Player Predictions for Guardians vs Twins – May 20, 2025

Cleveland Guardians

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Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins will host the Cleveland Guardians on May 20, 2025, in what promises to be an intriguing matchup in the American League Central. The Twins are currently sitting in a solid position with a record of 26-21, while the Guardians follow closely behind at 25-21. Both teams are aiming to bounce back after disappointing losses in their most recent games; the Twins fell to the Guardians 5-2 on May 18, while the Guardians lost 3-1.

Today’s matchup features two right-handed pitchers: Chris Paddack for the Twins and Gavin Williams for the Guardians. Paddack, whose advanced-stat Power Ranking places him at 141st among approximately 350 pitchers, has been somewhat unlucky with a 4.05 ERA this season. However, he did pitch well in his last start, going 7 innings with 0 earned runs. Despite his projected innings of 5.3, his struggle with walks (1.5 walks projected) could be an issue against the Guardians.

On the other hand, Gavin Williams is projected to pitch 5.5 innings today and has had a solid season with a 4.29 ERA and a better xFIP of 3.75. His advanced-stat Power Ranking at 72nd suggests he’s performing above average, and he’s coming off a good outing, allowing just 2 earned runs in 5 innings.

While both offenses have struggled, the Guardians have a slight edge in home runs, ranking 13th in MLB, compared to the Twins at 20th. According to the projections, today’s game total is set at a low 7.0 runs, reflecting both teams’ recent hitting difficulties. The Twins currently hold a moneyline of -120 with an implied team total of 3.58 runs, indicating a close contest ahead. As both teams seek to improve their standing, the pitching matchup will likely take center stage in this double-header showdown.

Cleveland Guardians Insights

• Gavin Williams – Over/Under Strikeouts
  Gavin Williams’s change-up rate has dropped by 5.1% from last season to this one (5.4% to 0.3%) .
  Explain: Because change-ups are one of the most effective pitches to use, a pitcher who alters his pitch mix to use them less often may see less success as a result, particularly if he uses his fastball more instead.

Minnesota Twins Insights

• Minnesota Twins – Moneyline (-110)
  Out of all the teams on the slate today, the strongest infield defense is that of the the Minnesota Twins.
  Explain: Defense is an integral part of preventing hits and runs.