Minnesota Twins at Houston Astros odds, picks and predictions

Analyzing Thursday’s Minnesota Twins at Houston Astros odds and lines, with MLB expert picks and predictions.

The Minnesota Twins (62-60) and the Houston Astros (80-45) play the finale of a 3-game set at Minute Maid Park. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Twins vs. Astros odds with MLB picks and predictions.

Season series: Astros lead series 5-0

The Twins are in a 5-game slide and the offense is having some difficulty scoring runs lately. Minnesota has totaled just 11 runs in the last 6 games, or an average of 1.9 runs per contest. Not surprisingly, the Under has hit at a 9-1-2 clip across the past 12 games overall.

The Astros have won all 5 games against the Twins, and look for the 3-game sweep in this series. Houston has scored 4 or more runs in each of the last 4 outings, and it ranks 8th in the majors with 4.59 runs per game.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

Twins at Astros projected starters

RHP Chris Archer vs. RHP Luis Garcia

Archer (2-6, 4.02 ERA) makes his 22nd start. He has a 1.26 WHIP, 4.3 BB/9 and 7.8 K/9 in 87 1/3 IP.

  • Is 0-3 with a 4.24 ERA with 35 K and a .211 opponent batting average in 10 road starts
  • Was knocked around for 5 R (4 ER) with 5 H, 3 BB and 2 K in 3 IP in a May 11 loss against the Astros at Target Field

Garcia (10-8, 4.09 ERA) makes his 23rd start. He has a 1.18 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 9.3 K/9 in 123 1/3 IP.

  • Has 7 of his 10 victories at home, going 7-3 with a 4.88 ERA with 68 K in 62 2/3 IP in 11 starts at Minute Maid Park.
  • Yielded 5 H and 2 BB with 9 K in 5 scoreless IP in a May 12 win at Minnesota

Twins at Astros odds and lines

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:09 a.m. ET.

  • Money line (ML): Twins +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Astros -180 (bet $180 to win $100)
  • Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Twins +1.5 (-140) | Astros -1.5 (+115)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -107 | U: -115)

Exclusive USA TODAY Network offer: Deposit $10 or more, get $200 in instant bet credits at Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Place your legal, online sports bets at Tipico. Let’s make this interesting. Bet now!

Twins at Astros picks and predictions

Prediction

Astros 5, Twins 2

Money line

The ASTROS (-180) are a little on the pricey side, costing nearly 2 times your potential return. This is my personal limit for a standalone money line play, and I’d prefer the run line here. However, since Houston is 5-0 against Minnesota this  season, keep hammering the favorite.

Win your fantasy baseball league with BaseballHQ.com. For decades, BHQ has been helping players just like you win! Use the couple code SBW22 for 20% OFF full-season subscription. New customer offer; expires 8/31/2022. Subscribe today and start winning!

Run line/Against the spread

The ASTROS -1.5 (+115) are a solid play on the run line. If you like the Astros to complete the season sweep of the Twins +1.5 (-140), you should like Houston to cover. Houston has won every meeting this season by 2 or more runs, including exactly by 2 in each of the first 2 outings in this series.

Over/Under

The UNDER 8.5 (-115) is the play, as Minnesota continues to struggle to get the lumber going lately.

The Under is 3-0-2 in the last 5 road games for the Twins, while going 3-0-1 in the last 4 home games for the Astros against teams with a winning overall record.

Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO and NJ. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Additional MLB coverage:
BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
BaseballPress.com: Your source for every MLB lineup

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO).

[mm-video type=playlist id=01fb7dafw2b08817yr player_id=none image=https://sportsbookwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]