MLB matchup analysis

Yankees vs Twins Prediction, Odds and Model Pick

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at Target Field · 1:40 PM ET

Official Pick

LyDia prediction: New York Yankees moneyline

Lab Rating
7.5/10
Model lean
Yankees 70.8%
Market probability
46.0%
Model edge
+24.9%
Best moneyline
+118
Sportsbooks checked
6
LyDia model
70.8%
Market
46.0%

The case for New York Yankees

Starting pitcher edge: 13 points
LyDia gives Carlos Rodón a 13-point edge over Zebby Matthews, driven mainly by HR/9 (0.83 vs 1.65) and ERA (2.95 vs 4.74).
Late-inning bullpen advantage
Minnesota Twins relievers have a 7.40 ERA over the last 7 days; New York Yankees relievers have a 4.07. Minnesota Twins also have 6 arms pitching on back-to-back days, against 3 for New York Yankees. If this is still close after six innings, that gap favors New York Yankees.
Bats are hot: +0.017 wOBA
New York Yankees is outhitting its own season form over the last 15 days. Recent form is context, not a model input, but it points the same way here.

The case for Minnesota Twins

The case is thin
The model finds little going Minnesota Twins's way — it trails on the pitching plan, bullpen, and recent form. The main path to a Minnesota Twins win is variance.

Why the setup score is what it is

Conviction: 7.92/10
LyDia's win probability for New York Yankees (70.8%) is well clear of a coin flip -- this is a real, stated lean, not a guess.
Pitching plan: 29.33/40
Carlos Rodón rates 73 on LyDia's pitcher score, judged on its own merits (50-80 is the credited range). That is a strong start on its own, and it earns most or all of the available credit here.
Offense: 37.96/50
New York Yankees's recent offensive form clearly outpaces Minnesota Twins's over the tracked windows.

Why the price is what it is

Team strength: 66.4%
Before any pitcher or bullpen adjustment, LyDia's team-strength model alone makes New York Yankees 66.4% to win. Everything below moves the price from this starting point.
Pitcher score gap: 13 points
The pitcher-score gap favors New York Yankees by 13 points. This is the biggest single mover of the price -- a large gap moves it a lot, a small gap barely moves it.
Bullpen adjustment: +0.126
The bullpen-fatigue gap between the two pens nudges the price toward New York Yankees. This moves the price less than the starting pitchers do, since a starter covers more of the game than the bullpen.
Net effect: 66.4% -> 70.8%
Team strength alone had New York Yankees at 66.4%. After the pitcher and bullpen terms, the price is 70.8% -- the same number shown as Model Lean above.
The verdict LyDia backs New York Yankees at +118. 70.8% to win against a market implying 46.0% - the model sees value and the setup clears every gate.
Read the full model output

New York Yankees is an official moneyline pick because it clears both gates: 70.8% model win probability and 7.5/10 Lab Rating. LyDia projects 70.8% against a 45.9% no-vig market number, a 24.9% model edge at +118. New York Yankees owns the starting pitcher edge by 13 points. Bullpen read: Supports LyDia side. New York Yankees's pen efficiency: Average (5.0/10). Bullpen fatigue moved this probability down 19.8 points from 90.7% (starting pitcher and team strength only) to 70.8%. Lineup check: New York Yankees is a touch above its season form (+0.038 OPS); Minnesota Twins is in a cold stretch (-0.063 OPS). Recent form supports this side and is included in the unified run projection.

Game information

MatchupNew York Yankees at Minnesota Twins
DateWednesday, September 16, 2026
First pitch1:40 PM ET
VenueTarget Field
Starting pitchersCarlos Rodón vs Zebby Matthews
WeatherGame-time forecast: 73°F, 0% precipitation chance, 8 mph wind from SE.

Starting pitcher matchup

Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →
Carlos RodónYankees · LHP
vs
Zebby MatthewsTwins · RHP
MetricYankeesTwins
Pitching planTraditional starterTraditional starter
Expected innings55⅔
ThrowsLR
LyDia pitcher score (higher is better)7360
ERA (lower is better)2.954.74
WHIP (lower is better)1.131.24
K/9 (higher is better)9.87.7
K-BB% (higher is better)14.3%13.0%
K% (higher is better)26.3%20.5%
BB% (lower is better)12.1%7.5%
BB/9 (lower is better)4.52.8
HR/9 (lower is better)0.81.7
Ground-ball rate38.9%48.2%
Fly-ball rate61.1%51.8%

Pitcher edge: LyDia gives Carlos Rodón a 13-point edge over Zebby Matthews, driven mainly by HR/9 (0.83 vs 1.65) and ERA (2.95 vs 4.74).

How to read this: the scorecards above name the starters; every number lives in this table.

Strikeout Projections Full strikeout projections →

Zebby Matthews strikeouts
6.1 LyDia projected Ks
No K play · +0.6K difference is below LyDia's 0.7K threshold
Market 5.5K · O +125 / U -135 · 2 books

Same data source as the Pitcher Matchup Tool, where every starter on the slate is compared side by side.

Yankees are 8-2 in their last 10 and averaging 5.0 runs per game over the last 15 days; Twins are 3-7 in their last 10 and averaging 3.6 runs per game over the last 15 days. On the season Yankees carry the better run differential per game (+0.91 against -0.49).

MetricYankeesTwins
Last 108-23-7
Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home)7-3 on the road4-6 at home
OPS, last 15 days0.7610.658
wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read)0.3360.296
Runs per game, last 15 days5.03.6
K% last 15 days (lower is better)23.7%22.2%

Last 15 days only. Hot and cold streaks for all 30 teams live on the Stats page.

30-day offense

Full offense tool →
Last 30 daysYankeesTwins
OPS0.748 (+0.026 vs szn)0.697 (-0.023 vs szn)
Runs per game5.18 (+0.600 vs szn)4.15 (-0.391 vs szn)
wOBA (model offense input)0.330 (+0.012 vs szn)0.309 (-0.009 vs szn)
K% (lower is better)24.4%18.9% (-2.2% vs szn)

Over the last 30 days the Yankees have been the better offense, 0.330 wOBA to 0.309. They are running hot against their own season line (+0.012 wOBA). Yankees are striking out at 24.4% over the window — something the opposing starter can lean on.

Season profile

Full Stats page →
MetricYankeesTwins
Record88-6370-81
Run differential / game (team quality)+0.91-0.49
Runs scored / game (offense, season)4.594.55
Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better)3.685.04
Season OPS0.7230.721
K% season (lower is better)24.6%21.1%
OPS vs opposing hand (season)0.7160.675

Season-long team quality, not recent form. Run differential and run environment come from the season standings; splits for all 30 teams live on the Stats page, including the run environment table.

Every team on today's slate, on any two axes you pick. Yankees and Twins are highlighted.

Yankees
Combined risk
5.0 Normal
Fatigue
5.0 Normal
Efficiency
5.0 Average
Twins
Combined risk
9.2 High risk
Fatigue
7.9 Tired
Efficiency
2.4 Struggling

Risk is what the model actually uses: fatigue blended with how well the pen has pitched. High fatigue with high efficiency is a tired pen that is still getting outs.

MetricYankeesTwins
Fatigue5.0/10, Normal7.9/10, Tired
Efficiency5.0/10, Average2.4/10, Struggling
Combined risk5.0/10, Normal9.2/10, High risk
Relief innings, last 7 days24.324.3
Back-to-back arms36
7-day ERA4.077.40
7-day WHIP1.361.77

Fatigue measures workload. Efficiency measures recent run prevention. Combined risk is what the moneyline and totals systems use.

Run total projection

Full Totals Projections →
LyDia projection
11.2
Market total
5.5
Projected away runs
6.8
Projected home runs
3.6
Over price
-110
Under price
-105
New York Yankees team total
6.8 projected
Line 3.5 · O +115 / U -130
Over research lean (+3.3)
Minnesota Twins team total
3.6 projected
Line 3.5 · O -104 / U -110
No team-total lean

The model projects 5.7 runs above the market total. A research lean still requires a setup rating of at least 7.0/10. Team totals remain research-only until their graded sample is established.

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