The Houston Astros will be taking on the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The opening pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET and Fox Sports North will televise this AL matchup.
Houston Astros vs. Minnesota Twins Odds
Vegas is listing Houston (-135) as the favorite over Minnesota (+125). The total is sitting at 8 runs and bettors can wager on the over for -105 or the under for -115. The game’s current runline odds sit at +110 for taking the Astros -1.5 runs and -130 for the Twins +1.5 runs.
The Astros have gone 9-2 SU this year and are 6-4 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 3.5 units for moneyline bettors this year and 1.1 units ATS. The Twins are 4-4 SU and 6-1 ATS. They’ve gained 0.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 5.3 units ATS.
Twins games have an over/under record of 3-4 so far in 2018. Houston has an over/under record of 3-7.
The Astros have gained 0.5 units and are 3-4 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in one of those games, compared to six that’ve gone under against lefty starters. On the other hand, the Twins have netted 1.1 units and are 1-0 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in zero of those games, compared to one which went under the total.
The left-handed Dallas Keuchel (0-1, 3.27 ERA) will get the start for the visiting Astros. Keuchel started 23 games last year and finished the season 14-5 overall with a 2.90 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP.
The Twinkies have tabbed righty Jake Odorizzi (0-0, 2.61 ERA) as their starter. Odorizzi started 28 games last year while finishing the season 10-8 overall with a 4.14 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP.
As a unit, Minnesota’s pitchers have yielded 3.5 runs per game overall this year. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 2.91, a WHIP of 1.18 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.9. The bullpen has a 4.08 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 9.7 K/9.
The Minnesota hitters have put up 4.3 runs per contest, including 3.8 per game over their last five. The team has hit .232/.303/.411 over its last five games and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Brian Dozier and first baseman Joe Mauer have led the Twins’ hitters so far. Dozier is slashing .286/.342/.657 with 10 hits, four RBIs and eight runs scored, and Mauer’s line is .375/.500/.542 with nine hits, one RBI and four runs.
Compared to his total season slash line of .271/.359/.498, Dozier seemed to enjoy hitting lefty pitching at home last season, slashing .369/.481/.800 over 79 such plate appearances.
In the visiting dugout, Houston’s pitching staff allowed 2.3 runs per game and its starters own a 1.64 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 11.18 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 2.18, along with a WHIP of 1.09 and a K-per-9 of 9.27.
Astros hitters have slashed .247/.333/.397 on their way to 4.5 runs scored per game this season, including over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Houston’s offensive production been led by left fielder Josh Reddick and shortstop Carlos Correa. Reddick is slashing .346/.452/.692 with nine hits, seven RBIs and six runs scored, while Correa (.333/.368/.636) is up to 11 hits, two homers, nine RBIs and nine runs scored.
Houston Astros vs. Minnesota Twins MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Astros, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
The Twins went 1-5 SU against the Astros last season.
The Astros have won eight of their last nine games SU.
The Astros’ bullpen posted 3.63 ERA against the Twins last year.
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