Minnesota's Rocco Baldelli is one of my least favorite managers. His decision, along with Twins management, to keep Chris Paddack in the starting rotation at the expense of highly-promising Zebby Matthews and David Festa is perplexing to say the least.
The Twins are 1-6 in Paddack's starts this year with two of those defeats occurring to the 10-28 White Sox. It's not because Paddack is pitching in bad luck either. He has a 5.57 ERA and 1.48 ratio with only 24 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings. Minnesota's bullpen carries a high fatigue rating as each of their top relievers have worked during the last two days.
The Giants are 10 games above .500. Their starter, Jordan Hicks, doesn't have good numbers either with a 6.35 ERA in three away starts. But he's due for some positive regression having posted a 4.14 road ERA last season. The Twins are a below .500 club with a below average offense.
San Francisco has the third-lowest bullpen ERA at 2.47. The Giants were idle on Thursday so their relief pitchers are fresh.
The combination of the Giants being the better team, fading Paddack and having a fresh, excellent bullpen puts me on the underdog.
(Editor's note: Stephen Nover is 3-0 on his last three baseball plays and has an MLB Friday Bookie Basher along with this free selection. Stephen is 14-7 on his last 21 NBA sides plays and has a Triple Star NBA Top Ticket today.)