The Minnesota Twins will be taking on the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Fox Sports North will be televising this AL showdown and the action gets underway at 8:10 p.m. ET.
Minnesota Twins vs. Houston Astros Odds
Minnesota (+195) is entering this game as the underdog to Houston (-215) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this game at 8.5 runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total stand at -115 for the under and -105 for the over. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds sitting at Twins +1.5 runs (-110) and Astros -1.5 runs (-110).
The Astros are 86-53 straight up (SU) and 70-68 against the spread (ATS). The team’s lost 11.1 units for moneyline bettors and 4.3 units (ATS). Houston has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Twins, on the other hand, have gone 63-75 SU this year and are 70-67 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 12.2 units for moneyline bettors and 2.0 units ATS. Minnesota has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Houston games have had an over/under record of 60-71-7 in 2018. The Twins have an over/under record of 66-68-3.
The right-handed Jake Odorizzi is projected to start for the visiting Twins. Odorizzi is 5-9 with a 4.41 ERA and 144 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with four strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA against Houston this year.
The Astros are sending Framber Valdez (2-1, 1.26 ERA) to the mound. Valdez has 10 strikeouts and seven walks to his credit, as well as a 0.91 WHIP. Valdez hasn’t faced the Twins yet this year and did not pitch in the majors in 2017.
Houston’s pitchers have yielded 3.3 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The club’s starters have a 3.17 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 2.95, a WHIP of 1.04 and a K/9 of 10.8.
The Houston hitters are putting up 4.9 runs per outing, including 4.4 per game over its last 10 games and 4.0 per game over their last five. The team has hit .224/.284/.391 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Third baseman Alex Bregman and second baseman Jose Altuve have led the Astros’ offense this year. Bregman is slashing .296/.395/.549 with 28 home runs, 91 RBIs and 94 runs scored, and Altuve’s line sits at .318/.382/.451 with 10 homers, 51 RBIs, 69 runs and 15 stolen bases.
For the visiting squad, Minnesota’s pitchers have allowed 4.9 runs per game and its starters own a 4.63 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 8.24 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.55, along with a K/9 of 9.16.
Twins hitters have slashed .244/.315/.404 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game this season, including 3.3 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 4.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
Minnesota’s offense has been fueled by outfielder Eddie Rosario and first baseman Joe Mauer. Rosario is hitting .292/.329/.484 with 22 home runs, 74 RBIs and 83 runs scored. Mauer (.277/.347/.375) is up to five homers, 39 RBIs and 49 runs scored.
The Astros have lost 1.3 units and are 45-41 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 36 of those games, as opposed to 45 that’ve gone under against righty starters.
Minnesota Twins at Houston Astros Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Twins, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The over has hit in four of Minnesota’s last seven outings.
The Twins have dropped five of their last six games SU.
The Minnesota defense has allowed 14 errors over the last 10 games, compared to two errors for Houston over its last 10.
The Twins have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 10 over their last 10.
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