Free MLB Pick: Red Sox vs. Astros Odds
Looking for Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros Free MLB predictions? MLB betting sees the Red Sox taking on the Astros in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series Friday, October 15th, 2021 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all MLB baseball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily MLB predictions like this Red Sox-Astros ALCS Game 1 free pick.
2021 MLB Handicapping: ALCS Game 1
(0-0) Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros (0-0)
Date: Friday, October 15th, 2021
Time: 8:07 PM ET
Venue: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX
Projected Pitchers: Chris Sale (BOS) vs. Framber Valdez (HOU)
MLB Moneyline Odds: Red Sox +127 Astros -137 (Bet Now!)
MLB run line Betting Odds: Red Sox +1.5, Astros -1.5
MLB Baseball Gambling Total: O/U: 8.5
The Red Sox will be in Houston to take on the Astros for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. This should be a good one, folks.
Chris Sale is going for the Red Sox and Framber Valdez will toe the slab for the Astros.
Houston played very well against Boston in the regular season. We will see if that continues in the playoffs.
Boston Red Sox
Even the most optimistic Red Sox Fans probably did not have them in the league championship series. This team has totally exceeded expectations.
Not many people gave the Red Sox a chance against the Rays. They just thought that Tampa would run away with the series and advance another round.
Things did not look great for Boston when they lost the first game to Tampa by a score of 5-0. However, they bounced back and rattled off three wins in a row to win the series. In those games, the Sox scored 26 runs and allowed 20 runs. This team definitely shocked a lot of people.
Eduardo Rodriguez got the start in the last game they played in game 4. He went 5 innings and allowed 2 earned runs. The lefty looked sharp in that game.
Boston will go to Chris Sale to start game 1. I was a little surprised to see this because I thought they would have gone with Nate Eovaldi. Sale will look to be much better than he was in game 2 against the Rays.
The pitching in the Rays series was not great, but it did what it had to do. The bullpen for Boston really stepped up when it had to. Sure, it was not perfect, but it was not terrible either.
All year long, the offense was the best part of this team and that has been the case so far in the playoffs. Their lineup just continues to produce at a very high level.
Boston did hit some home runs in the series with the Rays, but they did not depend on it. They also had the ability to string together good at-bat after good at-bat and produce runs.
Houston Astros
All year long, the Astros were one of the best teams in baseball and they have shown that so far in the playoffs. They are a dangerous team.
After not finishing off the White Sox, Houston did a good job of bouncing back and ending things in game 4.
Houston ended the White Sox season on Tuesday by beating them 10-1. In those games, the Astros scored 28 runs and allowed 16 runs. They were just simply too much for Chicago to handle.
Lance McCullers Jr. went 4 innings and allowed 1 earned run on Tuesday. Something important to note is that he will not play in the ALCS due to a forearm strain. That is a major loss for the Astros and a big advantage for the Red Sox.
The Game 1 starter on Friday will be the left-hander Framber Valdez. His last start came against the White Sox in game 2. He went 4.1 innings and allowed 4 earned runs. Houston won this game 9-4.
The pitching for this team really stepped up in the Division Series. For the most part, this staff and bullpen were able to slow down a very powerful and explosive offense in Chicago. They will once again have their hands full when going against this Boston lineup.
This team was the best in baseball when it came to runs scored per game. They just have a lot of good hitters who put the ball in the play. They are a nightmare for opposing pitching staffs.
Similar to the Red Sox, this lineup can hit their home runs, but they have many other ways of scoring runs. They are not one-dimensional.
MLB Baseball Betting Trends:
- The Red Sox are 4-0 in their last 4 games after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- The Red Sox are 4-0 in their last 4 ALCS games.
- The Red Sox are 4-0 in their last 4 ALCS road games.
- The Red Sox are 7-1 in their last 8 games overall.
- The Astros are 2-7 in their last 9 home games with the total set at 8.5.
Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros MLB Prediction:
I am ready for the re-match of the 2018 ALCS. That series saw a lot of very good baseball and I think the same thing will happen in this series. Not many people are surprised that the Astors are here, but I am sure not many had the Red Sox being in this series.
Both of these teams are obviously very good, but I do give the edge to the Astros. With that said, I am not sold on them winning this game. I think the Red Sox are just playing at such a high level right now that I do not see them slowing down. I look for Boston to keep up that momentum.
I feel that the Red Sox lineup matches up very well against Valdez. Although not terrible, Framber was also not great against the White Sox. I expect Boston to score some runs in this game. As far as Chris Sale goes, I do think he will be great here, but I do feel he can contain Houston. As long as he is not god awful, I think Boston has a chance in game 1.
I will go with the Red Sox as a dog on the road.
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