The Minnesota Twins and the Houston Astros meet Saturday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. Here’s a Houston Astros vs Minnesota Twins prediction. This will be the second 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 played four games versus the Kansas City Royals this week. Minnesota lost Wednesday 6-1 but won the other games 6-5, 4-2 and 7-6 for a series victory. On Friday versus Houston, the Twins scored twice in two different innings for a 6-1 victory. Pablo Lopez lasted 7.0 innings in the start with one earned on six hits and a walk.
In the starting pitcher role for the Twins on Saturday it’ll be Joe Ryan. This year Ryan is 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA and 73 Ks in 67.0 innings over 11 starts. Ryan is 30-22 with a 3.87 ERA in 72 career starts.
Houston Astros Betting Preview
Over on the Astros’ side, they played the Seattle Mariners in their last set. Houston lost 3-2, 4-2 and 2-1 in the first three games of that series before a 4-0 win on Thursday. In the Friday matchup the Astros got 4.2 innings and four earned out of starter Ronel Blanco.
It’ll be Framber Valdez as starter for the Astros on Saturday. This year Valdez is 3-3 with a 4.34 ERA in eight starts. He’s got 38 Ks in 47.2 innings. Valdez is 56-37 with a 3.46 ERA in 137 career games (115 starts).
Twins vs Astros Injury Notes
Twins RP Justin Topa (left patellar tendinitis) was transferred from the 15-day Injured List to the 60-day Injured List this week.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Astros’ last eight games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Each of the Twins’ last five games as underdogs have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Astros’ last six games against AL Central opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Twins’ last four road games.
Houston Astros Player Prop Facts
- Alex Bregman has hit a home run in three of the Astros’ last four games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Yordan Alvarez has recorded a Double in each of the Astros’ last three day games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Framber Valdez has recorded a win in four of his last five appearances against AL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Framber Valdez has recorded six or more strikeouts in four of his last five appearances in day games against teams that held a winning record.
- Kyle Tucker has scored a run in each of the Astros’ last five day games against AL opponents that held a winning record.
- Jeremy Pena has recorded at least one Single in each of his last nine appearances against AL Central opponents.
- Jose Abreu has recorded at least one total base in each of his six previous appearances in day games against AL Central teams that held a winning record.
- Jose Altuve has recorded a hit in each of his last 11 appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
- Victor Caratini has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last three appearances in day games against AL teams that held a winning record.
- Kyle Tucker ranks T2nd in the league in Home Runs (18) this season.
Minnesota Twins Player Prop Facts
- Carlos Santana has hit a home run in each of the Twins’ last four road games against AL opponents that held a losing record.
- Carlos Correa has recorded at least one Double in four of his last five appearances with the Twins as underdogs against AL West opponents.
- Carlos Santana has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last nine road appearances against AL West opponents.
- Joe Ryan has recorded a win in three of his last four appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Byron Buxton has recorded a Single in each of his last four appearances in day games against teams that held a losing record.
- Carlos Correa has scored at least one run in each of the Twins’ last six day games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Carlos Correa has recorded two or more total bases in each of his last seven appearances with the Twins as underdogs against AL West opponents.
- Joe Ryan has recorded six or more strikeouts in eight of his last nine appearances against AL West opponents.
- Max Kepler has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances in day games against teams that held a losing record.
- Ryan Jeffers ranks 9th amongst qualified players for Slugging Percentage (.547) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Houston Astros rank 1st in the league for strikeouts against this season (394).
- The Houston Astros rank 2nd in the league for hits this season (514).
- The Minnesota Twins rank T1st in the league for walks allowed this season (138).
- The Minnesota Twins rank 3rd in the league for strikeouts this season (519).
Houston Astros vs Minnesota Twins Prediction
I’ll try the Twins. Ryan gave up four earned in 5.1 innings in a loss to the Yankees back on May 16 but he’s been great since then. In the last pair of starts Ryan is 2-0 with just one earned over 14.0 innings total. As for Valdez, he’s 0-2 in his last two games with 11 earned in 11.0 innings, but eight of those runs came in one start.
On Friday the Twins got some big offensive performances from a few different hitters. The pitching staff did a great job on the other side. I like Minnesota to keep that momentum going into the weekend.