Houston (1-0) at Boston (0-1)
When: Sunday, October 14th 2018
Where: Fenway Park,
Boston, Massachusetts
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: TBS
Opening Odds: OFF
The Boston Red Sox need a win badly to avoid losing the first two games of the ALCS at home when they send a struggling lefty to the mound to take on the Houston Astros in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series. Houston managed just two hits off Boston ace Chris Sale, but four walks and a high pitch count got the lefty out of there and the Astros took advantage of a shaky Red Sox bullpen late in the game. Houston scored four runs in the ninth inning to break open a one-run ballgame thanks to a Yuli Gurriel three-run homer just inside the Pesky Pole. Red Sox pitchers issued 10 walks and hit three batters in the 7-2 setback, tying a franchise record for most walks in a postseason game. The Astros also received key hits in the game from George Springer, Carlos Correa, and Josh Reddick to remain undefeated in the 2018 playoffs. Boston left-handed batters Andrew Benintendi, Brock Holt and Jackie Bradley Jr. combined to go 0-for-10 with seven strikeouts on Saturday and manager Alex Cora was ejected in the fifth inning for arguing balls and strikes. The Red Sox will turn to David Price on Sunday as he attempts to record his first playoff win as a starter while going up against Houston All-Star Gerrit Cole.
Pitchers: Astros – Gerrit Cole (1-0, 1.29 ERA) | Red Sox – David Price (0-1, 16.20)
Cole will make his second postseason start of 2018 after recording 12 strikeouts over seven innings while allowing one run and three hits to defeat Cleveland in the ALDS. Cole went 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA in two starts against Boston during the regular season and is in the LCS for the first time in his career.
Price’s struggles continued in the ALDS against the Yankees when he could not make it through the second inning, allowing three runs on three hits – two homers – and a pair of walks en route to a loss. Price did not allow a run in two relief appearances spanning 6.2 innings against Houston in the 2017 ALDS but is 0-9 with a 6.03 ERA in 10 career postseason starts.
There’s no way you can bet the Red Sox with Price on the mound unless you’re a die-hard Boston fan. Not only will Houston knock him around, but the Astros pitching staff will continue to keep the Boston bats in check. I have to go with the Astros in this one.
Pick: Astros
BETTING TRENDS:
- Astros are 5-0 in their last 5 playoff games.
- Astros are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Astros are 7-1 in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. American League East.
- Astros are 12-3 in their last 15 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Astros are 4-1 in their last 5 playoff road games.
- Astros are 11-3 in their last 14 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Astros are 40-13 in their last 53 road games.
- Astros are 5-2 in their last 7 Sunday games.
- Astros are 68-29 in their last 97 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Astros are 48-21 in their last 69 games following a win.
- Astros are 9-4 in their last 13 League Championship games.
- Astros are 38-17 in their last 55 games on grass.
- Astros are 40-18 in their last 58 overall.
- Astros are 37-17 in their last 54 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Astros are 47-22 in their last 69 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Astros are 68-32 in their last 100 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Astros are 3-8 in their last 11 League Championship road games.
- Astros are 5-0 in Cole’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Astros are 4-0 in Cole’s last 4 starts with 7 or more days of rest.
- Astros are 4-0 in Cole’s last 4 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Astros are 4-1 in Cole’s last 5 starts vs. American League East.
- Astros are 4-1 in Cole’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Astros are 4-1 in Cole’s last 5 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Astros are 25-7 in Cole’s last 32 starts on grass.
- Astros are 25-8 in Cole’s last 33 starts.
- Astros are 15-5 in Cole’s last 20 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Astros are 8-3 in Cole’s last 11 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Astros are 12-5 in Cole’s last 17 road starts.
- Red Sox are 4-0 in their last 4 during game 6 of a series.
- Red Sox are 7-1 in their last 8 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 8-3 in their last 11 vs. American League West.
- Red Sox are 20-8 in their last 28 Sunday games.
- Red Sox are 45-19 in their last 64 home games.
- Red Sox are 58-25 in their last 83 games on grass.
- Red Sox are 41-18 in their last 59 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 88-39 in their last 127 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Red Sox are 9-4 in their last 13 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 44-21 in their last 65 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Red Sox are 60-29 in their last 89 overall.
- Red Sox are 33-16 in their last 49 games following a loss.
- Red Sox are 14-2 in Price’s last 16 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 10-2 in Price’s last 12 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 7-2 in Price’s last 9 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Red Sox are 17-5 in Price’s last 22 starts on grass.
- Red Sox are 20-6 in Price’s last 26 home starts.
- Red Sox are 11-4 in Price’s last 15 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Red Sox are 37-17 in Price’s last 54 starts.
- Under is 4-0-1 in Astros last 5 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Astros last 4 during game 6 of a series.
- Under is 7-1 in Astros last 8 vs. American League East.
- Over is 6-1 in Astros last 7 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 5-1 in Astros last 6 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Astros last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Astros last 6 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 7-2 in Astros last 9 road games.
- Under is 7-2-1 in Astros last 10 games following a win.
- Over is 6-2 in Astros last 8 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 8-3-1 in Astros last 12 overall.
- Under is 5-2 in Astros last 7 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Cole’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 2-0-2 in Red Sox last 4 League Championship games.
- Over is 6-0-1 in Red Sox last 7 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 5-0 in Red Sox last 5 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 9-1-1 in Red Sox last 11 League Championship home games.
- Over is 7-1-2 in Red Sox last 10 home games.
- Over is 6-1-1 in Red Sox last 8 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 5-1-2 in Red Sox last 8 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 12-3-1 in Red Sox last 16 on grass.
- Over is 12-3-1 in Red Sox last 16 overall.
- Over is 8-2 in Red Sox last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Over is 4-1 in Red Sox last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 19-6-2 in Red Sox last 27 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 9-3 in Red Sox last 12 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 15-5-2 in Red Sox last 22 games following a loss.
- Over is 16-7-4 in Red Sox last 27 playoff home games.
- Under is 27-12-2 in Red Sox last 41 Sunday games.
- Over is 36-17-2 in Red Sox last 55 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 7-1-2 in Price’s last 10 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 5-1 in Price’s last 6 starts with 7 or more days of rest.
- Over is 9-3-1 in Price’s last 13 starts vs. American League West.
- Over is 5-2 in Price’s last 7 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
