Free MLB Pick: Red Sox vs Astros Odds
Looking for Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros free playoff predictions? MLB betting sees the Red Sox taking on the Astros on Thursday, October 5, 2017 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas in the AL Divisional Series Game 1. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all MLB baseball matchups all playoffs long so stay tuned for more FREE daily MLB predictions like this Red Sox Astros free pick.
2017 ALDS Game 1: (0-0) Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros (0-0)
Date: Thursday, October 5, 2017
Time: 4:08 PM ET
Venue: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX.
Projected Pitchers: Chris Sale vs. Justin Verlander
MLB Moneyline Odds: Boston +107 / Houston -117
MLB RunLine Betting Odds: Boston -210 / Houston +185
MLB Baseball Gambling Total: 7.0 (Over -105 / Under -115)
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Boston Red Sox
There will be a lot of pressure on the Red Sox in the first game of the LDS because Chris Sale. It makes me wonder if John Farrell would be better off throwing him on Friday. Might it, somehow, reverse engineer the pressure onto Houston in Game 1?
Sale was a cowboy in the first half and into the second but he was knocked from his saddle a few times down the stretch and I think it’s affected his confidence. Then there’s the fact that he threw more innings than anybody in baseball. And that he has never pitched in the postseason before.
Of course, the reason you have to throw Sale in Game 1 is so he can come back comfortably in a possible fifth game. He still struck out 300 batters this season and may very well still win the Cy Young, despite a disappointing finish. I don’t want to make it all sound bad.
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His opponent will be a familiar one. Both Sale and Justin Verlander dominated the AL Central for more than a couple seasons before one was traded East and the other West.
Boston’s entire lineup is familiar with Verlander. Eight position players have double-digit at-bats against Verlander and the team has seen him 195 times in all. Problem is, no one has had a whole lot of success.
Nobody, except Mitchy Two Bags. Mitch Moreland is 10-for-29 career against Verlander with six doubles. It’s always a lift when Moreland gets into the fray, offensively and it would be an extra huge lift if he drives in a run or two on Thursday.
Houston Astros
Verlander hasn’t been worse than six innings and two runs in his five starts since coming over to Houston, though. He’s 5–0 with a 1.06 ERA in a Houston uniform and has been the difference-maker the front office figured he could be when they made a trade for him after he passed through waivers.
The ‘Stros missed Chris Sale in Houston in the three games before the All-Star Break and last week at Fenway after Boston clinched the division the day before Sale was scheduled to start. As a team, Houston hits .208 against Sale in 115 at-bats. Jose Altuve is 8-for-21 career but just about everybody else has done little. Altuve, Beltran and Gattis each have a homer in their careers off of Sale.
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Houston’s best opportunity to get Sale is probably early. The crowd will be into it and Sale might have some nerves.
I don’t think so, though. Sale is well-rested and it’s going to be tough for these Houston hitters to see him for the first time this season. If the Astros aren’t able to get to Sale, Craig Kimbrel might be coming in for six outs before they know it.
MLB Baseball Betting Trends:
- MIN are 1-8 in their last 9 games as an underdog.
- MIN are 5-21 in their last 26 playoff games.
- Under is 6-2 in MIN last 8 playoff road games.
- Under is 7-1 in NYY last 8 playoff home games.
- NYY are 13-3 in their last 16 home games.
- Under is 7-2 in NYY last 9 playoff games.
- Head to Head: Under is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings.
- Head to Head: MIN are 14-42 in the last 56 meetings in New York.
Free Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros MLB Prediction: Sale and the bullpen choke Houston’s offense.
This may all change when Game 2 comes round. But I like Sale to make a statement in his playoff debut. He will start well, get an eventual lead and Boston goes wire-to-wire.
4* Free MLB Betting Pick: Red Sox (+107)
A final note: you can run on Justin Verlander. I’m expecting zeros for the first couple innings before Boston breaks through with a manufactured run or two in the third or fourth. If any of those Boston outfielders get on base, they will look to run. This will be a fun ballgame.
MLB Free Score Prediction: Boston 4 – Houston 1
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