Minnesota Twins vs Houston Astros Preview
Today's Starting Matchup
Today's starting pitching matchup features Minnesota Twins's Joe Ryan (5-4, 3.18 ERA) against Houston Astros's Mike Burrows (3-8, 5.48 ERA).
Minnesota Twins's Joe Ryan posts an solid 3.18 ERA this season, while Mike Burrows has been shaky at 5.48. There is a clear gap in starting pitching quality.
Advanced metrics: Joe Ryan — FIP 2.81, K% 28.5%, 93.3 IP / Mike Burrows — FIP 5.57, K% 18.4%, 85.3 IP
Team Season Comparison
2026 season record: Minnesota Twins 41-45 (.477), Houston Astros 42-45 (.483).
Recent form: Minnesota Twins on a 2-game win streak, Houston Astros on a 1-game losing streak.
Based on starting pitching, Minnesota Twins holds the edge.
Bullpen Analysis
Minnesota Twins bullpen: 13 relievers on the active roster. Key arms: Andrew Morris (Setup) 4.03 ERA, 40K in 38.0IP, Cody Laweryson 5.06 ERA, 18K in 16.0IP, Connor Prielipp 4.96 ERA, 65K in 61.2IP.
Houston Astros bullpen: 13 relievers on the active roster. Key arms: AJ Blubaugh (Setup) 3.52 ERA, 50K in 53.2IP, Bryan Abreu (Closer) 6.00 ERA, 34K in 27.0IP, Bryan King (Closer) 2.25 ERA, 27K in 36.0IP.
Win Probability
Projected win probability: Minnesota Twins 58% vs Houston Astros 42%
Factors: Minnesota Twins's starter owns the lower ERA, Houston Astros's home-field advantage. Of course, baseball's inherent randomness means actual results may differ.
Key Tactical Points
Workload comparison: Joe Ryan averages 5.5 IP per start vs. Mike Burrows at 5.7 IP. Getting six-plus innings from the starter significantly eases the bullpen burden.
Mike Burrows has allowed 19 HR this season — a concern against a lineup with extra-base power.