The Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox meet Friday in MLB action from Fenway Park. Here’s a Boston Red Sox vs Houston Astros prediction. This will be the first installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Red Sox vs Astros pick.
Houston Astros Betting Preview
The Astros are fresh off a series versus the Texas Rangers. Houston lost the first installment of that set 4-3, but then came back with wins 4-2 and 6-4 to take the series victory. In the finale, the Astros got home runs from Jordan Alvarez and Victor Caratini.
It’ll be Ronel Blanco in the starter role for the Astros Friday. Blanco is 9-6 with a 2.98 ERA and 121 strikeouts so far.
Boston Red Sox Betting Preview
Over on the Boston side, they played the Kansas City Royals this week. The Red Sox managed wins 9-5 and 6-5 in the first two games of that series, but couldn’t complete the sweep after falling 8-4 in the Wednesday finale.
Boston will send out Tanner Houck for the start Friday. Houck is 8-8 with a 3.09 ERA and 123 strikeouts this year.
Total Runs Facts
- Twelve of the Red Sox’s last 13 games have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Each of the Astros’ last four games against AL East opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Red Sox’s last five games against AL West opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Astros’ last three night games.
Boston Red Sox Player Prop Facts
- Rafael Devers has recorded at least one hit in each of the Red Sox’s last 11 games at Fenway Park against AL opponents that held a winning record.
- Masataka Yoshida has recorded at least one Single in each of his last seven appearances in night games against AL teams that held a winning record.
- Rafael Devers has recorded at least one total base in each of the Red Sox’s last 11 games at Fenway Park against AL opponents that held a winning record.
- Triston Casas has hit a home run in each of his last two home appearances against AL West opponents.
- Dominic Smith has recorded at least one Double in six of his last seven appearances against AL opponents.
- Wilyer Abreu has recorded at least one RBI in five of his last six appearances after not playing the previous day.
- Masataka Yoshida has scored at least one run in nine of his 10 previous appearances at Fenway Park against AL West opponents that held a winning record.
Houston Astros Player Prop Facts
- Yordan Alvarez has hit a home run in three of the Astros’ last four games at Fenway Park against opponents that held a winning record.
- Kyle Tucker has scored at least one run in eight of his last nine appearances after not playing the previous day.
- Jeremy Pena has recorded an RBI in five of the Astros’ last six road games against AL East opponents.
- Alex Bregman has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 appearances against the Red Sox.
- Jose Altuve has recorded at least one Single in each of his last eight road appearances against AL opponents that held a winning record.
- Alex Bregman has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 10 appearances against the Red Sox.
Boston Red Sox vs Houston Astros Prediction
I’ll probably just stay with Boston. The Red Sox need to keep the scoreboard a little more manageable this time, though. Boston gave up 18 runs across three games in the Royals series, but the good news is that they scored 19 themselves. That makes three or more runs in nine straight games for Boston.
As for the Astros, they managed 13 runs in the three games of the Rangers set, allowing 10 on the other side. It was an improvement over last weekend’s Rays series, as Houston scored just four runs in those three games. This weekend’s matchup with Boston should be pretty competitive if both teams are on point. It’ll be a fun series. Houck is going to have to step up for the Sox here, though. He’s 0-2 in his last trio of appearances with 13 earned runs in 17.0 frames.