Houston Astros vs Minnesota Twins – 2:10 PM ET – Target Field (MLB.TV)

Starting Pitchers: Ronel Blanco (HOU) vs Chris Paddack (MIN)
Moneyline: Twins -122, Astros +102
Over/Under: 8.5

Game Preview:

The Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins meet Sunday afternoon to close out their three-game set at Target Field. Both clubs enter the rubber match at 3-5 and looking to build momentum heading into their respective division series next week. The Twins evened the series with a 6-1 win on Saturday, holding Houston to just five hits and capitalizing on early run support.

Ronel Blanco will start for Houston, making his second outing of the season after allowing 3 earned runs over 5 innings in his debut. Blanco was solid in stretches last season but struggled with consistency, finishing with a 4.78 ERA across 87.1 innings. While he’s capable of limiting damage, his strikeout rate has dipped, and command remains an issue. He’ll face a Minnesota lineup that is heating up — particularly against right-handers.

Chris Paddack gets the nod for the Twins after an ugly 2025 debut where he was lit up for 9 runs in just 3.1 innings. The ERA (24.30) is inflated from one start, but the concern stems from Paddack’s ongoing battle to stay healthy and effective since undergoing Tommy John surgery. On paper, Houston has the better starter in Blanco, but Minnesota’s bats — and home-field edge — could flip the script quickly if Paddack settles in.

The Astros offense has sputtered early, ranking bottom-third in team batting average and OBP. Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve have been productive in spurts, but they’ve been out of sync as a unit. Meanwhile, Minnesota has seen power production from Harrison Bader (3 HR, 8 RBI), and steady hitting from Byron Buxton, Willi Castro, and Matt Wallner. Houston has also dropped 4 of its last 5 and has failed to score more than 4 runs in a game since April 1.

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Best Bet: Twins Moneyline (-122)

Despite Paddack’s shaky start to the season, the Twins are simply playing better baseball right now. The Astros look flat and are 1-5 in their last six day games vs AL teams. Minnesota has covered the run line in 6 of their last 7 day games vs AL West teams with losing records and is 7-1 SU in their last 8 following a home win vs the AL West. This is a short price on a team with more momentum and better offensive rhythm. The Twins are one of the best MLB best bets today at home.

Top Player Prop: Jose Altuve to Record a Hit (-240) and Score a Run (+105)

Altuve is Houston’s most consistent bat and has a hit in 8 straight Sunday games vs AL Central teams with losing records. He’s also crossed the plate in all 8 of those matchups. Given how much he sets the table atop the order, his hit + run combo offers sneaky value among today’s MLB player props — especially if Houston shows early life against Paddack.

Astros vs Twins Betting Trends:

Twins are 7-1 SU in last 8 games vs AL West teams after a home win
Astros are 1-5 SU in last 6 day games vs AL teams
Astros are 1-6 RL in last 7 games overall
Twins are 6-1 RL in last 7 day games vs losing AL West teams
Under is 8-1 in Astros’ last 9 games as road underdogs
Over is 8-2 in Twins’ last 10 home games after playing the previous day

Astros vs Twins FAQ

Who is favored in Astros vs Twins on April 6, 2025?
The Minnesota Twins are slight -122 home favorites over the Houston Astros.

What time is Astros vs Twins today?
First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 PM ET from Target Field in Minneapolis.

Who are the starting pitchers?
Ronel Blanco (Astros) vs Chris Paddack (Twins).

What is the over/under total for today’s game?
The total is set at 8.5 runs — recent trends suggest Over for the Twins, but Under for Houston.

What’s the best player prop for this matchup?
Jose Altuve to record a hit and score a run offers value based on his Sunday and AL Central performance history.

Which side has the betting edge?
The Twins are 7-1 in their last 8 vs AL West teams after a home win and are better positioned offensively. Houston’s lineup continues to underwhelm, and Blanco is still an unknown in hostile environments.

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