Stephen Nover Free Monday Baseball Play
(MLB) Minnesota vs. Seattle, 06/14/2021 10:10 PM, Score: 3 - 4
Money Line: -134.00 Minnesota (Away)
Result: Loss
No American League team has been a bigger money-burner for bettors than the Twins, who at 26-39 are tied with the Tigers for last place in the AL Central Division.

Can the Twins stay this bad the rest of the season?

I don't believe so. One thing the Twins have done right is mash. They rank No. 2 in the majors in homers with 95. So a pitching matchup of Kenta Maeda versus southpaw Marco Gonzales sets up well for Minnesota.

So does the spot. The Twins draw the Mariners returning to Seattle for the first time in 12 days following a 10-game road swing that culminated with a surprising 6-2 victory against Shane Bieber and the Indians on Sunday.

Gonzales is having a difficult year at 1-4 with a 5.45 ERA. Gonzales has been tagged for eight homers in 36 1/3 innings. If you like metrics, here's one: Gonzales is giving up a whooping 41.4 percent fly ball percentage to righties. Minnesota's top three home run hitters are all right-handed - Nelson Cruz, Josh Donaldson and Miguel Sano. They've combined for 36 homers.

Career-wise, Gonzales is 0-2 with an 11.57 ERA in two starts versus Minnesota.

The Twins are slated to start Kenta Maeda, who went 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA last year with Minnesota but is 2-2 with a 5.27 ERA this season. Maeda has been dealing with groin and arm injuries. This will be his first start since May 22 as he's been on IL. The Mariners have never faced him.

Maeda is a quality pitcher when healthy. He faces a Seattle lineup that ranks last in the majors in batting average at .209. The Mariners aren't likely to have their home run, on-base percentage and slugging percentage leader, Mitch Haniger, either. He fouled a pitch off his knee yesterday and had to leave the game. Seattle doesn't have nearly the offensive luxury to lose Haniger.

(Editor's note: Stephen Nover is 12-4 on his last 16 MLB side plays and has an underdog play topping his Monday baseball menu in addition to this free selection. Stephen also has his Stanley Cup Puck Line Game of the Year today and NHL totals play. Stephen is 36-17-1 on his NHL big plays and has won four of his past five hockey totals plays.)