Saturday, August 07, 2021 Minnesota Twins vs. Houston Astros (MLB) - 7:10 PM EDT Premium Pick Pick: Money Line: -188 Houston Astros Rating: 10* (2) Mike's MLB Revenge MONSTER Play (2 Wins) First things first as in I'm not buying Michael Pineda (the team's just 6-9 in his 15 starts, 3-7 their L10). Second, the Astros will show up here (Oakland just 3 games back) as the Twins have beaten them twice in a row @ this venue & 3 of 5 overall this season. In fact, next to Texas (4-16), these Twinkies have the 2nd worst record since the All-Star break in the AL going 8-13. The Stros' are a top 11 team in overall ERA (3.73) & a 3.98 bullpen ERA. In comparison, Minnesota is 27th in the majors in overall ERA (4.98) & are 26th (out of 30) in bullpen ERA with a 4.87 (2nd worst in the AL). My bottom line says this Houston team can purely HIT! They're 2nd in the majors in total bases (1,640), 1st in runs scored (591), 1st in least amount of strike outs (824), 1st in on base percentage (.339) & 2nd in doubles (201) - only trailing Boston with their LF Green Monster. RHP Luis Garcia takes to the hill for Houston & carries a nifty 2.24 ERA @ home. You have to love that knowing Pineda isn't "all that" on the road with over 2 runs higher (4.43 ERA). Even though the Twins won here the past 2 nights, this isn't their strong suit going just 18-36 versus winning teams this year. If we threw out Arizona (634) & Baltimore (603), Minnesota would be dead last in "runs against" with their whopping 583. analytics show Minny-ha-ha is a putrid 1-7 SU off of a win & just 9-19 the last 28 versus the Stros'. I don't know how they'll keep the Astros' bats silent any longer with a starting pitching ERA of 5.02! Let's take advantage of Minnesota dropping 4 straight Game 3's of a series as we'll gladly fly to Minute Maid Park & lay the juice as we put up a rare but BIG 10* (2) on the HOUSTON ASTROS as my MLB Revenge MONSTER Play! The following are records since mid-July that roughly show whose made enough necessary adjustments for a shot @ a Wild Card or the Playoffs----- MLB Records Since The Break: AL EAST---TB 15-7 NYY 15-7 TOR 15-8 BALT 10-11 BOST 10-13 AL CENTRAL---DET 14-9 KC 12-9 CWSOX 12-11 CLEVE 9-13 MINN 9-14 AL WEST---OAK 12-8 HOUS 11-10 SEAT 11-11 LAA 11-12 TEX 4-18 NL EAST---PHIL 15-9 ATL 13-10 NYM 9-15 MIA 8-15 WASH 8-15 NL CENTRAL--- MILW 13-7 CINC 13-9 STL 11-10 CHICUBS 8-15 PITT 7-15 NL WEST SF 14-9 SD 11-9 COLO 11-10 LAD 11-10 ARIZ 9-12 Mike Handzelek's 2021 MLB Record Last 50----- 34-16 for 68% Mike Handzelek's 2021 Overall MLB Record----- 39-26 for 60%
 

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