One reason the Minnesota Twins are leading the AL Central is the surprising success of pitcher Martin Perez, who was basically signed off the scrap heap the last offseason. He’s on the bump Wednesday as the Twins visit the LA Angels, who are slight favorites on the MLB lines.

How to Bet Twins at Angels MLB Odds & TV Info

For those keeping track, that’s 7 Ws in our last 8 games. We’ve scored 63 runs and hit 17 homers.

We’ve also won 8 of out last 9 on the road. 💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪#TwinsWin #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/NuK0iIuXDz — Minnesota Twins (@Twins) 22 de mayo de 2019

• When: Wednesday, 9:07 PM ET
• Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
• Probable pitchers (away/home): Martin Perez/Matt Harvey
• TV: MLB Extra Innings
• Live Stream: MLB.tv
• Radio: 830 AM
• MLB Lines: Minnesota Twins -120 (Total 9.5)

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Why Bet on Minnesota?

The Twins are first in the AL Central despite little hitting yet from former All-Star third baseman Miguel Sano. However, on Monday he hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the eighth. While he’s hitting just .190 to begin the year, the power has been there since he was activated off the 10-day injured list on Wednesday as seen in his .571 slugging percentage.

The Twins have hit multiple home runs in 22 games this year, going 17-5 in those games. They are on pace to hit 306 home runs, which would pass the club record of 225, done in 1963.

Blake Parker got the save Monday and is now 8-for-8 in save chances this year with a 1.10 ERA. He’s not overpowering but gets the job done. Parker pitched two seasons for the Angels from 2017-18, going 5-4, 2.90 ERA (133.2 IP, 43 ER) with 22 saves in 28 opportunities.

The Twins are currently without catcher Mitch Garver and DH Nelson Cruz, both on the injured list. Garver played in 25 games this season, hitting .329 (26-for-79) with four doubles, nine home runs, 19 RBI and a 1.164 OPS. Cruz has hit .270 (34-for-126) with seven home runs, nine doubles and 22 RBI over 35 games.

It’s Martin Perez on the bump. Perez (6-1) picked up the win Friday, tossing 6.2 innings of one-run ball. He allowed five hits and four walks and struck out seven in the 7-1 victory. The gem lowered Perez’s ratios to a 2.89 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 53 innings in 10 appearances (seven starts) this season, his first with the Twins.

Perez has been the American League’s breakout pitcher, sporting a 2.01 ERA in seven starts since joining the rotation in mid-April. After 7 seasons in Texas, he could be on pace for his first All-Star selection.

Team Stats

• Runs: 5.69
• Hits: 9.23
• Walks: 3.15
• Strike Outs: 7.48

Defense

• Runs: 4.00
• Hits: 8.25
• Walks: 2.81
• Strike Outs: 8.48

Why Bet on LA Angels?

Monday’s loss was doubly crushing for the Angels because arguably their second- and third-most important players after Mike Trout, shortstop Andrelton Simmons and DH Shohei Ohtani, left on back-to-back plays in the eighth inning with injuries.

The Simmons injury looked much worse as he twisted his ankle gruesomely while trying to beat out a play at first base. X-rays came back negative on Andrelton Simmons’ left ankle, but he was diagnosed with a sprain and will sit for a while.

Simmons is hitting .298/.323/.415 on the year while playing his usual spectacular defense. Ohtani, who just came back from Tommy John surgery as a hitter a couple of weeks ago, is hitting .250/.345/.375.

Matt Harvey (2-3, 6.35) starts for the Halos. Harvey has shown some signs of turning it around with a 4.05 ERA over his last five starts. Harvey earned the win Friday against the Royals after allowing two runs on four hits with four walks and six strikeouts over five innings.

Harvey carried a 9.64 ERA into Friday’s matchup against the Royals but proved he had better stuff than the numbers suggested. The 30-year-old cruised early on, retiring eight of his first nine batters before running into temporary trouble in the third with a pair of two-out singles. He managed to work his way out of impending jams to earn his second win of the season — both against the Royals. Although the right-hander has fanned just 34 batters over 45.1 innings this year, his strikeout rate is on the rise with 18 Ks over his last 20.2 innings.

Team Stats

• Runs: 4.71
• Hits: 8.50
• Walks: 3.54
• Strike Outs: 6.15

Defense

• Runs: 4.85
• Hits: 8.33
• Walks: 3.60
• Strike Outs: 8.46

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Twins vs Angels MLB Betting Trends

• Twins are 4-1 in Perez’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a losing record
• Angels are 0-6 in their last 6 home games vs. a left-handed starter
• Minnesota is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against LA Angels
• The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota’s last 7 games against an opponent in the American League
• LA Angels are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games when playing at home against Minnesota
• The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Angels’ last 5 games played on a Wednesday

Expert Final Score Prediction for Twins vs Angels

Minnesota Twins 5 – LA Angels 4