Seattle Mariners vs. Minnesota Twins Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/9/2022

Time: 2:10 p.m. ET

Venue: Target Field, Minneapolis, MN

Where to watch: ROOTNW, Bally Sports North

DraftKings: Check back later

BetMGM: Check back later

Caesars: Check back later

Mariners: 90-72 (2nd place, AL West)

Twins: 73-89 (Last place, AL Central)

The weather, which is still snow at this time of year in Minnesota, robbed us of a highly-anticipated opening day matchup between the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins. At the time of publishing, the first game of the series has yet to happen and we'll all be relishing in the debut that will be Julio Rodriguez. You can read the preview for that game here.

While I think the Mariners will still take that game -- and you can make fun of me later when things go off the rails and the Twins score 10 runs in the third inning -- I'm not sure I gave the Twins their proper respect in how bright their future is. The present is already great with Byron Buxton being an MVP candidate and leading the charge for the new era of this team.

But getting Carlos Correa is a game-changer for many reasons. First and most important, it allowed the Twins to get into the chase for big-time free agents. It's something that hasn't been a staple for Minnesota in recent years. They've let homegrown talent like Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau make their own mark. Even Buxton, of course, is on that list.

But adding Correa, a World Series champion and one of the best shortstops in the game to the lineup, does wonders for the present and future. Sure, it's only a three-year deal and the window for competing in what's bound to be a stacked American League Central for years to come doesn't make things ideal in the Twin Cities. But the excitement of getting Minnesota back on the map makes it enticing for Correa.

"I want an OPS+ above 130. My weighted runs created, I want to keep it above 140. I've always had a goal of walking 100 times in a season, because if you do that, the home runs will come, right? But it's [really] hard," Correa said of his analytically driven goals. "And I want to win. I want to get back to the World Series."

All players want to win a World Series, no matter what team they're with. We already know which teams aren't going to be in contention before the season already begins. The Twins are one of those weird ones that are on the cusp of being better than what they were last year, but are they good enough to be a Wild Card team? A group that could challenge the Chicago White Sox for division supremacy?

It's a bit weird to think of it that way, but we'll find out soon enough where the Twins sit in this whole thing. And Correa is absolutely going to be someone they look to for that type of guidance.

"He's brought a lot of chemistry here. He likes to win, and he brings that kind of energy," said Jorge Polanco. "We're trying to get that energy too. We come to the field every day the last couple of years trying to win. He seems like he knows he's going to."

Sonny Gray is expected to take the mound for the Twins in the second matchup of this series, while the Mariners send out Logan Gilbert. 

"You wouldn't think so, with all the new acquisitions and people coming and going, but the chemistry in here has been pretty unbelievable," Buxton said. "The minute we go out there, you can see how serious we take our jobs, and then once we get back in here, it's like we wind it back up again. It's joyful. It's fun. That makes a team hard to beat." That, I think, says all that needs to be said on where the Twins feel they can go this year. I'm leaning towards them on the over at 81.5 wins, but after that is anyone's imagination. Correa might be that one to help get them over the hump. Twins win 6-5

The Mariners are 28-16 (+8 units on money line) when the money line is between -100 and -150 in the last three years.

The Mariners are 55-56 (+22.9 net games on money line) on the road the last three seasons.

The Twins are 29-43 (-24 net games) against left-handed starters the last three seasons.

Mariners:
Adam Frazier (L) 2B
Ty France (R) 1B
Jesse Winker (L) LF
Mitch Haniger (R) DH
Eugenio Suarez (R) 3B
Jarred Kelenic (L) RF
Julio Rodriguez (R) CF
J.P. Crawford (L) SS
Cal Raleigh (S) C

Starting pitcher: Logan Gilbert

Twins:
Byron Buxton (R) CF
Carlos Correa (R) SS
Jorge Polanco (S) 2B
Gio Urshela (R) 3B
Miguel Sano (R) 1B
Alex Kirilloff (L) LF
Gary Sanchez (R) DH
Ryan Jeffers (R) C
Max Kepler (L) RF

Starting pitcher: Sonny Gray

Batting average: Ty France -- .291

Hits: J.P. Crawford -- 169

Home runs: Mitch Haniger -- 39

RBI: Kyle Seager -- 101

Wins: Chris Flexen -- 14

Saves: Drew Steckenrider -- 14

ERA: Chris Flexen -- 3.61

Batting average: Jorge Polanco -- .269

Hits: Jorge Polanco -- 158

Home runs: Jorge Polanco -- 33

RBI: Jorge Polanco -- 98

Wins: Michael Pineda -- 9

Saves: Alex Colome -- 17

ERA: N/A