The Houston Astros defeated the Minnesota Twins in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday. Game 2 will now take place at Minute Maid Park.
According to historical data, the team that loses Game 1 in a best-of-five postseason series in Major League Baseball has less than a 30% chance of winning the series. This is because the losing team must win three of the next four games to advance. Therefore, the Twins need to win Game 2 in order to increase their chances of winning the series. Fortunately, they will have one of their top pitchers on the mound.
You can view the full postseason schedule by clicking here, and here’s the 2023 playoff bracket. Now, let’s move on to the important details for this ALDS.
How to watch Astros-Twins Game 2
Date: Sunday, Oct. 8 | Time: 8:03 p.m. ET
Location: Minute Maid Park (Houston, TX)
TV channel: FS1 | Live stream: fubo (try for free)
Starting pitchers: RHP Pablo López (1-0, 1.59) vs. LHP Framber Valdez (0-0, –)
Odds: HOU -140 | MIN +118 | O/U: 8
Game 2 preview
The Twins had a low OPS against left-handed pitchers this season, ranking 19th in MLB with a .727 OPS. The return of Royce Lewis is a boost, but the lefty factor could be problematic against a strong left-handed pitcher like Valdez. The key question for Game 2 is whether the Twins can run up Valdez’s pitch count and score against the bullpen early in the game.
Prediction
López delivers a great performance, Lewis hits a home run, and the Twins tie the series. Pick: Twins 4, Astros 3.
