Minnesota @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2018 ) Minnesota 1, Houston 4

The Houston Astros own a three-game winning streak and figure to have a great chance to push it to four when they carry a decided pitching advantage into the second of a three-game series with the visiting Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Star right-hander Justin Verlander will go for the Astros while the Twins will open with reliever Trevor May in what will be a bullpen day for a team that has dropped eight of 10.

Minnesota hopes to cash in on its opportunities against Verlander after it went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position in a 4-1 loss to begin the series Monday afternoon. Alex Bregman homered for the third straight game to lead a meager but effective four-hit attack for the Astros, who maintained a 2 1/2-game lead over the Oakland Athletics in the American League West. Bregman has reached base safely in 31 straight games, the longest active streak in the majors, and teammate Tyler White had a hit in three at-bats Monday to leave him with a .333 average in 29 games since the All-Star break. Joe Mauer was the only Twin with multiple hits Monday but both were singles and he remains one extra-base hit shy of tying Tony Oliva (597) for fourth on Minnesota's all-time list.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), AT&T SportsNet Southwest (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Trevor May (3-0, 1.88 ERA) vs. Astros RH Justin Verlander (13-9, 2.78)

May will be making his 26th career start but his first since Aug. 14, 2015. He struck out all four batters he faced in a perfect relief outing Friday at Texas and owns five straight scoreless appearances spanning 5 2/3 innings. The 28-year-old gave up seven runs over 4 2/3 innings in his career against Houston and Jose Altuve is 3-for-4 with a home run versus May.

Verlander is 2-1 over his last three starts but has an ERA of 5.40 in that span. He did strike out 11 in just 5 1/3 innings against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday and did not allow a home run after serving up 11 long balls over his previous six outings. The seven-time All-Star blanked the Twins over seven frames earlier this season and is 18-9 with a 3.06 ERA in 35 career matchups.

WALK-OFFS

1. Astros OF-INF Marwin Gonzalez (oblique) has been ruled out of the remainder of the series and RHP Hector Rondon (hand) was forced to leave Monday's game in the ninth inning.

2. Mauer also needs one run to move into a sixth-place tie with Clyde Milan (1,004) on the franchise list.

3. Houston INF Yuli Gurriel homered Monday for just his second hit in 20 at-bats over a six-game stretch.

PREDICTION: Astros 6, Twins 3