Minnesota Twins vs Houston Astros Prediction, 8/6/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds
Game: Minnesota Twins vs Houston Astros
Date: Friday, August 6, 2021
Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX
TV: AT&T SportsNet Southwest
Odds/Point Spread: Minnesota (+170) Houston (-227)
Zack Greinke and the Houston Astros (65-43, 1st in AL West) play the Minnesota Twins (45-63, 5th in AL Central) at Minute Maid Park on Friday. The Twins open this contest at +170 while the Astros are coming in at -227. The O/U is set at 9.5. The expected starting pitchers are Bailey Ober and Zack Greinke.
As a team, the Minnesota Twins are putting up 4.6 runs per outing, which is 12th in the league. They have earned a total of 497 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .317. The Twins have compiled 179 two-baggers as a unit and have knocked 155 baseballs out of the park. They have recorded 462 runs batted in as well as 879 base knocks for the season, and their average at the plate sits at .245. Minnesota has a slugging % of .430 and have been called out on strikes 909 times, while being walked on 354 occasions.
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Twins pitchers have allowed 157 home runs and also 570 runs in total (28th in MLB). Their pitching staff has walked 316 opposing hitters and their FIP comes in at 4.60 as a team for the year. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.78 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.34. The Twins hold a team earned run average of 4.99 this season (27th in MLB), and their staff has struck out 880 hitters.
The Twins relief pitchers have compiled a save rate of 62.5% and has entered the game in 93 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 113 runners on the campaign with 51.3% of them ended up crossing the plate. Twins bullpen pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on 85 times in addition to having 110 appearances in high leverage situations. The Twins have dispatched 338 relievers to the hill this season. The relief pitchers have accumulated 53 holds over the course of the season (16th in baseball). They have recorded 25 saves on the campaign and have missed out on 15 of 40 save opportunities.
The Minnesota Twins have accounted for 2,799 putouts at this point in the season, as well as 950 assists and 72 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .981 which has them ranked 29th in professional baseball, and they have twisted 714 double plays. The Twins have transformed 68.5% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 8,397 innings on the field, which has them sitting 24th in pro baseball.
Ober (1-1 record in his career) sits with a FIP of 4.98 while going up against 198 opposing hitters in the majors. He has conceded 46 base knocks (8.7 hits per 9 innings) with 14 free passes. His earned run average is 4.94 (26 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.268. Ober has pitched in 47 frames and has racked up 51 strikeouts during his career.
Houston has a total of 141 home runs on the year as well as 559 RBIs. They have recorded 200 two-baggers, while walking 388 times as well as recording 583 runs. The Houston Astros have accounted for an on-base percentage of .341 and a batting average of .267 over the course of the season. The Astros have a team slugging % of .440 and they tally 5.45 runs per game (1st in baseball). They have been called out on strikes on 804 instances (30th in the league) and have accounted for 976 hits.
The Astros have a team WHIP of 1.214 in addition to having a FIP of 4.13 as a unit so far this year. Their K/BB ratio is 2.72 (977 strikeouts against 359 free passes). They are sitting at 7th in the league as a staff in total hits relinquished with 797. They have given up 128 homers and they allow 4.07 runs per 9 innings (9th in MLB). The Houston pitching staff have surrendered 431 runs on the season while holding a team ERA of 3.70 (391 earned runs surrendered).
Houston has called on relief pitchers to step onto the hill in 40 save chances and they have come away with 24 saves. They are currently ranked 15th in baseball with a save percentage of 60.0%, and they have sent 324 relief pitchers to the hill on the year. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the mound 99 times in high leverage situations and on 91 occasions with runners on base. Houston relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 37.8% out of their 143 inherited base runners. Sitting with 90 save situations, the Astros have accrued 49 holds in addition to 16 blown saves.
The Houston Astros have twisted 79 double plays and have earned a fielding percentage of .988 (1st in baseball). The Astros have accrued 898 assists, 45 errors and have a total of 2,856 putouts so far this year. In 8,568 innings on the diamond, the Astros have a defensive efficiency of 71.8% (2nd in the majors).
In his career, Greinke has allowed 2,852 hits while tallying 2,786 punch outs in 3,069 innings. He has given up 1,153 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.158 and having a FIP of 3.4. His K/BB ratio is 3.96 and he has faced 12,530 opposing hitters in his MLB career. Greinke (218-129 record in his career) has a 3.38 ERA and has given up 8.4 hits per nine innings.
Who will win tonight's baseball game against the spread?
Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Houston (-227)
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Additional Resources:
Houston Astros - Twitter
Minnesota Twins - Twitter