The Boston Red Sox will pay a visit to Houston to take on the Astros at Minute Maid Park. New England Sports Network will be televising this AL matchup and the action gets underway at 8:10 p.m. ET.
Boston Red Sox at Houston Astros Odds
Vegas is listing Houston (-200) as the favorite over Boston (+185). Bettors can gamble on the game’s total with odds posted at even money (+100) for over 8.5 runs and -120 for under 8.5. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the most recent odds standing at -120 for the Red Sox +1.5 runs and +100 for the Astros -1.5.
The Red Sox are 39-17 SU and are 30-25 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 12.1 units for moneyline bettors and 5.6 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the over has hit in five of those seven. The Astros, on the other hand, are 35-22 SU and 31-25 ATS. The team’s gained 0.5 units for moneyline bettors and 4.6 units ATS. Houston has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has cashed in five of those seven.
Houston games have an over/under record of 21-32-3 so far in 2018. The Red Sox have an over/under record of 27-26-2.
Drew Pomeranz will get the nod for the visiting Red Sox. The left-handed Pomeranz is 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA and 31 strikeouts. He has yet to face Houston this year, but he did make two starts against the Astros in 2017, compiling a 1-0 record against them with a 1.46 ERA and seven strikeouts.
The Astros are sending righty Lance McCullers Jr. (6-3, 3.98 ERA) to the mound. McCullers Jr. has 68 strikeouts and 25 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.18. McCullers Jr. only made one start against the Red Sox in 2017 (0-1, 10.38 ERA and six strikeouts across four and 1-third innings).
Boston’s pitchers have allowed 3.8 runs per game and its starters own a 3.79 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 9.86 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.17, along with a WHIP of 1.21.
The Red Sox offense has slashed .268/.334/.469 on its way to 5.4 runs scored per game in 2018, including 5.3 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 6.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).
Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez continue to lead Boston’s hitters. Betts is hitting .359/.437/.750 with 17 home runs, 37 RBIs, 52 runs and 13 stolen bases, while Martinez is hitting .322 with 18 homers, 47 RBIs and 36 runs scored.
For the home team, Houston’s pitchers have given up 2.8 runs per game overall this season. Its starters have a 2.54 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 3.02, a WHIP of 1.09 and a K/9 of 10.1.
The Houston hitters are putting up 5.0 runs per contest, including 6.5 per game over its last 10 games and 5.6 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .228/.276/.421 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Jose Altuve and right fielder George Springer have paced the Astros’ batters this year. Altuve is slashing .335/.381/.468 with four home runs, 29 RBIs, 33 runs and six stolen bases, and Springer’s line is .284/.345/.489 with 11 homers, 34 RBIs and 42 runs scored.
The Red Sox have gained 14.2 units and are 26-17 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 21 of those games, compared to 20 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Astros have lost 3.7 units and are 9-9 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has hit in seven of those games, compared to 10 that went under.
Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Astros, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Red Sox have won five of their last six games SU while the Astros have lost four of their last five SU.
Boston has posted 22.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 25.8 over its last five.
The Red Sox have hit 17 home runs in their last 10 games. The Astros have hit 14 over their last 10.
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