Take #933 Houston Astros over Minnesota Twins
(MLB) Houston vs. Minnesota,
Money Line: 115.00 Houston (Away)
Result: Win
The Houston Astros will try to advance to the American League Championship Series for the seventh season in a row when they face the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. The Astros hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five AL Division Series entering Game 4. Houston split the first two games of the series at home before cruising to a 9-1 win in Game 3 on Tuesday in Minnesota. Now, the focus shifts to Houston right-hander Jose Urquidy. He went 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA in 16 appearances (10 starts) for the Astros during the regular season but has not yet pitched during the playoffs this year. The 28-year-old has appeared in 12 career postseason games, making six starts. He is 3-2 with a 3.72 ERA in his playoff career, and he earned wins in both of his appearances in the 2021 World Series against the Atlanta Braves. In three career regular-season starts against Minnesota, Urquidy is 0-0 with a 2.93 ERA. He has walked two and struck out 17 in 15 1/3 innings. He also tossed 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball vs. the Twins in a 2020 AL wild-card series. The Twins will counter with Joe Ryan (11-10, 4.51 ERA in regular season). The 27-year-old right-hander will be making his postseason debut. His most recent outing came on Sept. 29 against the Colorado Rockies, when he gave up six runs on eight hits in five innings. Ryan spent several games ready in the bullpen but was not called upon in the AL wild-card series against the Toronto Blue Jays nor the ALDS up until now. We like Houston to advance behind Urquidy here. Just tons of postseason experience, and we think that is the difference as the Astos get to the ALCS yet again.