Just three games remain for the Astros and Indians in the race for home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs and Houston’s making it a tight finish. They’ve scored 11 or more runs in each of their last four games – winning them by an aggregate score of 49-9 – and they’ll have the pleasure of facing the volatile Doug Fister this evening.
While the Astros are surging down the stretch, the Red Sox are whimpering. They’ve lost three of their last four – all of which have gone OVER – because of some pretty dismal pitching. As a team, the Sox have a 5.71 ERA the last seven days and if they hadn’t been hitting well (.290 batting average in that span) they could easily be 1-6 straight up instead of 4-3.
They’ll throw Doug Fister (5-8, 4.87 ERA) at their problems tonight but that might be a little like throwing gasoline on a grease fire. The veteran righty has gotten lit up for 14 earned runs in his last three starts combined and he’s about to face the hottest lineup in baseball.
Charlie Morton goes for the ’Stros and he’s been much better than Fister in his last three starts, giving up just four total earned runs in that span. Given the advantage on the starting bump and how good Houston’s offense is right now, the Astros feel close to a lock on the runline.
Houston Astros vs Boston Red Sox Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
92-67 Boston battles the Astros, currently with a 99-60 mark. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Boston vs Houston injuries news.
The MLB Power Rankings show a slight disparity between these teams, with the Boston Red Sox rated this week at No. 4 and the Houston Astros sitting at No. 8.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits the Boston Red Sox' No. 10-rated offense, averaging 4.87 runs per game, against a Houston Astros defense that ranks No. 10 at 4.33 in runs allowed per game. The Boston Red Sox have averaged 9 hits per game so far, less than Houston Astros batters have averaged on the year (9.81 hits per game).
Comparing defensive stats, Houston owns the No. 13-rated road mark, allowing 4.64 runs per game on the highway. Boston, on the other hand, rates No. 15 in scoring at home.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Houston routed Boston on Thursday by a 12-2 score at Fenway Park, plating runs all day in baseball betting action.
Next Betting Matchups
Houston at Boston, Saturday, September 30