MLB Predictions: Can the Twins upset the Astros in Houston? 7/15/17
Can the Minnesota Twins find a way to slow down the Houston Astros when the two continue their weekend series today at 7:10PM ET? Here’s our MLB Predictions for this game.
THE ODDS
According to the latest oddsmakers, the Astros are the favorite tonight, as they are getting odds of -160 to win, while the Twins are getting a money line of +150 to prevail. The over/under total for the game has been listed at 9.5 runs.
PITCHING MATCHUP
The pitching matchup tonight has Ervin Santana (10-6, 2.99 ERA) on the mound for the Twins to face Joe Musgrove (4-7, 6.04) of the Astros. Santana has been a little hot and cold this year. He has a lot of great starts but quite a few bombs as well. He has a total of 91 strikeouts with 40 walks over 120.1 innings. Santana’s WHIP is 1.08. Musgrove has struggled entering the break, allowing 18 earned runs over his last 15 innings of work. He has 62 strikeouts with 21 walks this season and a 1.48 WHIP.
RECORDS
Houston opened this series with a 10-5 win on Friday night. Houston has won all four meetings with the Twins in 2017 and seven straight, dating back to the 2016 season. The Astros are now 61-29 overall and 28-18 at home while Minnesota is 45-44 overall and 25-16 on the road.
FRIDAY’S RECAP
Houston lit up Minnesota early, scoring all 10 runs over the first three innings, including eight runs in the second. Jose Berrios allowed seven runs in 1.2 innings, but only two were earned, to fall to 8-3 on the season. Charlie Morton needed the run support, as he gave up five runs in five innings but still got the win. Marwin Gonzalez had three hits and two RBI, including his 17th home run, to lead Houston in the win. Brian McCann drove in three on his 11th home run. Brian Dozier had four RBI, including his 14th home run of 2017, to lead the Twins in the loss.
MLB PREDICTIONS
I think things are lining up for the Twins to get the upset tonight. Santana has had some shaky starts this year, but he has been most reliable on the road. He is 6-2 in eight starts with a 2.19 ERA. Musgrove has been a dumpster fire as of late and the Twins showed last night that they can produce at the plate against this pitching staff. If the Twins get a solid start, they can certainly win. I think they get that great start tonight.
MLB Predictions: Minnesota Twins +150
