Astros vs Twins Odds
| Astros Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
+128 | 8 -115o / -105u | +1.5 -164 |
| Twins Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
-152 | 8 -115o / -105u | -1.5 +136 |
The Houston Astros eliminated the Minnesota Twins in the American League Division Series last season. Now, the Twins will look for revenge when the two teams meet at Target Field for a post-Fourth of July series.
The Astros have overcome a disastrous start to the season by pulling within two games of the Seattle Mariners for the top spot in the American League West.
Meanwhile, the Twins are also a second-place squad in their division, entering Friday with a six-game deficit to the Cleveland Guardians for first in the American League Central.
Where does the betting value lie here? Let's make an Astros vs. Twins pick as we look at the MLB odds for Friday, July 5.
Houston Astros
The Astros have captured the AL West title in six of the last seven seasons with the lone second-place finish coming in the shortened season of 2020.
Houston stumbled out of the gates this season with an embarrassing 7-19 record through April 25 but has managed to post an impressive 38-23 mark since to climb back above the .500 mark.
The Astros have taken care of their business away from Minute Maid Park of late, winning seven of their last nine road games, including taking three out of four at Toronto.
Houston jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead on Thursday before Toronto tied things up with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. However, the Blue Jays didn't score again as the Astros tacked on two runs to win, 5-3, marking their eighth series win in their last nine tries.
Reliever Shawn Dubin will make his second start of the season on Friday after pitching into the fourth inning on Sunday afternoon against the Mets. He didn't allow a hit in a 10-5 victory.
Six other pitchers took the mound after Dubin, so we'll see if this is the same scenario tonight following Framber Valdez's six-inning outing on Thursday.
The Astros own a 1-2 mark this season as a road underdog of +130 or higher with the lone victory coming against the Yankees in the series finale, 4-3, on May 9.
Minnesota Twins
The Twins lost to the Astros in four games in the ALDS last season, capped off by a pair of defeats at Target Field. However, Minnesota picked up a bit of revenge on Houston with a series victory at Minute Maid Park in early June.
The one constant from both those series was the pitching performance from right-hander Pablo Lopez, who led Minnesota to its lone win against Houston in the playoffs last season and a victory in the season series opener in Texas over four weeks ago.
Lopez tossed seven innings each time, including yielding one run and striking out six batters in a 6-1 triumph on May 31. Combine that outing with his playoff performance last October, and Lopez has posted 13 strikeouts and walked only two batters in his past 14 innings against the Astros.
Minnesota has captured six series victories in its last seven tries since suffering a five-game skid, which followed that Houston series to begin June. The Twins grabbed two out of three at home against the Tigers, capped off by a 12-3 rout of Detroit in a game stopped after seven innings due to rain.
Jose Miranda is coming off a five-hit performance on Thursday. He has picked up at least one hit in 15 of his last 17 games to improve his average to .312.
Third baseman Royce Lewis remains on the IL after getting injured on Wednesday, but 2022 first-round pick Brooks Lee has started 3-for-7 at the plate and has driven in a run in each of his first two games.
Astros vs Twins
Betting Pick & Prediction
The Twins have compiled an incredible 9-1 record in their last 10 home series openers, including five wins by two runs or more.
However, both Lopez's last two starts against the Astros came as an underdog. Now, he's flipped to a substantial favorite. Lopez has also received terrific run support in his past two home starts, as Minnesota combined for 24 runs against Tampa Bay and Colorado.
It will likely be a bullpen-by-committee situation for Houston, but the Astros keep playing well and are worth a strong look as an underdog.
