Boston Red Sox (51-52) vs. Houston Astros (67-36)
August 2, 2022 8:10 pm EDT
The Line: Houston Astros -250 / Boston Red Sox +180; Over/Under: +8
(Get latest betting odds)
The Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros meet Tuesday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. This will be the second installment in a three-game set. In the Monday opener, the Sox eked out a victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Boston played the Brewers over the weekend, losing the first pair before a Sunday victory. On Monday versus the Astros, the Red Sox trailed early but came back for a 3-2 win thanks to two fifth-inning runs. Nathan Eovaldi put up 6.1 clean frames in the start with four hits and two walks.
For the starter job in the Tuesday game, the Red Sox are sending out Kutter Crawford. Over 15 games (six starts) this year, Crawford is 2-3 with a 4.15 ERA. In 47.2 innings he has 22 earned, 16 walks, 42 hits and 50 strikeouts.
Over on the Astros’ side, they did well versus the Mariners this past weekend, winning three of four games. In the Monday matchup, Houston couldn’t score outside of the third inning on the way to five team hits. Starter Luis Garcia managed 7.0 innings, three earned, six hits and a walk.
Cristian Javier will take the mound for the start on Tuesday. This year in his 19 games (15 starts), Javier is 6-6 with a 3.26 ERA. Over 88.1 innings total he has 32 earned on 59 hits and 35 walks with 121 Ks.
The Red Sox are 5-17 in their last 22 versus a right-handed starter and 0-4 in their last four Tuesday games. Boston is 0-9 in their last nine in game two of a series.
Meanwhile, the Astros are 4-1 in their last five in game two of a series and 36-15 in their last 51 Tuesday games. Houston is 59-25 in their last 85 games on grass.
PICK: I’m going to stay with the Astros here. Javier hasn’t done too badly over his last three starts, but he’s 0-2 in that time. Across 13.2 innings total, he’s put up seven earned on 12 hits and eight walks—Javier does have four earned in his last 10 innings, though. If he can manage a quality start in this one I think Houston will be in a promising position.
