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 on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas. 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 free pick.
2021 MLB Handicapping
(32-21) Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros (29-24)
Date: Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Time: 8:10 PM ET
Venue: Minute Maid Park, Houston, TX.
Projected Pitchers: Richards (BOS), Garcia (HOU)
MLB Moneyline Odds: BOS +105 | HOU -125
MLB RunLine Betting Odds: BOS -185 | HOU +165
MLB Baseball Gambling Total: 9.0 (Over -120)
Boston Red Sox
Boston’s final game against Miami over the weekend was washed out by the rain. The Red Sox won the first two of the series and so entered Houston on Monday unbeaten in their last five series.
The four-game set at Minute Maid got off to a rough start, however. The Astros are pounding Boston, 11–1, in the seventh inning.
Eduardo Rodriguez’s struggles continued. Boston’s bats have managed just three hits in the first seven innings against Jose Urquidy and Enoli Paredes.
Alex Cora will turn to Garrett Richards in game two on Tuesday. Richards, who turned 33 less than a week ago, signed a one-year deal with Boston in the offseason and did not win over the Red Sox fans immediately.
In fact, some of the least patient supporters were calling for his head after he walked 13 batters in his first four starts and the team went 1–3.
The Red Sox have gone 4–2 in his last six, however, and he’s pitched so much better, locating his fastball and getting ahead in the count more often than not.
Richards has pitched into the sixth inning in five of his six starts since the rough start and through five in all of them. He has slashed his ERA to a quality 3.83.
He has walked 11 batters over his last three starts, however. His last six starts can be split into two halves, the first of which he struck out 22 batters to just two walks. In the latter half, he has a 13-to-11 mark.
Expect to see Garrett Whitlock in this one, too. Alex Cora is fond of piggybacking the Garretts. In Richards’ five starts in May, Whitlock appeared in four of them as a reliever.
Houston Astros
The Astros have failed to win any of their last three series but they put a 2–6 stretch in the rearview mirror with Monday’s home route.
They blew-out Boston without a few key hitters, including Michael Brantley, Yuli Gurriel and Yordan Alvarez.
All three are hitting over .300 this season, which is even more of a rarity these days. Brantley is already on the Injured List; Alvarez hasn’t played in five games now with a wrist injury; and Gurriel missed his second consecutive game with a problematic finger on his left hand.
No matter. Kyle Tucker drove in four runs and Jose Altuve had two RBIs and scored three runs in the leadoff spot.
The 24-year-old Venezuelan Luis Garcia came up for a cup of coffee last season and had success in five appearances (one start).
He has made eight starts so far this season with a 3–3 record and 54 strikeouts in 46 innings. A 141 ERA+ and 1.02 WHIP have him in elite company among this season’s crop of starting pitchers.
MLB Baseball Betting Trends:
- Red Sox are 5-0 in their last 5 during game 2 of a series.
- Red Sox are 8-1 in their last 9 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Red Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 road games.
- Astros are 74-32 in their last 106 games as a home favorite.
- Astros are 43-19 in their last 62 home games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
- Astros are 2-5 in their last 7 Tuesday games.
- Over is 4-0 in Red Sox last 4 games as a road underdog.
- Under is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings.
Free Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros MLB Prediction: Houston makes it two in a row.
I’m looking at the starting pitching matchup in making this selection.
Richards has turned it around but the walk numbers of late are a bit troublesome. Meanwhile, Garcia will be a mystery to most of these Red Sox hitters and should be able to continue his success as a rookie this season.
So take the ‘Stros, even assuming the three big bats miss this one. If any of them return to play, it’s just a bonus.
Count me down for a small play on the under, too.
4* Free MLB Betting Pick: Houston -125, Under 9.0 (Even Money)
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