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Minnesota Twins vs Oakland Athletics August 19th 2025
The Athletics visit the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Tuesday night. The Athletics hold a 56-70 record and sit fifth in the AL West. They have a 6-4 record in their last ten games. The Twins, with a 58-66 record, are fourth in the AL Central. They have won four of their last ten games.
Jacob Lopez will start for the Athletics. He has a 3.30 ERA and a 6-6 record. Joe Ryan will pitch for the Twins. He boasts a 2.72 ERA and a 12-5 record. The game will be played in clear skies with a light breeze, making it a warm evening for baseball.
Athletics vs Twins Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Athletics vs. Minnesota Twins
- Venue: Target Field in Minneapolis, MN
- Date: Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at 7:40 PM
- Betting Odds: Athletics Moneyline +129, Twins Moneyline -153, Athletics Runline +1.5 (-167), Twins Runline -1.5 (+140), Total Over 8.0 (-114), Total Under 8.0 (-106)
The Athletics Can Win If…
The Athletics are coming off a loss against the Los Angeles Angels, 11-5. Despite the loss, the team showed their power with three home runs. Nick Kurtz, Lawrence Butler, and Shea Langeliers each hit a homer, contributing to the team’s offensive strength.
The Athletics have strong hitting stats this season. They rank 4th in batting average at .254 and 4th in slugging percentage at .434. These numbers show their ability to score runs and hit for power, making them a threat in any game.
Starting pitcher Jacob Lopez could be a key factor in this game. With an ERA of 3.30 and a WHIP of 1.19, he has the potential to keep the Twins’ hitters in check. His performance will be crucial for the Athletics to secure a win on the road.
The Twins Can Win If…
The Minnesota Twins are coming off a strong 8-1 win against the Detroit Tigers. In that game, Byron Buxton was impressive with a home run and three hits. Brooks Lee and Royce Lewis also added home runs, contributing to the team’s nine hits overall.
The Twins have some solid stats backing them up. They rank 11th in home runs with 144 this season. Their starting pitcher, Joe Ryan, has a 2.72 ERA and a 12-5 record, making him a key player for this game.
Byron Buxton leads the lineup with a .280 average and 25 home runs. Luke Keaschall has been hitting well too, boasting a .343 average. With these players in form, the Twins have a good chance to win their next game against the Athletics.
The Lean
The Twins are favored with a moneyline of -153, while the Athletics sit at +129. The Twins have a better batting average and slugging percentage, ranking 4th in both categories. Their pitching also shows a lower earned run average compared to the Athletics. Based on these factors, the recommendation is to pick the Twins to win straight up. The model projects a score of Twins 5, Athletics 3.
The total for the game is set at 8.0 with the over at -114 and the under at -106. The Twins and Athletics both have solid hitting stats, but the Twins’ pitching is stronger. The model projects a total score of 8, aligning closely with the line. Given the Twins’ pitching edge, the recommendation is to take the under 8.0.
Stay Ahead of the Diamond
MLB Data & Insights
Ryan a Rare Bright Spot in Twins’ Tumultuous Season
In a year full of roster shakeups and inconsistent play, Joe Ryan has emerged as a reliable anchor for the Minnesota Twins. The 29-year-old right-hander enters Tuesday night’s series opener against the Oakland Athletics with a 12-5 record and a 2.72 ERA, ranking him among the top 10 pitchers in MLB for earned run average.
Ryan has been particularly sharp in August, winning both his last two starts and allowing just five earned runs across 22 innings this month. Last Wednesday, he delivered 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball at Yankee Stadium in a 4-1 win — a performance that reinforced why he’s considered one of the league’s top starters.
Joe Ryan – August 2025 Starts
| Date | Opponent | Result | Innings Pitched | Earned Runs | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 7 | vs Mariners | Win | 7.0 | 1 | 6 |
| Aug 13 | @ Red Sox | ND | 8.1 | 3 | 8 |
| Aug 21 | @ Yankees | Win | 6.2 | 1 | 5 |
Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli was quick to praise Ryan’s poise and consistency, especially in a season that has seen the Twins fall well out of playoff contention and unload key players like Carlos Correa and Jhoan Duran at the trade deadline. Baldelli called Ryan “one of the best pitchers in baseball” and credited him for staying locked in regardless of the team’s performance.
A’s Counter With Red-Hot Jacob Lopez
Trying to outduel Ryan will be Jacob Lopez (6-6, 3.30 ERA), who is on a tear of his own. The 27-year-old lefty has not allowed a run in 24 consecutive innings, and he’s struck out 28 batters during that dominant four-game stretch. In his last outing, he shut down the Tampa Bay Rays over seven innings, striking out nine with no walks.
Lopez also turned heads on Aug. 14 with a career-high 10 strikeouts against the Nationals, holding Washington to just three hits in 7 2/3 shutout frames.
Jacob Lopez – Last 4 Starts
| Date | Opponent | Result | IP | ER | K | BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1 | @ Mariners | Win | 6.0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| Aug 7 | vs Nationals | Win | 7.2 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| Aug 12 | @ Rays | Win | 7.0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Aug 17 | vs Angels | ND | 3.1 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Lopez’s only career start against the Twins came on June 3, when Minnesota tagged him for three home runs in just 4 1/3 innings. Still, his recent form suggests a much tougher matchup this time around.
Kurtz Heating Back Up for Oakland
While much of the spotlight is on Lopez’s arm, the A’s have another young star making noise — Nick Kurtz. The 22-year-old slugger ended a 15-game homerless stretch by going deep in two of three games against the Angels. After hitting four home runs in one game against Houston in July, Kurtz had seen pitchers approach him more cautiously.
Despite the adjustment, he’s responded well. Kurtz is hitting .327 with a .453 OBP in August, showing both power and plate discipline. Against the Angels last weekend, he went 5-for-11 and drew four walks, proving his ability to adapt.
Manager Mark Kotsay noted how teams have been pitching him more carefully, but emphasized Kurtz’s awareness and willingness to take what pitchers give him.
Twins Try to Salvage Positives Down the Stretch
At this point in the season, Minnesota is more focused on development and evaluation. But with Ryan on the mound and a chance to face a team near the bottom of the standings, the Twins can still aim to build positive momentum heading into the final month.
The challenge? Doing it against a surging young pitcher in Lopez and a maturing lineup led by Kurtz.
For more updates on the Twins, A’s, and every other matchup across the league, check out today’s MLB picks, review betting trends in our expert MLB guide, and follow real-time scores and odds.
