May 20, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (4) throws to first base after fielding a ground ball against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports
- The Minnesota Twins (25-23) visit the Washington Nationals (21-26) in the rubber match of a 3-game interleague series on Wednesday afternoon. The Twins won 10-0 on Tuesday night
- Simeon Woods Richardson (1-0, 2.97 ERA) takes the hill for the Twins against Jake Irvin (2-4, 3.91 ERA) of the Nationals
- Check out the best picks for today’s game below
The Twins are fighting to catch up with the Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals in the AL Central while the Nationals battle to stay ahead of the New York Mets and Miami Marlins in the NL East on Wednesday afternoon in a game between third-place squads. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET.
Minnesota Twins vs Washington Nationals Picks
- Under 8.5 runs
- Carlos Correa under 1.5 total bases
I like the under in this situation. These pitchers aren’t their staff “aces,” but they have been more than serviceable this year so far. Plus, this is a day game after a night game, so it is possible that some key starters on both sides get the afternoon off. Even if the normal starters play, I’m still taking the under, which is available for -115 odds on BetMGM.
Carlos Correa has had an up and down season for the Twins. He smacked a triple in Tuesday night’s rout, but that came against left-handed pitcher Patrick Corbin, who is Washington’s worst starter. Against a solid righty like Irvin on Wednesday afternoon, Correa could struggle. I’d take Correa to have under 1.5 total bases at -120 odds or better.
Minnesota Twins vs Washington Nationals Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Twins | -1.5 (+125) | -135 | O 8.5 (-105) |
| Washington Nationals | +1.5 (-155) | +110 | U 8.5 (-115) |
Odds via BetMGM as of May 22. Sign up using BetMGM promo code DIME1500 to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.
The Twins are favored after Tuesday night’s lopsided victory. They’re -135 on the moneyline, compared to +110 for the Nationals. The run total is set at over/under 8.5 runs. The over is -105, with the under at -115. If you think the Twins will win by 2+ runs, you can get +125 odds on that via BetMGM.
Minnesota Twins vs Washington Nationals Starting Pitchers
| Simeon Woods Richardson | VS | Jake Irvin |
|---|---|---|
| 1-0 | Record | 2-4 |
| 2.97 | ERA | 3.91 |
| 20.0% | SO% | 18.4% |
Woods Richardson has been solid for the Twins since taking over for Louie Varland after he was demoted to the minors. His strikeout rate is solid. His ERA checks in at just a tick under 3.00. He’s undefeated in 6 starts, though he only has 1 win to his name thus far.
Irvin might not have a spotless record, but he’s been able to take the ball every 5 days for a Nationals team that hasn’t been as bad as many thought it would be this year. His strikeout rate isn’t anything to write home about, but the Twins are in the bottom third of the league when it comes to team strikeout rate, so maybe Irvin’s swing-and-miss stuff will play up a bit this afternoon.
If Woods Richardson’s strikeout total is over/under 4.5, I’d consider taking the over if you can get +100 or better odds on it. He has deceptively sneaky stuff, even if Pablo López and Joe Ryan get the headlines for the Twins’ rotation with their lofty strikeout rates.
Adam is an avid college sports fan, covering both football and basketball. During the summer months, he’s all-in on MLB action, favoring pitcher strikeout parlays.
