Tuesday September 8th Twins at Cardinals Betting Preview
Doubleheader Scheduled at Busch Stadium
September 8th Twins at Cardinals betting is the first game of a doubleheader between a couple teams near the top of their respective divisions. Minnesota dropped one in their series vs. Detroit over the weekend, but has still won six of seven. St. Louis had a successful 5-game set at Wrigley, notching three wins against the division leading Cubs.
Oddsmakers are giving the Twins the slight edge on the road as -123 favorites (STL +113). Minnesota would seem to have a slight pitching edge with Jose Berrios (3-3, 4.29 ERA) taking the mound against Carlos Martinez (0-1, 14.73 ERA). The Twins swept a short two-game series at the end of July, 6-3 and 3-0.
Twins Battling Some Road Woes
Minnesota did take two games from St. Louis earlier in the season, but those were also at Target Field where the Twins are 18-5 on the year. Rocco Baldelli’s team struggles a bit going on the road where they are 1-5 over their last six and just 8-12 overall on the year.
The good news for Minnesota heading into September 8th Twins at Cardinals betting is that St. Louis starter Carlos Martinez hasn’t taken the mound since that late July series. Martinez went on the COVID list after allowing 6ER on 7 hits in 3.2 IP in a 6-3 Twins win on July 28th. Josh Donaldson and Jorge Polanco went deep off Martinez in that tilt and Eddie Rosario is 3-7 (.429) with four runs scored vs. the Cardinals starter.
Having Berrios on the hill also gives Minnesota a lean on Tuesday afternoon. The right-hander has buckled down since two rough starts vs. Kansas City (8 ER allowed in 9.1 IP) to hold opponents to an ER or less in two of the last three. Berrios has allowed just four total hits in 12 IP while striking out 17 in those two victories.
Cardinals With Momentum After a Successful Weekend?
St. Louis pulled to within 2.5 games of the Cubs after taking three of the last four in their weekend series at Wrigley. The Cardinals do come into the Minnesota series off a loss though, after being held to 1 ER over 8.0 IP against Kyle Hendricks on Sunday.
The big question for St. Louis ahead of Tuesday’s early game of the doubleheader is Martinez on the hill. The right-hander pitched in 48 games last season, but all out of the bullpen. Martinez has made one appearance in 2020, the horrible outing against Minnesota that was over five weeks ago.
September 8th Twins at Cardinals Betting Pick
This line seems to have crazy value on the Twins in the matchup of Berrios vs. the very rusty Martinez. Minnesota does have their share of struggles on the road, but that offense against a pitcher who is coming off battling COVID and hasn’t started since late July is a must take.
Minnesota is going to get hammered by public betting and if it is a trap, a play on the total of 7 is nice backup.
Free Pick: Twins -123
Free Pick: Over 7
