Houston (87-53) at Boston (97-44)
When: Friday, September 7th 2018
Where: Fenway Park,
Boston, Massachusetts
Time: 7:10 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: Boston -118/9
The top two teams in Baseball will get together for what could be a preview of another playoff series later next month, as the Houston Astros visit the Boston Red Sox for the opener of a three-game set Friday. The Astros eliminated Boston in the AL Divisional Series last October en route to a World Series championship, but trail the Red Sox by 9.5 games for the best record in the American League. Houston has put some distance between them and the Oakland A’s by winning their last five games and hold a 3.5-game lead over the second-place A’s in the AL West race. Third baseman Alex Bregman has been on fire, homering for the fourth time in five games and collecting five RBIs in Wednesday’s 9-1 route of Minnesota to extend his on-base streak to 33 consecutive games. Bregman batted .486 with five homers, seven doubles and 17 RBIs in the Astros 7-3 homestand. The Red Sox completed a seven-game road trip with a three-game sweep of the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves, closing the series with a dramatic six-run comeback over the final two innings Wednesday. Brandon Phillips, the hero of Wednesday’s win with a game-winning two-run homer in his Boston debut, is 11-for-25 lifetime against Gerrit Cole, who will start against lefty David Price on Friday night.
Pitchers: Astros – Gerrit Cole (13-5, 2.86 ERA) | Red Sox – David Price (14-6, 3.60)
Cole has been on a roll of late after a bad stretch right after the All-Star Break. Over his last four starts, the right-hander has allowed nine total earned runs and posting a 3-0 mark in that span. Cole won his second straight start Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels, striking out nine and giving up two runs over 5.2 innings. He beat Boston on June 1st after allowing three runs over seven frames.
Price’s momentum was stopped in his last outing after he took a line drive off the wrist in the fourth inning of a no-decision against Miami on August 29th. He was 5-0 over seven quality starts prior to that and was skipped in his next scheduled start. Price threw six innings of three-run ball to beat Houston the day after Cole beat Boston.
This is a terrific pitching matchup with both Cole and Price pitching very well lately, but Boston’s offense has been really good, especially at home. In their last four home games, the Red Sox have scored 10, 7, 8, and 14. I like Boston in the opener. Check back on Sunday morning on our free MLB picks page for a preview of the series finale.
Pick: Red Sox +100
BETTING TRENDS:
- Astros are 5-0 in their last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Astros are 5-0 in their last 5 overall.
- Astros are 5-0 in their last 5 games on grass.
- Astros are 5-1 in their last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Astros are 20-6 in their last 26 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Astros are 43-17 in their last 60 road games.
- Astros are 57-25 in their last 82 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Astros are 27-12 in their last 39 Friday games.
- Astros are 35-16 in their last 51 games following a win.
- Astros are 57-27 in their last 84 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Astros are 20-7 in Cole’s last 27 starts on grass.
- Astros are 20-8 in Cole’s last 28 starts.
- Astros are 7-3 in Cole’s last 10 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Astros are 1-4 in Cole’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 7-0 in their last 7 vs. American League West.
- Red Sox are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Red Sox are 44-13 in their last 57 games on grass.
- Red Sox are 12-4 in their last 16 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Red Sox are 42-15 in their last 57 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Red Sox are 41-15 in their last 56 overall.
- Red Sox are 38-14 in their last 52 home games.
- Red Sox are 37-14 in their last 51 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Red Sox are 38-15 in their last 53 games following an off day.
- Red Sox are 38-15 in their last 53 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 5-2 in their last 7 Friday games.
- Red Sox are 37-15 in their last 52 games following a win.
- Red Sox are 39-16 in their last 55 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 36-15 in their last 51 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 11-5 in their last 16 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 36-17 in their last 53 during game 1 of a series.
- Red Sox are 10-1 in Price’s last 11 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Red Sox are 10-1 in Price’s last 11 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 5-1 in Price’s last 6 Friday starts.
- Red Sox are 13-3 in Price’s last 16 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Red Sox are 17-5 in Price’s last 22 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 20-6 in Price’s last 26 home starts.
- Red Sox are 20-7 in Price’s last 27 starts on grass.
- Red Sox are 19-7 in Price’s last 26 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Red Sox are 20-8 in Price’s last 28 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 35-16 in Price’s last 51 starts.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Astros last 4 vs. American League East.
- Under is 5-1 in Astros last 6 games following a win.
- Over is 5-1 in Astros last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 Friday games.
- Under is 4-1 in Astros last 5 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 13-5-1 in Astros last 19 during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 5-2 in Astros last 7 overall.
- Over is 5-2-1 in Astros last 8 road games.
- Under is 5-2 in Astros last 7 on grass.
- Over is 5-2-1 in Astros last 8 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 11-5-1 in Astros last 17 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 13-6-3 in Astros last 22 games following an off day.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Cole’s last 7 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Cole’s last 5 Friday starts.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Cole’s last 6 road starts.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Cole’s last 6 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 6-0 in Red Sox last 6 during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 6-1 in Red Sox last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Over is 6-1 in Red Sox last 7 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in Red Sox last 6 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Red Sox last 5 games following an off day.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Red Sox last 6 home games.
- Over is 7-2 in Red Sox last 9 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
- Over is 6-2 in Red Sox last 8 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 18-7-2 in Red Sox last 27 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 5-2-1 in Red Sox last 8 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Red Sox last 8 vs. American League West.
- Under is 22-10 in Red Sox last 32 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 6-0-2 in Price’s last 8 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Price’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-0-1 in Price’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Price’s last 7 starts on grass.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Price’s last 7 starts overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Price’s last 5 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Price’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Price’s last 5 home starts.
- Over is 8-3-1 in Price’s last 12 starts vs. American League West.
- Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
- Over is 11-4 in the last 15 meetings in Boston.
