- The Houston Astros have -132 odds to beat the Boston Red Sox on the road Friday night.
- Boston has gone 34-21 at home, while the Astros have gone 27-23 on the road.
BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox will host the Houston Astros on Friday night in a critical series for both teams in the AL playoff race. The odds are close as betting sites fully expect a playoff environment for this one.
Astros vs Red Sox Game Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astros | -1.5 (+125) | -132 | O 8.0 (-110) |
| Red Sox | +1.5 (-145) | +110 | U 8.0 (-110) |
Legal sports betting sites slightly favor the Astros with -132 odds to win outright and +125 odds to cover the one and a half run spread.
Let’s take a look at why Houston is favored and why betting on the underdog could be the right pick.
Pitching Matchup
Houston has a clear advantage on the mound in this one, as Hunter Brown gets the start for the Astros while Cooper Criswell gets the call for the Red Sox.
Brown makes up one half of one of the best pitching duos in the league, posting a 9-5 record with a 2.54 ERA and 1.00 WHIP through 21 starts. He did have a rough July, however, going 1-2 with a 5.54 ERA in five appearances.
Boston is surprisingly going with Criswell, who has been a relief pitcher for most of his career, but did start 18 games for the Red Sox last season. He went 6-5 with a 4.08 ERA in those starts.
He has spent most of this season in the minor leagues, pitching just 10 and two thirds innings in relief for the Red Sox this year, allowing a 5.06 ERA.
Post All-Star Break Performance
Both teams struggled to find their footing after their return to action from the All-Star break, Boston going 2-5 in their first seven and Houston going 4-7 through 11.
However, they both have picked it up as of late, Boston winning four of their last five and Houston winning their last two after snapping a four game losing streak.
Home / Road Splits
Houston has managed to stay above .500 on the road this season, one of few teams to do so. They average 4.56 runs per game on the road, the 12th best in the MLB.
The Red Sox have been one of the better home teams in the league, going 34-21 at Fenway Park so far this season. The offense gets a noticeable boost at home as well, averaging 5.25 runs per game in Boston, the third best mark in the league.
Best Bet
Despite the pitching advantage for Houston, bettors should lean towards the Red Sox winning this game outright due to their scalding hot offense and home field advantage.
Even if Houston manages to tee off on Criswell, Boston’s bullpen should be able to stifle the Astros’ bats with the third lowest bullpen ERA in the MLB.
MLB betting sites are fading the Red Sox because of the pitching matchup and bettors should look to take full advantage.
