The Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros meet Thursday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. This will be the finale in a four-game series. Houston won the first two installments, then on Wednesday in game three the Sox posted a two-run win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Boston Red Sox 

Boston didn’t have much luck in the first two games of this series, losing Monday 9-4 and Tuesday 7-3. In the game two loss, the Sox’ Justin Turner (two RBI) and Adam Duvall (solo homer) each had two hits. On Wednesday Boston was down 4-2 early but ended up scoring three in the top of the 10th in a 7-5 win. Duvall put up three RBI and a pair of runs in the win. 

In the starter slot for the Thursday game it’ll be Brayan Bello. In his 21 starts this year Bello is 9-7 with a 3.70 ERA and 100 Ks in 119.1 innings. Bello is 3-2 with a 5.03 ERA over his last seven starts with 30 Ks in 39.1 frames. 

Boston Red Sox Team Facts

• The Red Sox have lost each of their last nine games as underdogs after going to extra innings.
• The Red Sox have failed to cover the run line in each of their last four games as underdogs against AL West opponents.
• The Red Sox have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last seven games at Minute Maid Park against American League opponents that held a winning record.
• The Red Sox have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last eight Thursday road games.
• The Red Sox have won the first inning in five of their last seven games as underdogs against AL West opponents.

Boston Red Sox Player Prop Facts

• Rafael Devers ranks T9th in the league in Home Runs (29) this season.

Houston Astros

Over on the Astros’ side, they scored four runs in the seventh inning Tuesday and were able to hang on for the victory. Kyle Tucker had two runs, two RBI and a home run, while Jon Singleton added two hits and two RBI. In game three Houston had 12 team hits but couldn’t do much offensively after the third. Martin Maldonado posted a homer with two RBI, and Yainer Diaz had three hits. 

JP France will take the mound for the Astros on Thursday. This season France is 9-4 with a 2.75 ERA and 80 strikeouts over 108.0 innings in 18 games (17 starts). Over his last seven games (six starts) France is 5-1 with a 1.94 ERA. 

Houston Astros Team Facts

• The Astros have won 11 of their last 12 day games against American League opponents following a home loss.
• The Astros have covered the run line in each of their last six games against AL East opponents following a home loss.
• The Astros have trailed after 5 innings in six of their last nine games as favorites.
• The Astros have led after 3 innings in each of their last seven games against the Red Sox at Minute Maid Park.
• The Astros have trailed after 7 innings in four of their last six games as favorites against American League opponents.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Houston Astros ranks 4th in the league for strikeouts against this season (1012).
• The Houston Astros ranks 6th in the league for runs scored this season (629).
• The Boston Red Sox ranks 1st in the league for doubles this season (274).
• The Boston Red Sox ranks 3rd in the league for hits this season (1139).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’m going to stay with the Astros. France is doing a pretty good job on the mound these days. In his last three games France is 2-1 with just four earned over 16.1 total innings. Bello has been pretty good himself—outside of four earned in 4.2 innings versus Detroit on August 12. I don’t think either starter will perform too badly in this one either. In the Wednesday game three Houston had a fairly well-rounded effort after a sketchy start from Jose Urquidy (4.2 innings; four earned) and a slip-up at the end. I like Houston to keep up the offensive run with a victory to chinch the series, though.