The Minnesota Twins and the Houston Astros meet Friday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. Here’s a Houston Astros vs Minnesota Twins prediction. This will be the first installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Minnesota Twins Betting Preview
The Twins took on the Kansas City Royals in their last series. Minnesota powered out wins 6-5 and 4-2 in the first two games, then on Wednesday the Twins fell 6-1. In the Thursday finale Minnesota eked out a 7-6 win. Starting pitcher Chris Paddack finished with 5.2 innings, four earned runs, five hits and two walks.
In the Friday starting pitcher role the Twins will send out Pablo Lopez. This year Lopez is 4-5 with a 5.25 ERA and 69 Ks in 60.0 innings over 11 starts. Lopez is 43-44 with a 3.97 ERA in 137 career starts.
Houston Astros Betting Preview
Over on the Astros’ side, they played the Seattle Mariners this week. Houston had some trouble in that one, falling 3-2 in the opener and 4-2 in Tuesday’s matchup. In the Wednesday game the Astros took another loss 2-1. In the finale Houston posted a 4-0 shutout victory. Spencer Arrighetti managed 6.0 innings with two hits, three walks and eight Ks.
As starter for Friday’s game the Astros will go with Ronel Blanco. So far Blanco is 5-0 with a 1.99 ERA in nine starts. He’s got 51 Ks in 54.1 innings. Blanco is 7-1 with a 3.43 ERA in 33 career games (16 starts).
Twins vs Astros Injury Notes
Twins RP Justin Topa was transferred from the 15-day Injured List to the 60-day Injured List this week. Topa has been diagnosed with left patellar tendinitis.
Astros SP Cristian Javier has been dealing with forearm discomfort this week.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Astros’ last seven games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Seven of the Twins’ last eight night games against American League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Astros’ last five games against AL Central opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Twins’ last three road games.
Houston Astros Player Prop Facts
- Yordan Alvarez has recorded a Double in three of the Astros’ last four home games.
- Jose Altuve has recorded at least one total base in each of the Astros’ last 10 games as favorites against AL Central opponents.
- Yordan Alvarez has hit at least one home run in three of the Astros’ last four games against the Twins.
- Chas McCormick has recorded at least one RBI in five of his last six home appearances against AL Central opponents.
- Jose Altuve has recorded a hit in each of his last 10 appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
- Jeremy Pena has recorded at least one Single in each of the Astros’ last nine games against AL Central opponents.
- Yordan Alvarez has scored at least one run in eight of the Astros’ last nine games against the Twins.
Minnesota Twins Player Prop Facts
- Max Kepler has recorded a Double in each of his last four road appearances against AL opponents.
- Pablo Lopez has recorded a win in three of his last four road appearances against AL opponents that held a losing record.
- Carlos Correa has recorded two or more total bases in each of his last six appearances with the Twins as underdogs against AL West opponents.
- Jose Miranda has recorded a Single in seven of the Twins’ last eight night games.
- Carlos Correa has scored at least one run in each of the Twins’ last eight road games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Pablo Lopez has recorded six or more strikeouts in each of his eight previous appearances with the Twins as underdogs against AL opponents.
- Max Kepler has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine road appearances against AL opponents.
- Carlos Santana has hit a home run in four of his last five appearances with his team as a road underdog against AL West opponents.
- Carlos Santana has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last eight road appearances against AL West opponents.
Houston Astros vs Minnesota Twins Prediction
I’ll stay with the Astros here. Blanco is pitching great this season. Over his last three starts combined Blanco is 2-0 with three earned in 15.2 innings on 12 hits and six walks. As for Lopez, he’s given up 13 earned runs over his last two starts in 9.2 innings total. Lopez will need to get things turned around or this matchup will get ugly.
On Thursday the Astros had a great pitching effort, with just four hits and three walks (all from Arrighetti) combined from four different arms. Just about everyone got in on the action at the plate as well, so it was a nice all-around effort for Houston. I like the Astros to keep it rolling here; they should have a decent shot at another W if all goes well.