Minnesota Twins at Houston Astros odds and predictions

Sportsbook Wire

29 May 2023

The Minnesota Twins (27-26) open a 3-game series with the Houston Astros (31-21) Monday at Minute Maid Park. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET (MLB Network). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Twins vs. Astros odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Twins lead 2-1

The Twins took 2 of 3 games from the Astros in a 3-game series at Target Field in Minneapolis from April 7-9. It was a fairly evenly matched series, with both teams totaling 13 runs in the set.

The Twins lost 2 of 3 games against the Toronto Blue Jays over the weekend, and are just 4-8 in the past 12 games with 4 consecutive series losses. Minnesota sits in 1st place in the American League Central Division despite its recent nosedive.

Houston picked up a 3-game series sweep on the road against the Oakland Athletics over the weekend, outscoring the lowly A’s by a 21-6 count. The Astros have picked up victories in 14 of the past 17 outings, including an 8-3 mark in their last 11 games on the road.

Twins at Astros projected starters

RHP Sonny Gray vs. RHP J.P. France

Gray (4-0, 1.82 ERA) makes his 11th start. He has a 1.20 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9 and 10.9 K/9 in 54 1/3 innings.

Last start: No-decision, 5 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 6 K in a 4-3 home loss vs. the San Francisco Giants Tuesday
2023 Road splits: 1-0, 2.84 ERA (19 IP, 6 ER) with a .250 opponent batting average (OBA) in 4 starts
2023 vs. Houston: No-decision, 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 13 K in a 3-2 extra-inning win on April 7

France (1-1, 3.43 ERA) makes his 5th start. He has a 1.19 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9 and 7.7 K/9 in 21 innings.

Last start: Loss, 5 2/3 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 5 H, 1 BB, 8 K in a 6-0 road loss vs. the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday
2023 Home splits: 0-0, 14.73 ERA (3 2/3 IP, 6 ER – 3 HR) with a .474 opponent batting average (OBA) in 1 start

Twins at Astros odds

BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:46 a.m. ET.

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Twins at Astros picks and predictions

Prediction

Astros 4, Twins 3

The ASTROS (-125) are a solid option in the series opener.

Minnesota has managed a dismal 4-11 record in the past 15 games against AL West foes, although it did take 2 of 3 in the first series against Houston. Still, the Twins have dropped 6 straight series openers, while going 2-7 in the past 9 games against a right-handed starting pitcher.

The Twins have managed a 1-4 mark in the past 5 trips to Houston, while going 2-7 in the previous 9 tries overall against the Astros.

The Twins +1.5 (-190) will cost you nearly 2 times your potential return if you want a run of insurance.

That’s just too risky despite the fact Minnesota is 5-4 in the past 9 games as an underdog on the run line, including 4 outright victories.

AVOID.

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The UNDER 8 (-110) is the lean, although go lightly.

The total has gone low in 6 of the past 8 games for the Twins while going 5-2 in the past 7 games against right-handed starting pitchers. The Under is also 7-3-1 in the past 11 series openers, too.

The Under is 16-5 in the Astro’s past 21 games against a right-handed starting pitcher, while cashing at a 6-2 clip in their past 8 games overall. The Under is also 9-4-1 in the past 14 games at home, too.

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