The Minnesota Twins (4-2) will host the Houston Astros (3-4) on Friday, beginning a three-game series and making up for Thursday's postponed game. This will be the home opener for the Twins.
Last season the Astros won all six head-to-head games against the Twins.
Since 2015 the Houston Astros have won the World Series twice, four AL pennants, and six straight ALCS appearances. In 2022 Houston won 106 games, beat the Mariners and Yankees in the postseason, and the Phillies in the World Series. The roster overall is still loaded, but the Astros did lose Cy Young winner Justin Verlander (18-4. 1.75 ERA) in free agency to the Mets. Even with Verlander gone and Jose Altuve starting the season on the IL, the Astros still entered the World Series as the consensus World Series favorite.
The Astros have not gotten off to a fantastic start. After splitting a four-game series against the White Sox, Houston dropped two out of three games to a Detroit Tigers' club that is expected to be one of the worst in baseball. Houston did beat Detroit 8-2 on Wednesday and now have had some extra rest before they play on the road for the first time this season.
Eye of the Tiger.
Tonight's @stellarbanktx Photo of the Night. pic.twitter.com/KvZReW0214
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 5, 2023
Houston is 16th in MLB averaging 4.7 runs per game, with most of the damage coming from Yordan Alvarez (.407 OBP, 2 HR, 10 RBI) and Kyle Tucker (.467 OBP, 3 HR, 8 RBI). Houston is 13th allowing 4.3 runs per game and will start Jose Urquidy (0-0. 6.75 ERA) on Friday. Urquidy allowed three runs in four innings in a 6-4 win over the White Sox last Saturday. In 2022. Urquidy went 13-8 with a 3.94 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. In two career starts against Minnesota, he has a 3.60 ERA.
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