The Houston Astros will host the Boston Red Sox for the finale of a four-game set. It’s time to continue our MLB odds series and make a Red Sox-Astros prediction and pick.
Houston will be looking to complete the sweep in what has been a one-sided series. The Astros have allowed just four total runs and have outscored the Red Sox by 14 runs through the first three games. Boston will have to find a way to generate some offense in the finale against an American League rival.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the opening Red Sox-Astros odds.
MLB Odds: Red Sox-Astros Odds
Boston Red Sox +1.5 (-163)
Houston Astros -1.5 (+143)
Over 9 Runs (-115)
Under 9 Runs (-105)
Why The Red Sox Could Cover The Spread
The Boston Red Sox have been exceeding expectations all season long because of their elite offensive output. The Red Sox score the fifth-most runs in the league at 4.93 per game. JD Martinez, Rafael Devers, and Xander Bogaerts have led the way with incredible numbers through the first two months of the season. Bogaerts currently has a .908 OPS with 10 long balls and 31 RBI. He has been awful at the plate over the past week, going 1-23 with one RBI and nine strikeouts. Boston will need their shortstop to get back on track in the finale if they're going to put up any runs and avoid a four-game sweep.
The Red Sox will send out left-hander Martin Perez for the series finale. Perez is currently 3-2 with a 3.55 ERA on the season. The southpaw has been great recently, going 3-0 with 16 strikeouts and five earned runs allowed. He has gotten tremendous run support, which is hopefully promising for the struggling Boston bats. Perez won his lone start against the Astros last season.
Why The Astros Could Cover The Spread
The Houston Astros have been nothing short of an offensive juggernaut through the first two months of the season and the first three games of this series. Houston is second in the Major's with 5.29 runs per game. They rarely strikeout and get guys on base at the best rate in baseball. Long story short, this offense is lethal and possesses a sustainable recipe for success. They are especially dangerous at Minute Maid Park, where they are 20-12 through their first 32 games played.
Houston will send out right-hander Jake Odorizzi as they look to complete the sweep. Odorizzi has really struggled, going 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA on the season. He has only gotten past the fifth inning once this season and has allowed 10 earned runs through 13.10 innings of work. He did miss an extended period of time and only made one start in the month of May. Odorizzi looked solid in that start against the Padres and will hope to carry some momentum into this start against a struggling Red Sox lineup.
Final Red Sox-Astros Prediction & Pick
Although I want to believe that the Red Sox will get back on track against Jake Odorizzi, I can't say that I feel confident they will. Boston's struggles at the plate have certainly been alarming and it's difficult to say that they'll just snap out of it like that. Odorizzi looked solid in his last start and should have confidence against an underwhelming group. On the other hand, Martin Perez has been pitching very well this season and should be able to play stopper in the finale. In a day game after a night game, I see the offenses slowing down in a pitcher's duel.
FINAL PICK: Under 9 Runs (-105)
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