Carlos Correa | Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images
Unconventional in the sense that there is a built-in day off. That’s something that does not happen through the fat part of the regular season. It used to be a regular part of baseball’s Opening Week, and the first series of the season. Today, we got game, off, game, game. On the bright side of all that, also on Friday is Opening Day for most of the minor leagues.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Gametimes and Probable Starting Pitchers
Thursday, 3:10 PM CT: Hunter Brown (0-1, 3.00) vs. Joe Ryan (0-0, 1.80)Saturday, 1:10 PM CT: Spencer Arrighetti (1-0, 0.00) vs. Bailey Ober (0-1, 27.00)
Sunday, 1:10 PM CT: Ronel Blanco (0-1, 5.40) vs. Chris Paddack (0-1, 24.30)
Standings
Houston Astros: 2-4, .333, Last 10: WLWLLL. Fourth in AL West, 2 1⁄2 games behind the Texas Rangers. In a seven-way tie for eighth in the American League and a nine-way tie for 17th in MLB. On pace for 54-108. Projected for an 82-80 record.
Minnesota Twins: 2-4, .333, Last 10: LLLLWW. In a five-way tie for first in the AL Central, a seven-way tie for eighth in the AL, and a nine-way tie for 17th in MLB. On pace for 54-108. Projected for an 82-80 record.
Advertisement
Advertisement
This is the first of two meetings this season between Houston and Minnesota, with a return engagement in Daikin Park scheduled for June 13 through June 15. Historically, Houston has won just over half of their games against the Twins, at 46-43. The postseason is a different story, with the Astros holding a 5-1 advantage. Last year, the Twins twice won two-of-three when facing Houston.
The last time these two met was July 5 through July 7 last season, with Houston taking the opener before dropping the final two games. In the victory, a 13-12 Astros win, every Houston starter got a safe base hit, with Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Yainer Diaz, Jon Singleton, and Jeremy Peña all collecting multiple hits. Bregman hit his 10th homer of the season, and Joey Loperfido added a two-bagger. Seven Astros pitchers combined for the win, despite Luis Contreras allowing six earned runs in 1 2⁄3 innings. Josh Hader (15) came in to get the final out, and did (after allowing a grand slam).
More from crawfishboxes.com:
- Verlander Regression? Astros Trending: Week in Review, June 28-July4.
- Astros Prospect Report: July 5th, 2018
- Game Recap: Never Settle, Never Quit. Springer, Gurriel Get the Clutch Hit.
- Houston Astros Sprinting through Stretch of Weaker Competition
- Astros Trade: James Hoyt to Cleveland, Tommy DeJuneas to Houston
- Astros Prospect Report: July 4th, 2018
- The Astros Have the Best Bullpen in Baseball.