Houston Astros vs
Boston Red SoxPredictions & Preview

Astros Expected to Bounce Back in Finale Against Red Sox, Valdez Leading the Charge

This article provides a prediction for the finale of a three-game series between the Astros and Red Sox, two rivals on the baseball field in Boston. The Red Sox currently lead the series 1-0 after a 10-inning victory in the opening game. The article discusses the implications of the game for both teams in the AL wild card race and offers insights from MLB cappers. Please note that this article was published before the conclusion of the middle game of the series on Saturday afternoon.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Astros -111 | Red Sox -104
• Spread: Astros -1.5 (+150) | Red Sox +1.5 (-175)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Houston will win straight-up is 53%.

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros fell in walk-off fashion in the opening game of their series against Boston, snapping their two-game win streak. Despite the loss, the Astros entered Saturday with a 3.5-game lead over the Mariners in the AL West race. Christian Walker homered for the lone run in the game, as Houston finished with seven hits but struggled with runners in scoring position. Hunter Brown had a solid performance on the mound, throwing seven innings and allowing only one run. Framber Valdez is expected to start the next game for the Astros, boasting an 11-4 record with a 2.62 ERA on the season. Valdez has been pitching well in his last few starts and has a successful track record against the Red Sox. He will look to bounce back from his last outing and help the Astros secure a win in the upcoming game.

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox continued their winning streak with a victory in extras on Friday night, marking their third straight win and fifth in the last six games. As of Saturday, the Red Sox held the second wild card spot in the AL playoff picture, standing third in the AL East and four games behind the Blue Jays for the top spot. On Friday, Boston had a strong performance from Cooper Criswell, who tossed seven innings allowing just one run. Grant Weissert earned the win in relief with a perfect 10th inning. Lucas Giolito is set to start the next game for the Red Sox, boasting a 7-2 record with a 3.80 ERA on the season. He has had success against the Astros in the past, with a 2-6 record and 5.94 ERA in nine career starts against them.

Astros and White Sox Positioned Well in Playoff Race as Valdez Shines

Both teams are currently positioned well in the playoff race as the weekend comes to a close. Valdez has shown impressive consistency, winning his last 10 decisions since suffering a loss on May 2 against the White Sox. His strong performance against Boston, coupled with the Astros' strategic moves at the trade deadline to strengthen their roster, positions the team for a successful postseason push. On the other hand, Giolito started the season slowly, hit a hot streak, but has recently struggled in his last few outings with a 5.87 ERA. His historical performance against Houston and at Fenway Park has been less than stellar. Valdez's reliable pitching is expected to lead the visitors to victory in this matchup.

Sources: [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ]