Minnesota Twins vs
Houston AstrosPredictions & Preview

Twins vs. Astros: Minnesota Looks to Take Series Lead in Matchup Against Houston

On Friday night, the Minnesota Twins (36-31) will be looking to take the series lead as they visit Daikin Park to face the Houston Astros (37-30) in the first game of their three-game series at 8:10 PM ET. Chris Paddack will be on the mound for the Twins with a 2-5 record and a 3.53 ERA, while Colton Gordon will start for the Astros with a 1-1 record and a 5.11 ERA. Houston is favored to win, opening at -115, with the current line at Minnesota -111. Stay tuned to see which team comes out on top in this Twins vs. Astros matchup. Please note that this preview was written prior to Thursday's game being played.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Twins -111 | Astros +100
• Spread: Twins -1 (+132) | Astros +1 (-159)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 50%.

Minnesota vs Houston Stats

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins have been performing well on the road, winning four of their last five games away from home. They are currently second in the AL Central, seven games behind Cleveland, and are aiming to cut into Cleveland's lead in their upcoming game on Friday. The Twins have a solid offense, averaging 4.24 runs per game which ranks 16th in the league, with a .244 batting average and a .316 on base percentage. Byron Buxton has been a standout player for the Twins, leading the team in batting average, home runs, and RBI. Defensively, the Twins are giving up an average of 3.84 runs per game, ranking ninth in the league. Opponents have a .237 batting average against the Twins, which is 14th in the league. With a power ranking of 21, the Twins are ranked 17th in offense, 9th in defense, and have a season record of 35-32.

Houston Astros Analysis

The Houston Astros recently ended a two-game losing streak with a victory over the White Sox, maintaining their lead in the AL West with a four-game advantage over Seattle. They aim to further solidify their division lead in their upcoming game on Friday. Despite ranking 21st in the league for scoring an average of 4.07 runs per game, the Astros have a strong .254 batting average (10th) and a .318 on base percentage (14th). Jeremy Pena leads the team with a .322 batting average, while Isaac Paredes leads in home runs and RBI. On the defensive side, the Astros are performing well, giving up only 3.64 runs per game (fifth in the league) with opponents hitting .219 against them. Their 3.51 ERA ranks seventh and their 1.16 WHIP is second best. In their latest game, Gordon helped secure a 4-2 win over Cleveland by allowing just one run in five innings. Despite a power ranking of 17, the Astros are ranked 22nd in offense but excel in defense, with an overall record of 38-30. In their recent matchups, Minnesota had a 2-1 advantage over Houston.

Minnesota Twins have the upper hand in upcoming matchup against Houston Astros

The Minnesota Twins have displayed strong performance in their recent road games, winning four out of their last five matches. On the other hand, the Houston Astros have had a mixed record in their home games, splitting their last six matches. The Twins have the advantage in this matchup due to their impressive batting form and their upcoming opposition, Gordon, who has struggled on the mound in his recent outings by conceding eight runs in his last three starts. In contrast, Paddack of the Twins has been consistent on the mound, allowing only five runs in his last three starts. With his strong performance, he will likely stand in the way of Houston's offensive capabilities. Considering these factors, it is recommended to bet on the Minnesota Twins to win on the money line.

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