Astros vs. Red Sox Pick
Will the Boston Red Sox pull even Monday afternoon in its best-of-five series versus the visiting Houston Astros? First pitch is at 1:08PM EST.
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.com, the Astros are a -122 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Red Sox are a +102 underdog and the over-under is set at 10.5.
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Boston stayed alive in the series Saturday afternoon with a 10-3 home win, cutting Houston’s series lead to 2-1. The Astros have won six of 10 meetings this year and the total has gone over six times.
On the mound for Houston will be Charlie Morton (14-7, 3.63 ERA), while Boston turns to Rick Porcello (11-17, 4.65). Morton carried a 1.19 WHIP with 163 strikeouts in 146 2/3 innings during the regular season. He gave up two earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts and no walks over 5 2/3 innings in a 3-2 win at the Red Sox his last regular season start. It was his only start against Boston this year. Morton has a 4.17 ERA in 49 2/3 innings on the road this year. Porcello held a 1.40 WHIP with 180 strikeouts in 203 1/3 innings this year. He allowed five earned runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and two walks over 5 2/3 innings in a 10-7 home win against the Blue Jays his last regular season start. Porcello has a 5.43 ERA in 112 2/3 home innings this season. In his lone start versus Houston, he gave up seven earned runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts and one walk over six innings to take the loss.
On Saturday, Mitch Moreland went 3-for-5 with a double and three runs scored. Hanley Ramirez was 4-for-4 with a double, two runs and three RBIs. Rafael Devers was 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, two runs and three RBIs. Sandy Leon was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Joe Kelly picked up the win in relief. George Springer was 2-for-5 with a run for the Astros. Josh Reddick went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Jose Altuve was 3-for-4 with a walk. Carlos Correa contributed a two-run homer. Yuli Gurriel went 4-for-4. Francisco Liriano took the loss in relief.
Porcello has had a disastrous season after a 2016 AL Cy Young Award, while Morton has increased his velocity and strikeout rate in his age-34 season. The Astros will likely have a big inning or two against Porcello to jump to a lead, while Morton should have enough in his arsenal to slow down the Red Sox until the strong bullpen takes over. Bet on Houston to end the series today.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: HOUSTON ASTROS -122