Two of the hottest teams in the American League go head-to-head in what should be a treat to baseball fans as the Houston Astros will travel to Target Field to take on the Minnesota Twins. Join us for our MLB odds series, where our Astros-Twins prediction and pick will be unveiled for all to see.

 

With a seven-game winning streak on full display that included series sweeps over the Mariners and Tigers, Houston is playing at its best as the baseball season inches closer to the halfway point of May. With summer right around the corner, future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander will get the nod after posting a 3-1 record and 1.93 through his first five starts.

At 18-11, the Twins have an identical record as the Astros and pose a huge threat to any team they stack up against. After picking up a sweep of their own against Oakland, Minnesota will counter with RHP Joe Ryan, who also has a 3-1 record and possesses a 1.63 ERA to his name.

Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Astros-Twins MLB odds.

MLB odds: Astros-Twins Odds

Houston Astros: -1.5 (+130)

Minnesota Twins: +1.5 (-156)

Over: 7 (-105)

Under: 7 (-115)

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Why the Astros Could Cover the Spread

After a trip to the World Series in 2021, the Houston Astros are primed to make another run in attempting to win their first championship since 2019. With an array of skilled pitching and overpowering slugging, the Astros have shown that they are one of the more dangerous teams baseball has to offer. During their season-high seven-game winning streak, the Astros have used stellar pitching to account for three shutouts and have outscored their opponents 28-8 within this stretch. Houston has been dominant at the very least and should get an ample test out on the road in the North Star State.

While the bats have come alive over the last week, it appears that the Astrols have yet to even hit their full stride at the plate. Through 29 games, Houston leads the majors with 36 home runs but only ranks 19th in runs scored with 119. The Astros are also only hitting .219, which demonstrates a go-big-or-go-home approach when stepping into the batter's box.

Switching gears to the pitching mound, and things could not be going more smoothly on the rubber. Houston is arguably a top-five pitching squad when it comes to the stats. They are third in ERA, second in quality starts, and fifth in opponent batting average against at .216.

A big part of that success has been the wonderful pitching of Justin Verlander, who continues to give Father Time a run for his money after undergoing Tommy John surgery less than two short seasons ago. At 39 years of age, Verlander is more than determined to show that he has plenty of gas left in the tank. With 38 career starts against the Twins in his career, Verlander has gone 20-18 with a 2.91 ERA

Why the Twins Could Cover the Spread

Currently atop the American League Central, the Twins are generating a buzz of excitement in and around the great state of Minnesota. While the Twins aren't on a lengthy winning streak like the Astros, Minnesota has showcased consistency with avoiding losing skids and staying seven games above .500.

The biggest story from the Twins' clubhouse will be the injured list and the the status of some of their top performers. Former Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, who was hit by a pitch in the hand last Thursday,  showed no fractures or structural damage in a CT scan, and his status will be interesting to watch as first pitch draws closer.

Another banged-up name to keep your eye on will be OF Byron Buxton, who was diagnosed with a mild hip strain and sat out Sunday's matchup against the A's. If one or even both players can make a return to the lineup on Tuesday, expect Minnesota to have a decent chance to prevail at home against Houston.

A big reason the Twins may cover the spread in his one and ultimately win will be the play of pitcher Joe Ryan. The 25-year-old is off to an excellent start to his career, as his unorthodox low-release point prevents him from throwing in the upper 90s but contains a slider and changeup that are absolutely devastating.

While Ryan has yet to face the Astros in his young career, expect Houston to take a couple times throughout the order to pick up what the Twins hurler is throwing at them.

Final Astros-Twins Prediction & Pick

This should be a fun one! With both teams maintaining leads within their division, one side has to unfortunately come out on the short end of things on Tuesday night. The pitching matchup will be the deciding factor, and while this may end up being a low-scoring duel, the Astros will be backed by Verlander's veteran expertise. Houston will eventually figure out Ryan and will go on to win an eighth consecutive victory.

Final Astros-Twins Prediction & Pick: Astros -1.5 (+130)