Twins vs Rays Betting Preview: Pitching Duel Expected in Minnesota

The Minnesota Twins host the Tampa Bay Rays in a Sunday afternoon MLB matchup at 2:10 PM ET from Target Field. With Joe Ryan taking the mound for the Twins and Drew Rasmussen starting for the Rays, this game features two solid right-handers capable of shutting down opposing lineups.

The Twins opened as -135 favorites, with the moneyline holding steady in the -130 to -135 range across sportsbooks. The game total is set at 8, a reflection of the strength of both starting pitchers and mild hitting conditions in Minneapolis.

Twins vs Rays Odds, Line, and Weather Conditions

This AL clash opened with the Twins as slight home favorites, and the odds haven’t moved much. The total remains at 8 runs, suggesting the market expects a low-scoring game.

Weather forecast for Target Field at game time:

82°F
Wind blowing left to right across the field

Conditions should favor pitching, especially with two starters who specialize in limiting power and hard contact.

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Joe Ryan vs Drew Rasmussen: Strong Arms, Low Scoring Outlook

This matchup offers one of the more appealing under plays on the board due to the pitching talent on both sides.

Joe Ryan (Twins)

28% strikeout rate
5.2% walk rate
1.01 HR/9 allowed

Ryan has been excellent at keeping runners off base while limiting long balls—ideal traits in a total sitting at 8.

Drew Rasmussen (Rays)

22% strikeout rate
6.2% walk rate
0.93 HR/9 allowed

Rasmussen doesn’t give up fly balls easily, which plays well at Target Field, especially with crosswinds reducing the chance of balls flying out to left or right.

Both pitchers are in strong form, and both teams have inconsistent offensive production, making the under 8 runs a strong consideration.

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Rays Hitters vs Joe Ryan

The Rays offense was hot through June but has cooled slightly in early July. Some power threats remain:

However, Joe Ryan’s ability to miss bats and limit homers gives him the edge against this lineup, especially at home.

Twins Lineup vs Rasmussen: Strikeout Trouble Looms

The Twins lineup is filled with potential, but also with swing-and-miss tendencies. Here are some of the hitters with strikeout rates over 20%:

Even though Byron Buxton adds pop to the lineup, the volume of high-strikeout hitters makes it hard to trust the Twins in run-scoring props today.

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Best Bets for Twins vs Rays (2:10 PM ET)

Given the strong starting pitching and lineups prone to inconsistency, here are the best betting angles for today’s matchup:

Under 8 Total Runs: Two quality starters, weather that doesn’t favor offense, and two lineups with holes.
First 5 Innings Under 4.5: Take advantage of starters before bullpens get involved.
No Run First Inning (NRFI): Both starters capable of getting through the top of the order cleanly.
Twins ML (-130 to -135): With home-field edge and Joe Ryan on the mound, slight lean toward Minnesota.

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Final Prediction: Pitching Takes Over in Minneapolis

This is shaping up to be a classic low-scoring Sunday afternoon MLB game. Both teams have capable lineups but inconsistent execution. With Joe Ryan and Drew Rasmussen dealing, expect a tight, low-scoring battle that could go either way.

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