The Houston Astros welcome the Minnesota Twins for three games at Minute Maid Park.
The Minnesota Twins darken MMP’s doorstep for the only time this year.
It’s one of two series between the two this season, with the rematch in the Twin Cities from July 5 through July 7. Last year, the Twins defeated Houston four times in six meetings. On May 30, the Astros claimed their last victory of the season over them, with a 5-1 victory. Alex Bregman led Houston’s offense with two hits, including his seventh homer of the year, and Chas McCormick (4) also went deep. Brandon Bielak (2-2, 3.19) earned the win collecting six K’s in 5 2⁄3 innings of one-run ball.
You don’t want guys here that are happy to be here. You want guys that are trying to help us win and believing they can help us win. — Astros Manager Dusty Baker, on Bielak
GameTimes and Starting Pitchers
Friday, 7:10 PM CT: Pablo López (4-5, 5.25) vs. Ronel Blanco (5-0, 1.99)
Saturday, 3:10 PM CT: Joe Ryan (4-3, 2.96) vs. Framber Valdez (3-3, 4.34)
Sunday, 12:05 PM CT: Woods Richardson (2-0, 2.70) vs. Hunter Brown (1-5, 6.39)
Houston just finished up a four-game set against the Seattle Mariners in the Emerald City, with the Astros managing only a single victory. In the final game, on Thursday, Alex Bregman (6) and Victor Caratini (3) each went deep, and Bregman led the offense with a pair of hits. Spencer Arrighetti (3-5, 5.98) struck out eight and pitched six shutout two-hit innings for his first career Quality Start and the victory. Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly each pitched a perfect inning, while Josh Hader collected the final three outs in a non-save situation.
I was really happy that we were able to put some runs up and had some great swings from the hitters today and I was able to give us a chance. — Arrighetti
The Twins enter the series fresh off a four-game set at home against the Kansas City Royals, winning three of them. In the series finale, on Thursday, Ryan Jeffers (11, 12) hit two home runs for three RBI in a 7-6 Twins victory. Caleb Thielbar (2-1, 4.97) earned the win in relief, and Jhoan Duran (9) got the save.
It’s something we talked about [in the midst of a seven-game skid] in Washington, man. It felt like if we were down, 2-0, we already lost the game and there was no energy, and no desire to come back. …We have to figure out a way to fight back. — Twins hero Carlos Correa