The Astros won a series in Boston last weekend, but the Sox get their chance to return the favor when the teams open a three-game rematch series Friday night in H-Town. Which way are we betting this game with our free MLB pick?
MLB Betting Odds
As of this writing, Friday’s MLB betting odds were holding off on lining this game, perhaps waiting for more certain word on the status of several key players on both sides.
Red Sox vs. Astros Set-Up
Boston just took three of four games from the Blue Jays in Toronto this week, winning Thursday’s series finale 8-2. That was a 1-1 game through five innings when the Red Sox scored two runs in the sixth, one each in the seventh and eighth and three in the ninth to pull away.
With the win over the Astros, last Sunday Boston is 4-1 over its last five games. At 27-23 overall the Red Sox sit in second place in the AL East, 5.5 games behind the division-leading Yankees.
Houston, meanwhile, just split four games at home with the White Sox, losing Thursday’s series finale 4-0. The Astros managed just four hits Thursday and got just one runner as far as second base.
With Thursday’s loss, Houston is 2-3 over its last five games. But at 33-18 overall the Astros lead the AL West by seven games over second-place Texas.
This series is the second meeting between these teams this season. Last weekend Houston took two of three games from the Sox at Fenway.
Friday’s Starting Arms
This pitching match-up is a rematch of a game played last Sunday, a 4-3 Boston victory. The Sox won that one as -185 favorites, and that game played under a total of 9.5 runs.
Lefty Miley, by our stringent accounting, is 4/10 on quality starts this season and 0 for his last two. Last Sunday, against this Boston outfit, Miley allowed three runs – two earned – on seven hits through five innings. And just before that, he gave up four runs on seven hits through six innings of an 11-4 Houston victory over Detroit.
On the season the Astros are 7-3 with Miley, 5-1 over his last six starts.
That start last weekend was Miley’s first against the Red Sox since 2017 when he was with Baltimore.
Fellow southpaw Sale is 5/10 on quality starts this year, and four for his last five. Last Sunday, against this Houston outfit, Sale allowed three runs on four hits and five walks through 5 1/3 innings. And over his last five starts, he’s allowed just eight ER and 17 hits through 33 1/3 innings, with 59 strikeouts!
Boston is only 3-7 with Sale this season, but 3-1 over his last four starts.
Over his last three starts against the Astros, two last year, including one in that ALCS, and the one last weekend, Sale allowed nine runs and 11 hits through 15 1/3 innings. The Red Sox only won one of those three games.
Friday’s Batting Splits
Boston is batting .244/.317/.438 this season against left-handed pitching. But this lineup could be without slugger JD Martinez, who’s missed recent action with an illness.
Houston is batting .288/.374/.534 against LH pitching this season, which ranks in the top five among all lineups against lefties. But the Astros are already missing spark-plug Jose Altuve, and now George Springer has missed recent action with a sore back. Houston has scored a total of 15 runs over its last five games.
The Bullpens
The Red Sox bullpen owns a 3.76 ERA this season and a 1.20 WHIP.
The Astros bullpen owns a 2.64 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP, both of which as best in the Majors.
Totals Report
- Overs are 29-19 in Red Sox games this season.
- Unders are 28-20 in Astros games this season.
- Unders are 12-10 in games played at Minute Maid Park this season.
- Unders are 3-0 in Red Sox-Astros games this season.
- Unders are a combined 12-8 in games started by Miley and Sale this season.
- Get more details: Boston at Houston MLB Match-up Stats
