Houston Astros vs
Boston Red SoxPredictions & Preview

Houston Astros to Face Boston Red Sox in American League Showdown at Fenway Park

The Houston Astros are set to face off against the Boston Red Sox in the first game of a three-game American League series at Fenway Park on Friday evening. The Astros are coming off a 6-4 road win over the Texas Rangers, while the Red Sox suffered an 8-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals. With a 59-55 record, the Astros lead the AL West and will have Ronel Blanco (ERA: 2.98) on the mound. The Red Sox, with a 61-52 record, are third in the AL East and will start Tanner Houck (ERA: 3.09). Boston is the favorite in this matchup, opening at -110 with the current line at Boston -129.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Astros +117 | Red Sox -129
• Spread: Astros +1.5 (-172) | Red Sox -1.5 (+150)
• Total: Over/Under 10 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Boston will win straight-up is 56%.

Houston vs Boston Stats

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros secured a 6-4 road win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday after a day off on Thursday. The team's offense was impressive, going 13-for-37 with five walks and four strikeouts. Yordan Alvarez and Victor Caratini each hit a homer to spark the offense. However, the team struggled with runners in scoring position, going 3-for-14 and leaving 10 men on base. Pitcher Yusei Kikuchi performed well, giving up two runs in 5.1 innings. Right-hander Ronel Blanco will be pitching next for the Astros, boasting a 9-6 record with a 2.98 ERA and a .180 opposing batting average this season. Houston ranks 13th in offense, 10th in defense, and holds a 59-55 record, placing them at 22nd in power rankings.

Boston Red Sox Analysis

The Boston Red Sox recently experienced a tough 8-4 road loss to the Kansas City Royals, with the lineup struggling with runners in scoring position and left four men on base. Pitcher Kutter Crawford also had a tough outing, giving up six runs in 3.2 innings. Righty Tanner Houck will be pitching in the upcoming game, with a record of 8-8, a 3.09 ERA, and a 1.14 WHIP. The Red Sox currently have a power ranking of 17, ranking 4th in offense and 22nd in defense, with a record of 61-52. They have also recently won all three matchups against the Houston Astros.

Bullpen and Starting Pitcher Stats Favor Houston Astros Over Boston Red Sox

A comparison of bullpen performances reveals that the Houston Astros currently hold the 10th place in the Major League with a reliever ERA of 3.70, while the Boston Red Sox rank 19th with a bullpen ERA of 4.05. Additionally, looking at the starting pitchers' home/road splits, a noticeable contrast emerges. Ronel Blanco boasts a record of 5-2 with a 2.87 ERA and a .198 batting average against in 53.1 innings (nine starts), whereas Tanner Houck has a record of 4-5 with a 3.08 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP in 76.0 innings (12 starts) at Fenway Park. Based on these statistics, it is recommended to favor the Houston Astros for a win in this matchup.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]