Target Field hosts an MLB battle between the Minnesota Twins and the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.

David Price, with a record of 14-4 on the season, gets the ball for the Rays, while the Twins trot Nick Blackburn to the mound in this one. He is 4-7 so far in 2012.



View Tampa Bay vs Minnesota Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
On the Sportsbook MLB line for this matchup, Minnesota sat as +170 underdogs. The total was set at 8.

Power Rankings:
The MLB Power Rankings show a disparity between these teams, with the Twins rated this week at No. 12 and the Rays sitting at No. 4.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits Minnesota's No. 8-rated American League offense, averaging 4.5 runs per game, against a Rays defense that ranks No. 2 in the American League at 3.8 in runs allowed per game. The Twins have averaged 9.1 hits per game so far, more than Rays batters have averaged on the year (7.7 hits per game).

Defensively, Tampa Bay features the American League's No. 6-rated defense on the road, allowing 4.2 runs per game. Minnesota, meanwhile, comes in at No. 7 in the American League at home, scoring 4.9 runs per game.

Last time out for Tampa Bay, they were a 12-6 Sportsbook as they battled the Twins on the road. Moneyline bettors who got the Rays at -115 were rewarded, while the 18 combined runs moved the game OVER for totals bettors. The Rays grabbed a win last time out, defeating Cole De Vries and the Twins 12-6 on Friday at Target Field.




Tampa Bay Rays Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 8-2
Before playing Minnesota are 7-3
After playing Minnesota are 8-2
After a win are 7-3

Minnesota Twins Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 6-4
Before playing Tampa Bay are 5-5
After playing Tampa Bay are 3-7
After a loss are 5-5

A few Rays at Twins trends to consider:
Tampa Bay is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Tampa Bay is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Tampa Bay is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota
Tampa Bay is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Minnesota's last 9 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
Minnesota is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games when playing at home against Tampa Bay
Minnesota is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Tampa Bay


Next up:
Tampa Bay at Minnesota, Sunday, August 12