Guardians vs Twins May 13 Predictions, Preview, Stream, Odds & Picks

Guardians Back in Action after COVID-Related Postponement

The good news is that it is business as usual for the Cleveland Guardians after what was supposed to be the series finale against the Chicago White Sox – was postponed because of positive COVIDs within the Guardians organization. Manager Terry Francona was the only one who tested positive. Francona and some of the members of his coaching staff will miss the series with pitching coach Carl Willis managing the team.

The Indians travel to meet the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins in the first series between the division rivals in 2022.

Cleveland and Minnesota rank first and second in the AL Central in runs scored. Cleveland has the best batting average with runners in scoring position among American League teams with a .294 mark.

It has been all or nothing for the Guardians who have scored 116 runs in their 15 wins and only 27 runs in the 15 losses. Minnesota has a 1.77 team ERA in its 18 victories.

Those who bet online are still skeptical about the first-place Twins as 13 teams currently have better odds to win the World Series championship than Minnesota, which comes in at +2800. Cleveland’s odds are well back at +8000.

Let’s check the latest MLB picks, stats, injury reports, and MLB odds for Guardians vs Twins. We’ve plenty of MLB predictions.

Guardians Starting Pitching Staff has Some Issues

One reason why some consider the Cleveland Guardians as a possible playoff contender is the homegrown pitching rotation.

Triston McKenzie was a late first-round pick by Cleveland in 2015 while Shane Bieber, Aaron Civale, and Zach Plesac were drafted in 2016. Only Cal Quantrill began his career with a different organization.

McKenzie, the youngest of the starting pitchers for Cleveland, has done his part with a 2-2 record and 2.76 ERA. It has been a bit of a struggle for the other starting pitchers. Quantrill has been dealing with control issues with 15 walks in his first six starts of the season. Bieber, Civale, and Quantrill have combined for an ERA of 5.59 and that’s not going to get it done even in a mediocre division like the AL Central.

Civale and Bieber are probable starters for the first two games of the series.

The MLB betting lines total has gone under in seven of Cleveland’s last nine games.

Returnees push Twins to Top of AL Central Division

After finishing in the middle of most offensive categories during the 2021 season, much was made of the Minnesota Twins bringing in Carlos Correa from the Houston Astros and acquiring Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela from the New York Yankees.

The new additions have been solid but it has been the holdovers who have keyed Minnesota’s surge to the top of the AL Central Division standings.

Byron Buxton already has nine homers, second-year outfielder Trevor Larnach is hitting .313, infielder Luis Arraez has a .316 average while Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco have combined for eight homers and 31 RBIs. Unfortunately, Larnach is on the 10-day injured list with a lower-body injury.

The pitching staff is led by second-year right-hander Joe Ryan, one of the scheduled starters in the series. The other starting pitchers, all new additions, have yet to hit their stride

Five of Minnesota’s last seven games have gone under the Las Vegas odds total.

Guardians vs Twins Head-to-Head

This will be the first series of the season between division rivals Cleveland and Minnesota. The Twins have won the season series in 2020 and 2021, finishing with an 18-11 record against the Guardians.

Minnesota Twins has won 11 of the last 15 home games against Cleveland with six of the last eight having at least nine combined runs scored.

After 21 runs were scored in a five-game stretch in the series, the last two games had nine and 15 runs scored.

Cleveland has won three of the last four games against Minnesota with the Twins winning seven of the previous eight matchups.

The visiting team has won five of the last seven games in the series.