SPORTS BETTING

Houston Astros at Minnesota Twins Game 2 odds, picks and best bets

Geoff Clark
USA Today Sportsbookwire

Game 2 of the best-of-three series AL Wild Card between the defending AL champion Houston Astros and the 2020 AL Central division winner Minnesota Twins is Wednesday at Target Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:08 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Astros-Twins MLB betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.

Astros at Twins: Projected starting pitchers

RHP Jose Urquidy vs. RHP Jose Berrios

Urquidy: 1-1 with a 2.73 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 5.2 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 29 2/3 IP over 5 starts.

  • Last start (Sept. 25): No-decision with 7 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 5 K and 0 BB in a 5-4 Astros loss at the Texas Rangers.
  • This is Urquidy's second season in the majors and he has never faced the Twins.
  • 2020 road splits: 0-1 with a 2.77 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 5.9 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in 13 IP over 3 games (two starts).

Berrios: 5-4 with a 4.00 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 9.7 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 63 IP over 12 starts.

  • Last start (Sept. 25): Loss, 7-2, with 5 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 7 K and 2 BB against the Cincinnati Reds.
  • Career vs. Astros: 2-3 with a 6.43 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 20 K and 13 BB in 21 IP over 5 starts.
    • Ccurrent Astros lineup vs. Berrios: .333/.393/.500 with 2 HR given up in 72 batters faced.
  • Postseason splits: 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 10 K and 3 BB in 2 games (1 start).

Get some action on this game or any other matchup with an MLB bet at BetMGM in NJ, IN, CO and WV. Bet now!

Astros at Twins: Key injuries

(Get the latest injury news here.)

Astros

  • RP Roberto Osuna (elbow) out
  • OF Yordan Alvarez (knee) out

Twins

  • 3B Josh Donaldson (calf) out

Astros at Twins: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Astros 5, Twins 2

Money line (ML)

The ASTROS (+140) took Game 1 thanks to a Twins' fielding error in the top of the 9th, which led to a three-run output in the 4-1 win. P Framber Valdez took over for Zack Greinke in the bottom of the 5th, the Twins (-154) were up 1-0 at the time, and Valdez struck out five after walking his first two batters. Minnesota dropped its 17th consecutive playoff game and is going to make it 18 straight Wednesday.

Urquidy won Game 4 of the 2019 World Series and is more reliable in this spot than Berrios. The Twins lost both games Berrios has started in his playoff career. Both were against the New York Yankees in 2017 and 2019.

Given the plus-number, lack of Berrios' postseason track record and his lifetime splits against this Houston lineup, we're betting the ASTROS (+140) to eliminate the Twins. New to sports betting? A $100 bet on the Astros (+140) profits $140 if Houston beats Minnesota.

Run line/Against the spread (ATS)

I am going to throw out the regular-season trends when handicapping this one because it appears the Twins' recent playoff woes supersede all. Houston knows how to win big games and Minnesota does not.

Trash cans and buzzers aside, the Astros lineup typically rakes against Berrios. As good as the Twins have been this season, their lineup isn't nearly as explosive as last season.

Houston insurance (+1.5, -162) is too expensive but I like the payout of ASTROS -1.5 (+200) on the alternate run line.

Over/Under (O/U)

Minnesota played in the most Unders in MLB (20-37-4 Over/Under) and, for reasons that have been well documented, Houston's lineup also regressed in 2020.

For these reasons, I lean Under 8 (-110) in Game 2 but I am going to PASS ON THE TOTAL since all of our Astros action has me rooting for them to put up some runs.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.