In the Wild Card Game #1 between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins, slated for October 3, 2023, both teams are coming in with competitive records. The Blue Jays ended their season with an 89-73 record, while the Twins wrapped up with an 87-75 record. The matchup is set to kick off at 4:30 PM ET, with Kevin Gausman taking the mound for the Blue Jays, and Pablo Lopez pitching for the Twins.
Here's a breakdown of some of the key points:
- Pitching Matchup: Kevin Gausman (12-9 – 3.16 ERA) vs. Pablo Lopez (11-8 – 3.66 ERA)
- Kevin Gausman's recent TEAM performance shows a record of 2 wins and 1 loss in his last 3 games, with a run-for (RF) average of 5.67 and a run-against (RA) average of 4.67. Over his last 5 games, Gausman has 3 wins and 2 losses, with a RF average of 4.6 and a RA average of 5.
- On the other side, Pablo Lopez TEAM performance also has a record of 2 wins and 1 loss in his last 3 games, but with a higher RF average of 9.33 and a RA average of 5. His last 5 games show a record of 3 wins and 2 losses, with a RF average of 5.6 and a RA average of 5.6.
- Team Performance Trends:
- The Blue Jays have a recent record of 4 wins and 6 losses in their last 10 games, with a run average of 5.4 for and 5 against. Their performance over the last 15 games shows a slightly better trend with 9 wins and 6 losses, and a RF average of 5.13 against a RA average of 3.8.
- The Twins have been performing better recently with a record of 7 wins and 3 losses in their last 10 games, showcasing a RF average of 6.3 and a RA average of 3.7. Over the last 15 games, they have 10 wins and 5 losses with a RF average of 6.2 and a RA average of 3.53.
- Over/Under (O/U) and Betting Odds:
- The Over/Under for this matchup is set at 7.5.
- Both teams have similar betting odds with a MoneyLine of -110. This means bettors would need to wager $110 to win $100.
- Recent Performance:
- The Blue Jays are coming off a 12-8 loss against the Tampa Bay Rays, with Kevin Gausman last start being on Sept 26 vs. the New York Yankees, going 7.0 IP with 3 hits and 5 K's. They are on a 2-game losing streak and have had 3 overs in their recent games.
- The Twins recently faced a 3-2 loss against the Colorado Rockies, and are on a 1-game losing streak with 1 under in their recent games.
- Historical Performance in October:
- Historically, the Blue Jays have performed well in October when playing as the away team, with a record of 7-3 over the last 7 years. On the other hand, the Twins have an impressive 9-1 record when playing as the home team coming off a 1-run loss during the current season.
Both teams have shown strength in different areas, with a slightly better recent performance from the Twins. However, with the playoff atmosphere, anything can happen and both teams are surely bringing their A-game to advance further into the postseason.
This matchup is crucial as it's a part of the wild card series, which is the doorway to progressing further in the playoffs. Each team's performance in this game will significantly impact their journey in the 2023 MLB postseason.
