Take #924 Minnesota Twins over Houston Astros
(MLB) Houston vs. Minnesota,
Money Line: -128.00 Minnesota (Home)
Result: Loss
The Minnesota Twins will try to remain perfect at home in the postseason when they host the Houston Astros on Tuesday afternoon in Game 3 of the American League Division Series. The best-of-five series is even at 1-1 after each team won a game in Houston. The Astros won the series opener 6-4 on Saturday and lost the second contest 6-2 on Sunday. Yordan Alvarez racked up three home runs for Houston in those two games. Now the series shifts north, where temperatures are expected to be in the 50s for first pitch. The Twins have won both of their home games in the playoffs, having eliminated the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL wild-card series. They snapped an 18-game postseason losing streak and won their first playoff series since 2004. Astros right-hander Cristian Javier will try to spoil the Twins' optimism. Javier went 10-5 with a 4.56 ERA in 31 starts this season, and he struck out 159 batters in 162 innings. Javier is no stranger to the postseason. He is 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA in 14 games (two starts), and he pitched six scoreless innings en route to earning a victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series last season. In one career appearance against Minnesota, Javier is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA. The Twins will counter with right-hander Sonny Gray, who will make his second start of this postseason. Gray pitched five scoreless innings in a win over the Blue Jays in the wild-card series. He was 8-8 with a 2.79 ERA over 184 innings in 32 starts in the regular season. In five career playoff starts, Gray is 1-2 with a 2.39 ERA. He has 24 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings. Gray, 33, is 4-4 with a 3.03 ERA in 12 career starts against the Astros. We think the Twins get the Minnesota magic back and give the Astros problems here, and Gray steps up. Let's roll with Minnesota.