Simeon Woods Richardson (MIN): A rising arm with swing-and-miss stuff; he’ll need to sharpen command after yielding 4+ earned runs in three of his last four outings.
• Ryan Jeffers (MIN): Barbaric vs. lefties with a .340/.478/.472 line in 53 plate appearances against southpaws this year.
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR): While not detailed in these previews, Guerrero’s power and plate discipline anchor Toronto’s middle of the order and will be a focal point for Minnesota’s game plan.

Betting Outlook

• Against the Spread: Blue Jays 77–55–0 ATS, Twins 67–64–0 ATS this season

The Jays’ home success and Lauer’s dominance make Toronto a strong favorite, but the Twins have covered in 38.5% of games as underdogs this year.

Expect the Blue Jays to leverage home-field advantage and Lauer’s sub-3.00 ERA to jump out early. Minnesota’s lineup will scratch across a couple runs, but Toronto should pull away late.