May 31, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Jordan Montgomery (52) delivers a pitch against the New York Mets during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
- The Minnesota Twins (44-36) visit the Arizona Diamondbacks (39-41) on Thursday afternoon to finish off a 3-game series between the interleague foes. The winner of this game wins the series.
- Minnesota sends rookie David Festa (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound for his MLB debut. Arizona will counter with Jordan Montgomery (6-4, 5.71 ERA).
- Check the section below for our favorite picks from Thursday’s MLB showcase.
The Twins and Diamondbacks meet up for the finale of a 3-game series on Thursday in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won the first game of the series 5-4 before falling 8-3 on Wednesday night. Minnesota is in second place in the AL Central, 8 games behind the Cleveland Guardians. The Diamondbacks are in third place in the NL West, 11 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. Thursday afternoon’s game is set to start at 3:40 p.m. ET and can be seen on the MLB Network.
Minnesota Twins vs Arizona Diamondbacks Picks
- Diamondbacks -1.5 (+175)
- Jordan Montgomery over 17.5 outs (+115)
I don’t know much about Festa except he’s tall (6-foot-6) and has a mid-90s fastball. To me, that sounds like a guy who Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte and company should be able to have success against. Festa hasn’t exactly been elite at the Triple-A level this year so far, posting a 3.77 ERA, a 3-2 record and allowing 9 home runs in 59.2 innings of work.
Thus, the odds for the Diamondbacks to win by 2+ runs seem a little off to me. I’d expect it to be closer to +130 or so, rather than +175 (which you can find on bet365). Yes, Jordan Montgomery’s ERA is a bit higher than we’ve come to expect from the talented lefty, but he’s put together a trio of good starts in his last 3 outings, recording wins in all of them.
I expect Montgomery to contain the Twins’ offense while Festa struggles in his MLB debut. That all adds up to the Diamondbacks winning by at least 2 runs, by my estimations. I’ll take the +175 odds with a smile on my face.
Montgomery went 6 innings in his last start, a 5-4 win against the Philadelphia Phillies, who are one of the best teams in baseball. He’s getting hot at the right time. I expect him to be a strong veteran presence for Arizona today as the Diamondbacks look to win the series against Minnesota and continue their climb back toward .500. I’ll take the +115 odds for him to finish 6 innings this afternoon.
Minnesota Twins vs Arizona Diamondbacks Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Twins | +1.5 (-210) | -105 | O 8.5 (-120) |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | -1.5 (+175) | -115 | U 8.5 (+100) |
Odds via bet365 as of Thursday, June 27. Sign up for bet365 using promo code SBDXLM to receive a choice of welcome offers — a first-bet safety net of up to $1,000 or $150 in bonus bets when you place an initial $5+ wager.
As mentioned above, I like the odds on the Diamondbacks to win by 2+ runs. On the moneyline, Arizona is -115, with Minnesota at -105. The run total is set at 8.5 runs, with the over sporting -120 odds and the under at +100. There’s value to be had if you think it’ll be a low-scoring game with the Diamondbacks winning.
Minnesota Twins vs Arizona Diamondbacks Starting Pitchers
| David Festa | VS | Jordan Montgomery |
|---|---|---|
| 0-0 | Record | 6-4 |
| 0.00 | ERA | 5.71 |
| N/A | SO% | 15.8% |
I basically broke down all of my David Festa knowledge earlier in this article. He’s taking over for the injured Chris Paddack and then will likely be sent back down to the minors. He seems like a pitcher with the potential to be a back-of-the-rotation starter in a couple of years.
I want to focus more on Montgomery. Yes, his ERA is awful. And yes, his strikeout rate is the lowest we’ve seen it in years. He usually hovers a little bit above 20%, but is down to just under 16% this year.
Why the struggles?
Well, he didn’t get signed until the season was about to start, due to baseball’s ridiculous refusal to sign veteran free agents until the last second. So he didn’t get to go through spring training this year. He made his first start for Arizona on April 19. Though his first 2 starts were decent, the month of May was a disaster for him.
In 6 May starts, he worked 31.1 innings and allowed 25 earned runs while striking out only 21. You don’t need to be a baseball expert to know that’s not great.
June has been better. He’s pitched 18.2 innings and allowed 11 earned runs. But if you just look at his last 3 starts, he’s worked 16.2 innings, allowing only 5 earned runs. He’s trending in the right direction, and I expect that to continue this afternoon against Minnesota.
Look for the Arizona offense to give Montgomery an early cushion to work with. He’ll handle the rest on the way to a quality start.
Adam is an avid college sports fan, covering both football and basketball. During the summer months, he’s all-in on MLB action, favoring pitcher strikeout parlays.
The Minnesota Twins will face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 27th in what promises to be an exciting matchup between two talented teams. As fans gear up for the game, there are a few key factors to consider when making predictions and placing prop bets.
First and foremost, let’s take a look at the probable pitchers for this game. For the Twins, it is likely that Jose Berrios will take the mound. Berrios has been a solid starter for Minnesota this season, boasting a 7-2 record with a 3.49 ERA. On the other side, the Diamondbacks will likely send Madison Bumgarner to the hill. Bumgarner has struggled at times this season, posting a 4-5 record with a 5.73 ERA. However, he is a seasoned veteran who is capable of turning in a strong performance on any given day.
When it comes to making predictions for this game, it is important to consider the strengths and weaknesses of each team. The Twins have been one of the top offensive teams in the league this season, ranking near the top in runs scored, home runs, and batting average. They have a potent lineup led by sluggers like Nelson Cruz and Josh Donaldson, who have been tearing up opposing pitchers all season long.
On the other hand, the Diamondbacks have struggled offensively this season, ranking near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories. However, they do have some talented hitters in their lineup, such as Ketel Marte and Eduardo Escobar, who are capable of putting up big numbers on any given day.
When it comes to prop bets for this game, there are a few options to consider. One popular prop bet is the over/under on total runs scored in the game. Given the offensive firepower of the Twins and the struggles of the Diamondbacks’ pitching staff, it is likely that this game will see its fair share of runs scored. Another prop bet to consider is the over/under on total home runs hit in the game. With hitters like Cruz and Donaldson in the Twins’ lineup, there is a good chance that at least a few balls will leave the yard in this game.
Overall, this matchup between the Twins and Diamondbacks promises to be an exciting one for fans and bettors alike. With talented pitchers on the mound and potent offenses at the plate, there are sure to be plenty of fireworks in this game. As always, it is important to do your research and consider all factors before making any predictions or placing any prop bets. Good luck to both teams on June 27th!
