Houston Astros vs Minnesota Twins Prediction and Betting Odds August 24
Houston Astros vs Minnesota Twins Betting Preview
WagerTalk MLB analyst Brian Ochsner offers his analysis of Wednesday’s Houston Astros vs Minnesota Twins clash at Minute Maid Park. Tampa Bay rides a 4-game winning streak into this game and hold the top spot in the AL Wildcard race.
| Wednesday, August 24 | MLB Betting Notes, Courtesy of Caesars |
|---|---|
| Moneyline: | Houston Astros -235 vs Minnesota Twins +192 |
| Runline: | Astros -1.5 (-105) / Twins +1.5 (-115) |
| Total: | 7 Runs (Over -105 / Under -115) |
| Game Time: | 8:10pm ET / 5:10pm PT |
| Where: | Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX |
| Weather: | Retractable Roof |
Houston Astros vs Minnesota Twins Analysis
The Houston Astros host the Minnesota Twins in the second of a three game set. Houston took game one last night 4-2 behind 6.0 shutout innings from Justin Verlander. Tonight it’ll be Dylan Bundy for the Twins going against Framber Valdez for the Astros. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 PM EDT in Minute Maid Park.
The ‘Stros have the best record in the American League at 79-45, while the Twins are 4.0 games behind the Rays at 63-59 for the final AL wild card spot.
Bundy Has Been…Okay For Twins
There’s not a lot to say about Dylan Bundy, except that he’s a hard-throwing, serviceable major league pitcher. The eight-year veteran has a 4.60 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP, plus a 7-5 record in 21 starts and 103.2 innings.
Bundy isn’t an innings eater as he averages about 5.0 frames per outing, but has pitched well over his last three starts. He’s allowed a combined nine hits and three earned runs in 14.1 innings.
As a team, the Twins are 10th in OPS, 18th in staff ERA and 16th in bullpen ERA. They can also hit for power as they’re 11th in home runs.
Astros Angling For World Series Appearance
Southpaw Framber Valdez has been Houston’s ace this year, and out up excellent numbers. In 23 starts he’s posted a 12-4 record, 2.72 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP. He’s struck out 135 in 149 innings, and allowed 52 walks (about 3 per nine innings) and just seven home runs year-to-date.
He’s in good current form, with a 3-0 record in August, a 2.21 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. His stat line is pretty solid across the board.
As a team, the Astros don’t have any real weaknesses. They’re 6th in team OPS, 2nd in staff and bullpen ERA.
Houston Astros vs Minnesota Twins Prediction
Houston is also 7th in OPS against right-handed pitchers. This looks to be a favorable matchup against a below-average righty in Dylan Bundy.
Houston has a big edge in starting pitching with Valdez, and a better team across the board. Bundy has been in good form lately, but he steps up in class against one of the best teams in baseball.
Although the Twins are a playoff contender, I think the Astros will have enough early offense to get a lead over the Twins. That’s why I’ll take the Astros on the 1st 5 innings run line.
Prediction: Houston Astros 1st 5 Innings Run Line (-0.5)
First Pitch | MLB Predictions for Wednesday, August 24
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WagerTalk’s Live Odds Screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the MLB moneylines, run lines and betting percentages for all of Wednesday’s baseball games, including this Houston Astros vs Minnesota Twins showdown, from your desktop or phone.
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Meet the Author
Brian Ochsner graduated from Kansas State University with degrees in Accounting and Agribusiness. He’s a life-long baseball fan and “numbers guy” who tolerates the Colorado Rockies (bad ownership), and is a Denver Broncos and Kansas State Wildcats fan. Along with his interest in the sports wagering industry, he enjoys eating good BBQ, reading books on marketing, finance and economics, and playing Texas Hold ‘Em poker.
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