Game: Houston Astros @ Minnesota Twins
Time: 4:07 p.m.
Odds: Astros +120, Twins -130
Total: 8
In Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Houston Astros today, the Minnesota Twins will try to maintain their perfect home record in the postseason. The two teams split in Houston leaving the best-of-five series at one game apiece. The Astros won Game 1 of the series 6-4 on Saturday before dropping the second game 6-2 on Sunday. In those two games, Yordan Alvarez hit three home runs for Houston. The series is now moving north, where the first pitch will likely occur when the temperature is in the 50s.
After defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL wild-card series, the Twins have won both of their playoff home games. The first win over Toronto snapped an 18-game postseason losing streak. Minnesota also won its first playoff series since 2004.
The Twins’ recent playoff success is largely due to shortstop Carlos Correa. In four postseason games in 2023, he is hitting .533 (8-for-15) with three doubles and four RBIs. The 29-year-old played for the Astros for the first seven seasons of his major league career. It was definitely satisfying to defeat his former team.
Right-hander Cristian Javier will start today for the Astros as he attempts to dash the Twins’ hopes. Javier made 31 starts this season, going 10-5 with a 4.56 ERA. He recorded 159 strikeouts in 162 innings. Javier has experience with postseason play. In 14 games (two starts), he is 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA. In the World Series last year, he defeated the Philadelphia Phillies by pitching six innings without allowing a run. Javier has faced Minnesota just once in his career, going 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA.
Right-hander Sonny Gray, who will make his second postseason start, will counter for the Twins. In a victory over the Blue Jays in the wild-card series, Gray pitched five innings without allowing a run. Throughout 184 innings and 32 starts this season, he went 8-8 with a 2.79 ERA. Gray has made five playoff starts overall and is 1-2 with a 2.39 ERA. In 26.1 innings, he has recorded 24 strikeouts. In 12 starts against the Astros in his career, Gray is 4-4 with a 3.03 ERA.
Houston is now 5-1 SU in its last six games. The Astros have been good on the road lately winning six of their last seven away from home. They were one of the best road teams in MLB this season and have a record of 51-30 in road games this season.
The Twins have been equally as good, going 11-4 SU in their last 15 games. They are 5-1 SU in their last six home games. Minnesota and Houston have split the last ten games. The two teams have averaged 8.9 runs per game over that span. The Over is 6-3-1 in those games and both games in this playoff series have cashed on the Over.
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