Astros vs Twins Predictions, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks

Astros On MLB-Best Eight-Game Win Streak

The Houston Astros try to extend baseball’s best winning streak to nine games Wednesday night, opposing the host Minnesota Twins in the second of a three-game serie. The Astros won the series opener, 5-0, and sit in second place in the AL West, a game behind the first-place Los Angeles Angels. Minnesota had its three-game winning streak snapped with Tuesday’s loss, but it remains atop the AL Central standings. The Twins have been very good at home this season, but Houston is playing better than any team in baseball, so make sure you check out our in-depth preview before you decide how to bet online.

Check the latest MLB picks, stats, injury reports, and MLB odds for Astros vs Twins. There are plenty of MLB predictions.

Verlander Continues Solid Pitching For Astros

One game after the Houston Astros blanked the Detroit Tigers, veteran Justin Verlander flirted with his fourth career no-hitter in Tuesday’s opener. Verlander had 7⅓ innings of no-hit ball against the Minnesota Twins before surrendering a single to Gio Urshela, though he did earbn the win with eight shutout innings.

“Unfortunately, I’ve been here many times before and had it happen. I’ve had a few heartbreaking ones in the ninth inning,” Verlander said after Tuesday’s win. “This one I think it’s just one of those you appreciate that it was a good outing and gave us a chance to win, and we did that.”

Right-hander Jose Urquidy will try to keep the strong pitching going for the Astros, making a sixth start of the season. Urquidy is 2-1 with a 4.56 ERA, striking out 16 in 25⅔ innings. Urquidy is coming off an outstanding performance in his last start. Against the Tigers this past Thursday, he ended with six shutout innings, allowing six hits while striking out three and walking just one.

Third baseman Alex Bregman went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and two RBIs in Tuesday’s win. Bregman is batting .248 with seven doubles, five home runs, 19 RBIs and 16 runs scored.

Second baseman Jose Altuve comes into this one with a seven-game hitting streak, and is hitting .385 in May. Altuve has three home runs over the last seven games, and has scored eight times during the team’s current run, which-coincidentally-started with his return to the lineup earlier this month.

Twins Looking For More Offense

Even in the three previous games they’d won, the Minnesota Twins weren’t exactly scorching the scoreboard, tallying a total of seven runs in a sweep of the Oakland Athletics. Despite the team’s winning record, Minnesota is tied for 17th in baseball with 117 runs, and is 16th in the majors with a .235 team batting average.

Designated hitter Byron Buxton leads the team with nine home runs and has driven in 17 runs, but his status for Wednesday is uncertain. He’s missed the last two games with an injured hip, and has played in just 19 contests this season.

Also sidelined is shortstop Carlos Correa, who was placed on the injured list Tuesday (bruised right middle finger). after getting hit by a pitch last Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles. The former Astro has a team-best .255 batting average, with five doubles, two home runs, 11 RBIs and 12 runs scored in his first season with the Twins.

Right-hander Chris Archer will make his sixth start of the season. Archer is 0-0 with a 3.26 ERA, pitching just 19⅓ innings over his first five starts. The 33-year-old went four innings against the Orioles last Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits-including two home runs-while striking out six and walking none.

Astros vs Twins Head-to-Head

The Twins are looking for a second straight season series victory, having taken four of seven matchups with the Astros a year ago. Minnesota was just 1-2 at home against Houston, and has now lost five of its last six when hosting the Astros dating back to the 2020 campaign.

Houston is 21-17 all-time against the Twins in Minnesota after Tuesday. The MLB lines expect that success to continue, with the visitors favored for the second game of the series.