On the Tuesday MLB betting board we have the 57-55 Houston versus the 46-66 Minnesota Twins in the second game of four game series in Minneapolis, Minnesota tonight. The first pitch at Target Field is scheduled to be thrown at 8:10 PM ET on August 9, 2016.
In Game 2 of this four game series yesterday the Twins beat the Astros 3-1. In Minnesota’s scored three runs on 11 hits while the Houston offense was cold scoring one lone run on four hits.
The Astros were playing well to get back in the AL West race, but they have hit the skids as of late losing six of their last seven games including their last three. Houston, which ranks 19th in runs scored and 7th in team ERA, is in 3rd place in the AL West 8.5 games back of the Texas Rangers. In the Astros three-game losing streak they have totaled just six runs.
The Twins have won three of their last four games, including their last two, but remain buried in the basement of the AL Central 17.5 games back of the Cleveland Indians. Minnesota ranks a decent 13th in the Majors in runs scored, but their pitching has been the issue ranking only 28th in team ERA.
Pitching Match Up
Houston: Mike Fiers (7-5, 4.34 ERA)
Minnesota: Hector Santiago (10-5, 4.37 ERA)
Mike Fiers goes for the Astros tonight and in his last outing he gave up two earned runs in six innings in a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Even though Fiers has only given up two combined earned runs in his last two starts Houston has lost both games. Since June 1st he has an ERA of 3.65. The Astros are only 2-7 in Fiers’ last 9 road starts and they have lost six of their last seven games facing a team with a losing record with Fiers on the mound.
Hector Santiago gets the nod for the Twins tonight and his last state was his first for the club after coming to Minnesota in a trade with the L.A. Angels. In that start he went five innings and gave up four earned runs in a 9-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians. Santiago will be making his first start of the season in Minnesota. While with the Angels earlier this season he faced the Astros going six innings and only giving up one run.
Betting Angles
- The Twins are 7-3 in their last 10 games against the Astros.
- In the last 5 games between these teams the Over record is 3-1-1.
- This season the Twins are 24-32 at home and the Astros are 23-29 on the road.
STRAIGHT UP / OVER/UNDER / RUN LINE RECORDS
Houston Astros: 57-55 SU / O/U 46-59 / Run Line W/L 48-64
Minnesota Twins: 46-66 SU / O/U 67-39 / Run Line W/L 60-52
Houston at Minnesota Key Betting Trends
- • HOU is 1-6 in their last 7 overall.
- • HOU is 0-4 in their last 4 road games.
- • HOU has an Under record of 36-15-2 in their last 53 games.
- • MINN is 4-1 in their last 5 home games.
- • MINN is 7-2 in their last 9 overall.
- • MINN has an Under record of 7-3-1 in their last 11 home games.
Key Player Injuries
ASTROS
[P] 08/02/2016 – Luke Gregerso 15-day DL (7/28) ( Oblique )
[3B] 07/29/2016 – Luis Valbuena 15-day DL (7/27) ( Hamstring )
(!)[2B] 08/08/2016 – Jose Altuve is not expected to be in the starting lineup Monday vs. Minnesota Twins ( Rest )
[P] 08/03/2016 – Lance McCullers 15-day DL (8/2) ( Elbow )
[LF] 08/07/2016 – Colby Rasmus 15-day DL (8/5) ( Ear )
TWINS
[P] 04/13/2016 – Glen Perkins 60-day DL (4/11); out for season ( Shoulder )
[P] 06/10/2016 – Phil Hughes 60-day DL (6/10); out for season ( Knee )
