Astros at Twins
The Minnesota Twins attempt to win the current four-game set and the season series against Houston when they host the Astros on Thursday in the finale. Minnesota has won two of three games in the series after Wednesday 6-2 triumph, which evened the season set at three games apiece entering the final 2019 matchup.
Jonathan Schoop fueled the Twins' fifth victory in the past six games with a 465-foot, two-run homer into the upper deck in the third inning of Wednesday's game. Nelson Cruz had two hits and two RBIs and Jorge Polanco had two hits and drove in one run for Minnesota, which has won nine of its past 12 games. Houston rolled to an 11-0 win Tuesday after scoring just 12 runs in the previous five games but the bats went back to being quiet as the Astros were blanked on four hits over eight innings by Martin Perez before avoiding the shutout with two ninth-inning runs. Carlos Correa had a double in the ninth to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston), FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Brad Peacock (2-1, 3.67 ERA) vs. Twins RH Jose Berrios (4-1, 2.97)
Peacock received a no-decision in his last turn when he gave up one run and four hits and struck out seven in six innings against the Cleveland Indians. The 31-year-old, who is making his third straight start and fifth of the season, has a solid 1.00 WHIP and is limiting opposing hitters to a .202 average. Peacock is 0-3 with a 4.32 ERA in eight career appearances (four starts) against the Twins and has served up homers to Max Kepler (2-for-5) and former batterymate Jason Castro (2-for-2).
Berrios has won three consecutive starts and has struck out 20 in 18 2/3 innings during the stretch. The 24-year-old's last two wins were against the Baltimore Orioles, including Saturday when he gave up two runs and seven hits over six innings. Berrios is 1-3 with an 8.36 ERA in four career starts against Houston and has been roughed up by George Springer (5-for-8, homer) and Jose Altuve (4-for-9).
WALK-OFFS
1. Twins LF Eddie Rosario, who leads the American League with 11 homers, is 0-for-17 during a five-game slump.
2. Houston 3B Alex Bregman was hitless in four at-bats Wednesday and is 2-for-24 over the past seven games.
3. Minnesota 3B Marwin Gonzalez is 0-for-7 in the series against his former club and buried in a 4-for-41 funk over his last 11 appearances.