Astros host the Twins in first of 3-game series
Minnesota Twins (36-32, second in the AL Central) vs. Houston Astros (38-30, first in the AL West)
Houston; Friday, 8:10 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Twins: Chris Paddack (2-5, 3.53 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 52 strikeouts); Astros: Colton Gordon (1-1, 5.11 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 25 strikeouts)
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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -120, Twins +100; over/under is 8 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Houston Astros host the Minnesota Twins on Friday to begin a three-game series.
Houston has a 24-13 record in home games and a 38-30 record overall. Astros hitters have a collective .392 slugging percentage to rank eighth in the AL.
Minnesota is 36-32 overall and 16-20 on the road. The Twins have a 26-7 record in games when they have more hits than their opponents.
Friday's game is the fourth meeting between these teams this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jeremy Pena has 14 doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 33 RBIs for the Astros. Isaac Paredes is 9 for 37 with two doubles, four home runs and 10 RBIs over the last 10 games.
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Byron Buxton has eight doubles, three triples and 11 home runs while hitting .276 for the Twins. Matt Wallner is 7 for 33 with a double and four home runs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Astros: 7-3, .248 batting average, 2.22 ERA, outscored opponents by 16 runs
Twins: 5-5, .274 batting average, 6.78 ERA, outscored by 14 runs
INJURIES: Astros: Isaac Paredes: day-to-day (hamstring), Chas McCormick: 10-Day IL (oblique), Ronel Blanco: 60-Day IL (elbow), Zach Dezenzo: 10-Day IL (hand), Hayden Wesneski: 60-Day IL (elbow), Yordan Alvarez: 10-Day IL (hand), Spencer Arrighetti: 15-Day IL (thumb), Luis Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (elbow), J.P. France: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Taylor Trammell: 10-Day IL (calf), Pedro Leon: 10-Day IL (knee)
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Twins: Pablo Lopez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Zebby Matthews: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Luke Keaschall: 60-Day IL (forearm), Michael Tonkin: 60-Day IL (shoulder)
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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