The Minnesota Twins look to build on a strong start on Saturday afternoon. Minnesota knocked off the Houston Astros on Friday, improving to 5-2 this season. The Twins and Astros will face off again, with the Astros entering at 3-5 overall following the 2022 World Series title. Joe Ryan is scheduled to pitch for the Twins against Luis Garcia for the Astros.
Caesars Sportsbook lists Minnesota as the -120 money line favorite (risk $120 to win $100) for this 2:10 p.m. ET first pitch. The total number of runs Vegas thinks will be scored, or the over/under, is 7.5 in the latest Astros vs. Twins odds. Before making any Twins vs. Astros picks, be sure to check out the latest MLB predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It went 331-285 on top-rated MLB money-line picks (+357) over the past two seasons, and it finished the 2022 MLB season on a 20-14 roll. Anybody who has followed it has seen profitable returns.
Now, the model has dialed in on Astros vs. Twins and revealed its predictions and best bets. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's MLB picks. Here are the MLB odds and betting trends for Twins vs. Astros:
- Astros vs. Twins money line: Twins -120, Astros +100
- Astros vs. Twins over/under: 7.5 runs
- Astros vs. Twins run line: Twins -1.5 (+175)
- HOU: The Astros are 66-38 in the last 104 non-division
- MINN: The Twins are 41-49 in the last 90 non-division games
- Astros vs. Twins picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why you should back the Astros
Houston's offensive bonafides are clear, and the Astros have top-flight experience after winning the 2022 World Series in impressive fashion. In addition to the offense, the Astros have a strong bullpen, and Houston is sending a quality starting pitching option to the mound in 26-year-old right-hander Garcia. He posted a 3.72 ERA in 157.1 innings last season, including a 1.86 ERA combined in September and October.
Garcia also zoomed to a 2.85 ERA in road appearances last season, and issued fewer than three walks per nine innings. Garcia will also face a Minnesota offense that isn't flowing just yet, as the Twins are in the bottom third of MLB with a .654 OPS. That includes a .238 team batting average, and Minnesota is tied for the fewest doubles (six) in Major League Baseball this season.
Why you should back the Twins
The Twins are off to an impressive start, including a win over the Astros on Friday in which Minnesota generated 11 hits and four walks against a notable Houston pitching staff. Minnesota's pitching is leading the way so far in 2023, posting the best team ERA (1.74) in baseball. Twins relievers have 22 strikeouts in 21.2 innings with a 1.02 WHIP this season. The Astros are also struggling on offense with a .235 batting average and .346 slugging percentage on the way to a 3-5 record.
From there, Minnesota can be confident with the 26-year-old right-hander Ryan on the mound. He posted a 3.55 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 147 innings in 2022, including a 3.04 ERA at home and a 2.20 ERA in his final five starts. Ryan also opened the 2023 season with six one-run innings in a win over the Royals, and he averages 9.37 strikeouts and only 2.71 walks per nine innings in his career.
How to make Twins vs. Astros picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the run total, as the simulations have the teams combining for 8.1 runs. It also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can only get the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Astros vs. Twins? And which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the money line to jump on, all from the advanced model that finished last season on a roll, and find out.
