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Minnesota Twins vs Pittsburgh Pirates July 12th 2025
Pirates vs Twins Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Minnesota Twins
- Venue: Target Field in Minneapolis, MN
- Date: Saturday, July 12, 2025
- Betting Odds: Pirates Moneyline +115, Twins Moneyline -137
The Pirates Can Win If…
The Pittsburgh Pirates recently played against the Minnesota Twins, losing 2-1. Despite the loss, Paul Skenes delivered a solid performance with 5 innings pitched, allowing only 2 runs and striking out 6 batters. Spencer Horwitz and Oneil Cruz contributed with two hits each, showing their potential at the plate.
Looking at the season stats, the Pirates have a strong pitching staff with an ERA of 3.67, ranking 8th in the league. Their pitching is backed by a batting average against of .233, placing them 5th. This solid pitching foundation can give them an edge in close games.
Key players like Andrew McCutchen and Oneil Cruz are vital for the Pirates. McCutchen has a batting average of .259 with 8 home runs, while Cruz leads the team with 16 home runs. With Mike Burrows starting on the mound, the Pirates have a chance to capitalize on their pitching strength and offensive potential.
The Twins Can Win If…
The Minnesota Twins are coming off a narrow 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Joe Ryan pitched 5 solid innings, giving up only 1 run while striking out 5. Trevor Larnach was key with a home run, driving in both runs for the Twins.
The Twins have shown power with 108 home runs this season, ranking 9th in the league. Their slugging percentage of .394 is also in the top half. Players like Byron Buxton, who has 20 home runs, can make a big impact.
Byron Buxton leads the lineup with a .273 batting average and 53 RBIs. The Twins’ pitching staff has given up 96 home runs, ranking them 8th in preventing long balls. With a strong bullpen and solid hitters, the Twins have the tools to secure another win.
The Lean
The Twins are favored with a moneyline of -137. The Pirates are at +115. The Twins have a better batting average and slugging percentage, ranking 13th in both. Their pitching is also stronger with an ERA of 3.67, ranked 8th. The model projects the Twins to win 5-3.
The total for the game is set at 9.0. The Pirates’ batting struggles with a .230 average, ranked 17th, and their slugging is 25th. The Twins have a solid pitching staff, giving up a .233 average, ranked 5th. The model projects a total of 8 runs, suggesting the under 9.0 is a good pick.
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Confident Twins Look to Clinch Series Against Skidding Pirates
The Minnesota Twins are playing with confidence and finding ways to win close games. They will look to make it three consecutive series victories on Saturday afternoon as they continue their three-game set against the visiting and slumping Pittsburgh Pirates.
Winning Baseball in Minnesota
The Minnesota Twins are feeling good after their 2-1 victory in the series opener on Friday. The win was a perfect example of the fundamental baseball their manager has been preaching. The go-ahead rally was sparked by an infield single from Byron Buxton, who used his elite speed to beat out a double-play ball.
“That’s the type of stuff that he does that almost nobody else in baseball can do, when you get some opportunities, you really have to take advantage.”
-Twins manager Rocco Baldelli
Pittsburgh’s Pain
While the Twins are finding ways to win, the Pirates are stuck in a deep slump. They have lost seven consecutive games, and their offense has been the primary culprit. During the losing streak, Pittsburgh has scored a total of just 10 runs. Despite the team’s struggles, their ace, Paul Skenes, is trying to find the positives. “The last few starts I’ve been really happy with it,” Skenes said of his improved fastball command.
The Pitching Matchup
Saturday’s game features a pitching matchup with some uncertainty. The Pirates will start rookie right-hander Mike Burrows (1-2, 3.63 ERA), who is coming off a fantastic performance where he threw five scoreless innings against the Mariners.
The Twins have not yet officially announced a starter for the game. The uncertainty on the mound for the home team will be a key focus on the scores and odds board.
Injury Watch
The Twins may be without their star shortstop, Carlos Correa, who suffered a mild ankle sprain in Friday’s win. With the All-Star break approaching, the team may play it safe and give him a day off. How a key injury impacts a lineup is a major topic in our expert betting guide.
For two MLB teams looking to head into the break with momentum, this game is crucial. To see who our experts are backing, check out our daily MLB picks.
