The Houston Astros will head north to Target Field to take on the Minnesota Twins. Fox Sports North will televise this AL showdown and the action gets underway at 8:10 p.m. ET.
Houston Astros at Minnesota Twins Odds
Vegas has offered matching moneyline odds (-110) on both of these teams. The total sits at 8.5 runs and bettors can take either the over or the under for -110. The game’s most recent runline odds sit at -160 for taking the Astros -1.5 runs and +150 for the Twins +1.5.
The Astros are 8-2 SU and have gone 5-4 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 2.5 units for gamblers taking the moneyline this year and 0.1 units ATS. The Twins are 4-3 SU and 6-1 ATS. The team has gained 0.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 5.3 units ATS.
Minnesota games have an over/under record of 3-4 so far in 2018. Houston has an over/under record of 3-6.
The Astros have lost 0.5 units and are 2-4 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in one of those games, compared to five that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Twins have lost 0.5 units and are 5-1 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in three of those games, compared to three that’ve gone under.
Justin Verlander (1-0, 2.31 ERA) will get the nod for the visiting Astros. The right-handed Verlander struck out 219 hitters across 206 innings last year (33 starts) while finishing the season 15-8 overall with a 3.36 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.
The Twinkies have tabbed righty Lance Lynn (0-1, 11.25 ERA) as their starter. Lynn started 33 games last year while finishing the season 11-8 overall with a 3.43 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.
Minnesota’s pitchers have given up 3.7 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starters have a 3.29 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.01 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 9.9 K/9.
The Minnesota offense is putting up 4.9 runs per contest, including 5.2 per game over its last five. The team has hit .249/.319/.486 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Third baseman Miguel Sano and second baseman Brian Dozier have led the Twins’ hitters so far. Sano is hitting .296/.406/.741 with eight hits, eight RBIs and seven runs scored, and Dozier’s line is .290/.353/.710 with nine hits, four RBIs and eight runs scored.
Sano seemed to have some trouble hitting righties at home last season. In 192 such plate appearances, he slashed .228/.323/.371 (compared to his overall season line of .264/.352/.507).
In the other dugout, Houston’s pitchers have allowed 2.5 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 1.83 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 11.14 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 2.32, along with a K-per-9 of 9.58.
Astros hitters have slashed .251/.336/.410 on their way to 4.7 runs scored per game this year, including over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).
Houston’s hitters have been led by outfielder Josh Reddick and shortstop Carlos Correa. Reddick is hitting .346/.452/.692 with nine hits, seven RBIs and six runs scored, while Correa (.310/.353/.621) is up to nine hits, two homers, nine RBIs and seven runs scored.
Houston Astros vs. Minnesota Twins MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Astros, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Notes
The Twins went 1-5 SU against the Astros in 2017.
The Astros have won seven of their last eight games SU
The Twins’ bullpen managed an ERA of 13.28 against the Astros last year.
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