Sunday, August 30, 2015

Target Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Lance McCullers (5-4) vs. Ervin Santana (2-4)

The Houston Astros visit Target Field on Sunday to play the Minnesota Twins. The probable starters are Lance McCullers for the Astros and Ervin Santana for the Twins. The opening line for this matchup has Houston at -130 and Minnesota at +120. The over/under was set at 8. The Astros, with a 70-59 run line record, cover the spread 54% of the time. They also have a 56-68 over/under record. The Twins have a 60-60 over/under record and a 77-51 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 60% of the time.

The Astros head into this matchup with a 71-58 record, including 26-37 on the road. Lance McCullers has a 5-4 record on the season, an earned run average of 3.12 and a 1.21 WHIP. He's pitched 83.2 innings thus far while surrendering 73 hits over that time and when he starts, the Astros are 7-8. The Astros are also 6-6 against the over/under in his starts. His teammates are averaging 4.2 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen has given up 267 hits on the season and have an earned run average of 2.63. Teams are hitting .199 against the bullpen while being struck out 367 times and walking 108 times this season. As a team, Houston has allowed 7.94 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.81 batters per nine. They are 3rd in the league in team earned run average at 3.30.

Houston ranks 29th in the league in team batting average at .241 while hitting .237 on the road. The Astros on-base percentage sits at .307, which puts them at 22nd in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .419. They rank 30th in baseball with 8.05 hits per game and Jose Altuve leads the team with 151.

With a 39-24 home record, Minnesota will hope to improve on their 66-62 overall mark. Ervin Santana has a record of 2-4 while sporting an earned run average of 6.05 on the year with a 1.53 WHIP. He's pitched 58 innings thus far while surrendering 67 hits over that time in which the Twins are 4-6. The Twins are also 5-5 against the over/under in his starts. His teammates score an average of 4.6 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen has given up 382 hits on the season and have a team earned run average of 3.95. Teams are hitting .248 against the Twins bullpen while being struck out 296 times and walking 125 times this season. As a team, Minnesota has allowed 9.52 hits per nine innings while striking out 6.24 batters per nine. They are 22nd in the league in team earned run average at 4.15.

They rank 21st in the league in team batting average with a .249 average while hitting .269 at home. The Twins on-base percentage sits at .303, which puts them at 29th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .401. They rank 22nd in baseball with 8.38 hits per game and Joe Mauer leads the team with 126.

In terms of team defense, the Astros have a fielding percentage of .987 with 63 total errors, 1,336 assists and 3,464 put outs. For the home team, they hold a .986 team fielding percentage while committing 67 errors, accumulating 1,299 assists and compiling 3,402 put outs.

Houston Astros Betting Trends

The Houston Astros are 56-68 against the over/under so far this season

The Houston Astros are 70-59 against the run line so far this season

Minnesota Twins Betting Trends

The Minnesota Twins are 60-60 against the over/under so far this season

The Minnesota Twins are 77-51 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Houston Astros

08/29/15 SS Carlos Correa Hamstring "?" Saturday vs. Minnesota Twins
08/29/15 C Jason Castro Quad injured last game, "?" Saturday vs. Minnesota Twins
07/02/15 RF George Springer Wrist Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/1)
05/19/15 P Samuel Deduno Back Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/14), out for season
04/17/15 P Brad Peacock Hip Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/14); out for season

Minnesota Twins

08/29/15 3B Miguel Sano Hamstring "?" Saturday vs. Houston Astros
08/26/15 P J.R. Graham Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/26)
08/20/15 CF Aaron Hicks Hamstring Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/20)
08/13/15 P Phil Hughes Back Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/10)
06/04/15 P Ricky Nolasco Ankle Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (6/1)
05/16/15 CF Jordan Schafer Knee Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (5/16)

Josh's Pick: Take the Astros

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