Teams looking to snap long playoff droughts face off on Tuesday when the Toronto Blue Jays meet the Minnesota Twins in Game 1 of their American League Wild Card matchup. The Blue Jays (89-73), who took third in the AL East, have lost five consecutive playoff games dating back to Game 4 of the 2016 ALCS against Cleveland. The Twins (87-75), who won the AL Central, have dropped 18 straight postseason games. Minnesota's last win was in Game 1 of the 2004 ALDS against the New York Yankees.
The game is slated to begin at 4:38 p.m. ET from Target Field in Minneapolis. The Blue Jays hit .256 as a team in 2023, eighth-best in MLB, while the Twins batted .243, 21st-best. The Twins are a -122 favorite (risk $122 to win $100) on the money line in the latest Blue Jays vs. Twins odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over-under for total runs scored is 7.5. Before making any Twins vs. Blue Jays picks, be sure to check out the latest MLB predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It went 331-285 on top-rated MLB money-line picks (+357) over the past two seasons. It entered the 2023 MLB playoffs 91-73 on all top-rated MLB picks this season and has excelled on top-rated run-line picks, going 18-6 (+766). Anybody following has seen big returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Twins vs. Blue Jays and just locked in its picks and MLB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several MLB betting lines and trends for Blue Jays vs. Twins:
- Blue Jays vs. Twins money line: Toronto +102, Minnesota -122
- Blue Jays vs. Twins over/under: 7.5 runs
- Blue Jays vs. Twins run line: Toronto -1.5 (+168)
- TOR: Has hit the team total over in 21 of its last 30 road games
- MIN: Has hit the game total over in 44 of its last 72 games
- Blue Jays vs. Twins picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back the Twins
Among Minnesota's top hitters is right fielder Max Kepler. The 30-year-old veteran is in his ninth season with the Twins. In 130 games played, Kepler is batting .260 with 22 doubles, 24 homers, 66 RBI and 72 runs scored. He is on a four-game hitting streak, which included a 4-for-4 performance against Oakland on Wednesday. In three games against Toronto this season, he has a homer and three RBI.
Also expected to boost the offense is left fielder Willi Castro, who is on a five-game hitting streak and has hits in eight of his last nine appearances. In 124 games this season, Castro hit .257 with 18 doubles, five triples, nine homers, 34 RBI and 60 runs scored. He is a threat on the base paths and finished with 33 stolen bases on the year. In six games against the Blue Jays, he had two homers and three RBI, as well as two stolen bases. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why you should back the Blue Jays
Right-hander Kevin Gausman (12-9, 3.16 ERA) will take the ball for Toronto. He has not allowed an earned run since Sept. 14 against Texas. In his last start, he received a no-decision in a 2-0 loss to the New York Yankees. He went seven innings, allowing just three hits and no runs, while walking two and striking out five. He is 1-0 against the Twins this season, earning a 3-1 win at Minnesota on May 26. He allowed just one earned run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings with five walks and eight strikeouts.
Shortstop Bo Bichette enters the series on a bit of a roll, with hits in eight of nine games, including four in a row. He has four multi-hit performances in that stretch, including a 4-for-5 effort, including a double, one RBI and three runs scored in an 11-4 win over Tampa Bay on Friday. For the season, Bichette batted .306 with 30 doubles, three triples, 20 homers, 73 RBI and 69 runs scored. In six games against the Twins in 2023, he hit .333 with one triple, two homers and seven RBI. See which team to back here.
How to make Blue Jays vs. Twins picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 9.0 combined runs. It also says one side of the money line has all of the value. You can only get the model's MLB picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Twins vs. Blue Jays, and which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side you need to jump on, all from the model that has gone 91-73 on its top-rated MLB picks, and find out.
