Tuesday night features the second of a three-game series between the Minnesota Twins (28-26) and the Houston Astros (31-22). The Astros will host this one at Minute Maid Park, with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 pm ET.
Monday’s opener saw the twins win 7-5 in extra innings. In the win, Ryan Jeffers hit a two-run home run to start off the 10th frame, one inning after the Twins came back from a run down in the ninth. Jhoan Duran picked up the win in relief.
The Twins are the favorites in this one despite playing on the road. They are -116 to win, while the Astros’ moneyline sits at -102. The runline features Houston +1.5 (-166), and the over/under for total runs is eight.
Minnesota Continue To Lead Weak AL Central
At 28-26, it has been a somewhat mediocre season for the Minnesota Twins. Luckily for them, they play in one of baseball’s weakest divisions, as they currently lead the AL Central by two games over the Detroit Tigers.
Taking the ball for Tuesday’s game is righty Joe Ryan. In 10 games, the 26-year-old righty is 7-1 with a 2.21 ERA. 0.95 WHIP, and he has 70 strikeouts in 61 innings. In his last start, Ryan picked up the win after allowing just one earned run over five innings to the San Francisco Giants.
Offensively, the Twins rank 16th in scoring, averaging 4.53 runs per game. Leading the power department is Joey Gallo (11 home runs) and Byron Buxton (10 home runs).
After spending the first seven years of his career in Houston, Carlos Correa returns to Minute Maid Park. In 181 at bats this season, he is hitting .210/.304/.381 with six home runs and 24 runs batted in.
Astros Turn To Bielak To Even Up Series
With injuries to Luis Garcia, Jose Urquidy, and Lance McCullers Jr, the Astros have had to rely on some starters that they didn’t anticipate this season. One of those starters will try to even up the series Tuesday night in righty Brandon Bielak.
In five games this season, the 27-year-old is 1-2 with a 3.55 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, and he has 22 strikeouts in 25.1 innings. In Bielak’s last start, he gave up four earned runs (three home runs) in 6.2 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers. He will look to bounce back at home against the Twins.
At the plate, Yordan Alvarez continues to be one of the most feared hitters in baseball. In 169 at bats, he is hitting .284/.397/.598 with 14 home runs, 48 runs batted in, and 34 runs scored.
The Astros have also certainly welcomed back Jose Altuve’s bat. Since returning to the lineup, he is hitting .355/.444/.645 with two home runs in just eight games.
Take The Twins To Win Tuesday
Despite going 7-3 in their last 10 games, the Astros have been surprisingly just average at home. While they are 17-10 on the road, they are 14-12 at home.
While Brandon Bielak has been serviceable filling in as a starter, the Twins have the clear upper hand in the pitching department Tuesday. Joe Ryan has been exceptional and that should continue in this one.
For that reason, take Minnesota to win this one straight up at -118.
