The Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros meet Wednesday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park.
This will be the third installment in a four-game set between these teams this week. The Astros got a big win Monday, then in the Tuesday game Houston kept it going with a four-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Boston couldn’t get much going in the Monday game, posting five hits in an 11-2 blowout loss. In the Tuesday game two, the Sox posted five hits in a 5-1 defeat. Garrett Richards posted 6.0 innings with two earned on four hits in the loss.
For the Wednesday game, the Red Sox are sending out Nick Pivetta. Over his 53.2 innings of work so far, Pivetta has 42 hits, 24 runs (23 earned), four homers allowed, 26 walks, 59 strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA overall.
Over on the Astros’ side, they jumped out to an 11-1 lead after six innings in the Monday game and cruised the rest of the way. On Tuesday, Houston got three runs in the seventh inning and was able to cruise from there. Luis Garcia lasted 7.0 innings with five hits and one earned.
For the Wednesday game, the Astros are sending Framber Valdez to the hill for the start. In his first start of the year on Friday, Valdez gave up one run on two hits in four innings versus the Padres.
The Red Sox are 6-1 in their last seven road games versus a lefty starter and 9-2 in the last 11 games versus a left-handed starter. Boston is 85-41 in their last 126 in game three of a series and 53-23 in their last 76 Wednesday games.
Meanwhile, the Astros are 6-1 in their last seven in game three of a series and 4-1 in their last five Wednesday games. Houston is 119-56 in their last 175 home games and the over is 3-1-1 in their last five Wednesday games.
PICK: I’m going to stick with the Sox in this one. Pivetta has gone 8-0 with a 3.53 ERA in 12 starts since joining Boston last year, and also struck out nine batters in six innings during his last start. As for Valdez, he looked solid in his first start of the year since coming back from a broken finger. I like Valdez to pitch well here again but I think it’s Boston’s game to win.