Houston Astros vs Minnesota Twins Betting Pick & Prediction for 5/18

MLB game preview

The Houston Astros travel to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The game is set for Monday, May 18, 2026, at 7:40 PM. Fans can watch the action on SCHN, as the Astros aim to bounce back from their recent loss.

Houston has struggled on the road with a 7-15 record. Tatsuya Imai will start for the Astros, carrying a 1-1 record and a 9.24 ERA. The Twins, with a home record of 13-13, will counter with Kendry Rojas, who boasts a 2.45 ERA.

Houston Astros Team Preview

The Houston Astros have been inconsistent in their recent games. They had a strong showing on May 16th with a 4-1 win over the Texas Rangers. However, they followed it with a tough 8-0 loss against the same team on May 17th. Their performance has been up and down, making it difficult to predict their next move.

Yordan Alvarez stands out as a key player for the Astros. He has a batting average of .316 with 15 home runs and 31 RBIs. His consistent hitting provides a solid foundation for the Astros’ lineup. Christian Walker also contributes with 11 home runs and a batting average of .263.

The Astros’ pitching has faced challenges, with a team ERA of 5.43, which ranks 29th in the league. Tatsuya Imai, the probable starting pitcher for their next game, has a 9.24 ERA. This makes pitching a critical area for improvement as they face the Minnesota Twins next.

Astros vs Twins Game Day Info

  • Sport: MLB
  • Teams: Houston Astros vs. Minnesota Twins
  • Venue: Target Field in Minneapolis, MN
  • Date: Monday, May 18, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Astros Moneyline -106, Twins Moneyline -113, Astros Runline -1.5 (+148), Twins Runline +1.5 (-181), Total Over 9.5 (-114), Total Under 9.5 (-107)

Minnesota Twins Team Preview

The Minnesota Twins recently had a close win against the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-4. Ryan Jeffers hit a home run and had two hits. Kody Clemens contributed with two doubles and two RBIs.

In their previous game against the Brewers, the Twins lost 2-1. Trevor Larnach hit a solo home run. Connor Prielipp pitched well, allowing only one earned run over six innings with eight strikeouts.

In another recent game, the Twins defeated the Miami Marlins 9-1. Zebby Matthews had a strong outing, pitching seven scoreless innings. Austin Martin and James Outman both had two hits and drove in three runs each.

BTB Betting Pick

The Houston Astros are slightly favored with a moneyline of -106 against the Minnesota Twins at -113. Given the Astros’ higher batting averages and slugging percentages, they have a slight edge in this game. The projected score suggests the Astros might come out on top with a final score of 5-4.

The total for the game is set at 9.5, with the over at -114 and the under at -107. Both teams have struggled with pitching, as indicated by their higher earned run averages. The projected total score of 9 suggests taking the under might be the better choice, given the odds and team performances.