Twins vs Astros predictions
With the Minnesota Twins rolling into Daikin Park, a lot rides on bats like Byron Buxton and Ty France to keep the wheels turning for the visitors. Buxton, with his blend of speed and pop, looks primed to notch a hit or two, maybe even drive in a run, if he can catch one of Hunter Brown’s fastballs out front. Ty France, always dependable at the plate, should continue to make solid contact and keep his average hovering around .275—so expect him to get on base and even spark a rally if the Twins string together a few hits. And don’t sleep on Carlos Correa facing his old club; you know the guy loves the big stage, so look for a key RBI from him when it counts.
On the flip side, the Houston Astros are counting on Jeremy Pena to keep his hot bat sizzling. After coming off a 4-hit game, there’s real buzz that he’ll see the ball well and put up another multi-hit performance. Yainer Diaz and Jose Altuve both have the kind of clutch factor that can turn this matchup on its head—Diaz is due for a big swing, and you just get the sense that Altuve will work his way on base, set the table or even come around to score once or twice. And if Isaac Paredes is in the lineup—even at less than 100 percent—his power is always a threat, especially with runners aboard.
Stacking it all up, there’s a little more firepower on the Houston side, especially with that stellar home record and the bats clicking—from the top of the order right through the bottom. The Twins can absolutely hang if the heart of their lineup starts barreling up, but the Astros just seem to find a way to come through at Daikin Park, especially with Pena heating up. If you’re looking for a solid pick, Houston looks to have the edge in this one, especially at home, where everything just seems to break their way. What do you think—can Minnesota pull off an upset, or are the ‘Stros set to keep rolling?
