The Minnesota Twins will take on the Oakland Athletics in the concluding game of their four-game series on Thursday afternoon at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, with the first pitch scheduled for 3:35 p.m. ET. Minnesota currently holds a commanding 3-0 lead in the season series against Oakland, having won the previous games with an impressive combined score of 26-8.
Over the past six games, the Twins’ offense has been formidable, producing an impressive .831 OPS. In stark contrast, the Athletics are struggling significantly; they have not secured a win since May 25 and have amassed a dismal record of 1-21 over their last 22 contests.
On the mound, the Twins are expected to start right-hander David Festa (0-0, 1.38 ERA), who is making his fourth start of the season. Festa has shown promise with 15 strikeouts in 13 innings, though he has faced challenges with walks. Meanwhile, the A’s will counter with right-hander Mitch Spence (1-1, 4.38 ERA), who will make his first start in an opener role. Spence has primarily come out of the bullpen, but his past outings suggest potential, although he has had mixed results against the Twins.
BetMGM Sportsbook’s odds show the Twins as considerable favorites, with a moneyline of -190 against the A’s at +154. The anticipated run total for the game is set at 10.5, reflecting both teams’ offensive capabilities and the hitter-friendly environment of the ballpark.
With Minnesota’s solid bullpen, carrying a 3.11 ERA—ranking third in MLB—and Oakland’s struggling bullpen at 6.28 ERA, the predictions lean heavily towards the Twins claiming victory. Analysts forecast a score of 7-4 in favor of Minnesota, suggesting that a partial-unit play on the Twins to win by more than 1.5 runs could be a sound wager.
Given their current form, the Twins are expected to maintain their winning momentum, while the A’s look to break out of their prolonged slump, creating an interesting matchup with potential implications for both teams’ seasons.