The Houston Astros will be squaring off against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. This AL showdown will begin at 1:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports North will televise the game.
Houston Astros vs. Minnesota Twins Odds
Oddsmakers are listing Houston (-155) as the favorite over Minnesota (+145). The total sits at 8 runs and bettors can wager on the over for -120 or the under for even money (+100). You can also bet on the game’s runline with the current odds standing at Astros -1.5 runs (-110) and Twins 1.5 runs (-110).
The Astros have gone 9-3 SU this year and are 7-4 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 4.5 units for moneyline bettors in this young season and 2.1 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in six of those seven. The Twins are 5-4 SU and 6-2 ATS. They’ve lost 0.4 units for moneyline bettors while earning 4.2 units ATS.
Twins games have a 3-5 over/under record so far in 2018. The Astros have an over/under record of 3-8.
The Astros have gained 1.5 units and are 4-4 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in one of those games, compared to seven that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Twins have lost 1.4 units and are 5-2 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in three of those games, as opposed to four which went under the total.
Lance McCullers Jr. (1-1, 3.48 ERA) will get the start for the visiting Astros. The right-handed McCullers Jr. struck out 132 hitters over 118 innings last year (with only 40 walks) but finished the season 7-4 overall with a 4.25 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.
The Twinkies will put the ball in the hands of righty Kyle Gibson (1-0, 0.87 ERA), who started 29 games last year and finished the season 12-10 overall with a 5.07 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.
Minnesota’s pitching staff has allowed 3.2 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The team’s starters have a 2.74 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.69 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 9.1 K/9.
The Minnesota hitters are putting up 4.2 runs per outing, including 3.8 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .241/.323/.392 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Second baseman Brian Dozier and first baseman Joe Mauer have led the Twins’ hitters this year. Dozier is hitting .306/.419/.667 with 11 hits, four RBIs and nine runs scored, and Mauer’s line is .407/.543/.556 with 11 hits, three RBIs and five runs scored.
For the visiting squad, Houston’s pitching staff allowed 2.4 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 1.93 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 11.31 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 2.19, along with a K-per-9 of 9.97.
The Astros offense has slashed .246/.334/.384 on its way to 4.2 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.5 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 1.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Houston’s hitters have been led by outfielder Josh Reddick and catcher Max Stassi. Reddick is slashing .333/.471/.667 with nine hits, seven RBIs and seven runs scored, while Stassi has a .400 average with six hits, five RBIs and two runs scored.
Houston Astros vs. Minnesota Twins Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Astros, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
The Astros went 5-1 SU against the Twins last season.
The Twins’ bullpen managed 13.28 ERA against the Astros last year.
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