Boston will try to be nasty hosts on Thursday when the Minnesota Twins pay a visit to Fenway Park.

It's a pitching duel between Jon Lester for the Red Sox (5-8 on the year) and Samuel Deduno for Minnesota (2-0 so far).



View Minnesota vs Boston Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Sportsbooks had installed the Red Sox as -200 moneyline favorites in this particular MLB matchup. The total, meanwhile, was set early at 10 before betting started to move the line.

Power Rankings:
According to new MLB Power Rankings here, it's the American League No. 6-ranked Red Sox and the American League No. 13-rated Twins in this matchup.



How They Match Up:
Scoring stats point to some edges in this matchup. The game features Boston's American League No. 2-ranked scoring average of 4.9 runs per game, against a Twins offense rated No. 8 and scoring 4.4 runs per game in the league. The Red Sox have averaged 9.2 hits per game to date this season, more than the Twins hitters have managed (9 per nine innings).

Pitching and defensive stats are important baseball handicapping factors and Boston has the American League's No. 9-ranked defense. In the other dugout, the Twins own the American League's No. 14 mark in runs allowed.

Last time out for Minnesota, they were a 3-2 loser as they battled the White Sox at home. Moneyline bettors who got the White Sox at -120 were rewarded, while the 5 combined runs moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. Minnesota didn't get the job done in their last match, falling 3-2 to Chicago on Wednesday at Target Field.

Boston lost its last outing, a 7-5 result against the Tigers on August 1. Bettors who backed the Tigers at -106 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (12) sent OVER bettors to the payout window. Boston didn't get the job done in their last match, falling 7-5 to Detroit on Wednesday at Fenway Park.


Minnesota Twins Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
Before playing Boston are 2-8
After playing Chi White Sox are 1-9
After a loss are 4-6

Boston Red Sox Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 5-5
Before playing Minnesota are 7-3
After playing Detroit are 5-5
After a loss are 6-4

A few Twins at Red Sox trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Minnesota's last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Minnesota's last 11 games
Minnesota is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Minnesota's last 6 games when playing Boston
Boston is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Minnesota
Boston is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Minnesota
Boston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston's last 6 games


Next up:
Minnesota at Boston, Friday, August 3