Minnesota Twins feasting in interleague action

Based on history, maybe the upper Midwest franchise, whose state borders Canada, should put in for moving to the National League and cause a reshuffling of the teams in Major League Baseball. Minnesota has won the World Series twice, in 1987 and again in 1991, before free agency removed the age of innocence. The Twins are and always will a small market team, but it has never stopped them from competing and they continue to be in the thick of the race in the AL Central, virtually every year.

Another characteristic of Minnesota baseball is their dominance in interleague play. The Twins have the second-best record in baseball since this began in 1997, trailing only the New York Yankees. With last’s night’s 8-2 win over Pittsburgh, Minnesota is 6-1 in interleague play in 2009, which follows the pattern they has established over the last 5+ years.

Since 2004, the Twinkies are tasty 66-31 (68 percent) against their National League counterparts and in the last three years, they are Richardo Montalban “Marvelous” 31-12, 72 percent. This season they are crushing those from the senior circuit by 3.6 runs per game (6 to 2.4).

It’s really no mystery that leads to Minnesota’s success against the National League, the teams from the other league can’t hit Twins pitching. On the season, all teams score 4.6 runs per game against manager Ron Gardenhire’s club; however the NL lineups have scored only 2.4 per game, which is noted by them allowing nine runs in last four interleague contests, all victories.

With catcher Joe Mauer’s four base-knocks leading the16-hit parade, the Twins won handily last night and Mauer’s sick .429 batting average will start to make people take notice, even if it’s only the middle of June.

DiamondSportsbook.com has the Twins as -183 money line favorites against Pittsburgh and why not, as they fall into one of the best super situations that has occurred all year.

Play On all favorites with money line of -175 to -250, after allowing four runs or less, four straight games, against opponent after a loss by four runs or more.

That is a simple and straight forward system with astonishing results. Over the last five seasons, there have been 51 winners out of 57 situations (89.5 percent). The winning margin has been almost as good as Minnesota’s in interleague action at 2.9 per game.

Let’s not also forget about how Minnesota plays when they receive exceptional pitching, with 7-0 record after allowing four runs or less six straight games. They will start Francisco Liriano (2-7, 5.99 ERA), who is finally showing signs of turning season around, allowing four total runs in last two starts, which is more than he can say for his mound opponent Ian Snell. The Pirates right-hander is 1-7 with 5.25 ERA and hasn’t won since April 18. In fact, Snell and the Bucs are 2-14 in road games in the first half of the season over the last two seasons.

No doubt the price is a trifle high on Minnesota; nevertheless, the results suggest another Twins killing.