Expert MLB Betting Picks – Shields, Blackburn, Take Mound as Rays Visit Twins

29-year-old right-hander James Shields (6-8, 4.76 ERA) will take the mound for the Tampa Bay Rays and 28-year-old right-hander Nick Blackburn (7-5, 6.02 ERA) will take the hill for the Minnesota Twins when the two ballclubs battle at Target Field this afternoon at 2 PM ET.

Shields has pitched horribly in each of his last two starts, allowing nine earned runs on 13 hits (including three home runs) in 12 combined innings.

The struggling starter was pounded for five earned runs on seven hits in five innings of an 8-5 loss to Boston on Thursday.

Sunday, July 4, 2:10 PM ET

TV: MLBTV

Radio: Sirius 180 XM

MLB Odds

Tampa Bay (46-32 SU, 36-38-4 O/U, 36-42 RL)

Minnesota (43-36 SU, 33-41-5 O/U, 37-42 RL)

Blackburn has been even worse lately MLB gamblers, allowing at least four earned runs in three consecutive starts and while giving up five or more runs in four of those outings.

The right-hander allowed four earned runs on four hits in seven innings of an 11-4 win over Detroit on Thursday.

Shields took his seventh loss in eight starts Tuesday night against the Red Sox when he allowed five earned runs in five innings. This will be Shields’ first start at Target Field; he had an 0-1 record with a 6.19 ERA in three career starts at the Metrodome.

Blackburn snapped his five-game winless streak against the Tigers on Tuesday. He gave up four runs on seven hits in seven innings. Prior to that outing he had a 12.06 ERA in June. His four strikeouts against Detroit were his most since June 12, when he fanned five.

Analysis: The Rays have lost a whopping seven of James Shield’s last eight starts, but the Twins haven’t been much better behind Nick Blackburn, losing five of his last six starts.

For this matchup, I am going to back the Minnesota Twins to get the job done at the plate and support Nick Blackburn like they did in his last start.

Now, knowing the neither pitcher is throwing the ball very competently right now, I’m also going to urge pro baseball betting enthusiasts to play the Over, no matter how high the O/U total looks.

MLB Betting Expert Picks: Minnesota Twins SU Win/Over Set O/U Total