MLB Playoffs ALDS Game 2 – Twins vs. Yankees

The Minnesota Twins (87-77 SU, 82-82 RL, 73-80-11 O/U) are arguably the scrappiest team in all of baseball and fight to the very end, no matter who they’re playing.

Having said that, they will be in an uphill battle to beat the New York Yankees (104-59 SU, 89-74 RL, 77-78-8 O/U) in Game 2 of their ALDS showdown when they battle at Yankee Stadium tonight at 6 PM ET.

CC Sabathia struck out eight batters in 6.2 innings to help the Yankees defeat the Twins 6-2 in Game 1 on Wednesday.

New York cashed in for BetUS MLB betting members as -360 home favorites while the game’s eight combined runs played Under the 9.5-run O/U total.

Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui belted two-run homers while Alex Rodriguez added two RBI’s to lead the Yankees to victory.

The Twins will give the ball to red-hot right-hander Nick Blackburn (11-11, 4.03 ERA) in this one while the Yankees counter with right-hander A.J. Burnett (13-9, 4.04 ERA).

Here is a look at tonight’s key trends and MLB Odds, followed by my in-depth analysis and expert MLB Free Picks.

• Twins are 4-1 in their last 5 games following a loss.
• Twins are 11-3 in their last 14 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Twins are 1-4 in their last 5 playoff road games.
• Twins are 1-10 in their last 11 Divisional Playoff games.
• Twins are 4-0 in Blackburn’s last 4 starts.
• Twins are 8-20 in Blackburn’s last 28 road starts.
• Yankees are 46-14 in their last 60 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
• Yankees are 39-12 in their last 51 games as a home favorite.
• Yankees are 6-1 in Burnett’s last 7 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Yankees are 5-1 in Burnett’s last 6 starts vs. American League Central.
• Yankees are 9-2 in Burnett’s last 11 home starts.
• Under is 28-11-4 in the last 43 meetings in New York.
• Twins are 16-48 in the last 64 meetings.
• Twins are 5-26 in the last 31 meetings in New York.

MLB Odds

• Minnesota Twins +1½ +125
• Nick Blackburn –R +260
• New York Yankees -1½ -145
• A.J. Burnett –R -320
• Over 10 -105
• Under 10 -115

The Starters: Nick Blackburn has gone 1-0 over his last three starts with a stellar 1.29 ERA while A.J. Burnett has gone 2-0 over his last three starts with a  2.12 ERA.

Analysis: As much as I love the way the Twins play the game, I have to admit that it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Twins just don’t have the talent that New York does.

This is really a matchup of one team firing BB pellets (Minnesota) against one loaded with AK-47’s (New York).

While the Twins have gone an impressive 4-1 in their last five games following a loss and an even more outstanding 11-3 in their last 14 road games vs. a right-handed starter, Minnesota has several factors working against them like the fact that they’ve gone a disturbing 1-4 in their last five playoff road games and an absolutely pitiful 1-10 in their last 11 Divisional Playoff games.

While the Twins have gone 4-0 behind red-hot right-hander Nick Blackburn in his last four starts, Minnesota has also gone a woeful 8-20 in Blackburn’s last 28 road starts.