3 things we learned from the Twins’ three games in Houston

The Twins won two of three road games against the Astros this weekend. What did we learn from their performance in Houston?

In the series opener, Lopez had his best outing since May 9 and one of his best of the season. He’s struggled to find a rhythm this season with a 4.84 ERA, but he went seven innings for the first time since Opening Day.

He struck out six Astros while allowing just one earned run and six hits. In 12 starts this season, he has only allowed a run or less five times, giving him a lousy run average. But did you know that even though his actual ERA is 4.84, his expected ERA is 2.99? This shows that bad touches and luck produce points against Lopez, who are likely to progress toward average and provide better numbers over time.

Larnach hit two homers over the weekend to continue his trend of making powerful contact. Of its 27 successes in 2024, 22% have crossed the barrier. He’s currently hitting a career-high .270 this year, but his home run rate proves he’s a legitimate power hitter at the MLB level.

It was reported earlier this season that Larnach’s average home run distance (419 feet) was the longest by a Twins player in the Statcast era, dating back to 2015. His raw numbers may not jump out in the eyes, but the 27-year-old is having the best season of his career and he has earned an everyday spot in the lineup.

After a two-week stint on the injured list due to knee soreness, Buxton has been back in the Twins’ lineup since May 18. Over the weekend, he went 1 for 11 at the plate with four strikeouts.

Since returning from knee soreness, he has hit .230, with two homers and four RBIs. He struck out 12 of his 39 at-bats (30.7%). His seven-year contract extension, worth $100 million, is becoming more and more questionable as time goes on, as he hasn’t looked like the same player since signing.

Minnesota will return to the road Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. CT for a three-game series in New York against the Yankees.