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It’s the 93-69 Boston Red Sox versus the 101-61 Houston Astros in the first game of the ALDS at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas today. The first pitch at Minute Maid Park is scheduled for 4:08 PM ET.<br />
These teams met in the last game of the regular season with the Astros beating the Red Sox 4-3. In the game the Astros scored four runs on eight hits and the Red Sox scored three runs on seven hits.<br />
This season the Red Sox rank 10th in the Majors in runs scored and 4th in team ERA.<br />
The Astros rank 1st in the Majors in runs scored and 11th in team ERA.
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<h2>
Pitching Match Up<br />
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<b>Boston:</b> Chris Sale (17-8 2.90 ERA)<br />
<b>Houston:</b> Justin Verlander (15-8, 3.36 ERA)
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<p></p>
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Chris Sale goes for the Red Sox in the first game of the ALDS and in his last start in the regular season he was roughed up giving up five earned runs in eight innings in a 9-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Red Sox had won his previous three starts where he did not give up any earned runs in two of them and four in the other totaling 19 innings. This is Sale’s first start of the season against the Astros and also his first career post-season start. In six career starts facing Houston Sale is 5-1 with an ERA of only 1.31. Sale is a Cy Young Candidate, but in his last eight starts of the season was only 3-4 with an ERA of 4.30 and in his last start he gave up four HR. Overall, the Red Sox have won 19 of his last 27 starts and seven of his last nine road starts.<br />
Justin Verlander gets the call for the Astros today and in his last outing of the regular season he gave up two earned runs in six innings in a 12-2 win over the Texas Rangers. The Astros won all six of his starts since coming over in a trade with the Detroit Tigers and in only one of those starts did he give up more than one earned run and that was his last one. Verlander was lights out for Houston in the six starts going 5-0 with an ERA of only 1.06. In two starts against the Red Sox this season while with the Tigers Verlander gave up three earned runs in 12 innings of work.
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<h2>
Boston at Houston MLB Betting Angles<br />
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<p>
In the last 13 games between these teams the Over record is 9-3.<br />
This season the Astros were 4-3 against the Red Sox.<br />
This season the Astros are 48-33 at home and the Blue Jays are 45-36 on the road.
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<h3>
Straight Up / Over/Under / Run Line Records<br />
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<b>Boston Red Sox: </b>93-69 SU / O/U 71-85 / Run Line W/L 86-76<br />
<b>Houston Astros:</b> 101-61 SU / O/U 81-72 / Run Line W/L 85-77
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<h2>
Boston at Houston Key Betting Trends<br />
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BOS is 2-5 in their last 7 overall
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BOS is 19-7 in their last 26 road games
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BOS has an Under record of 4-1 in their last 5 road games
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HOU is 11-2 in their last 13 home games
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HOU is 22-8 in their last 30 overall
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HOU has an Under record of 6-1 in their last 7 home games
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<h2>
Key Player Injuries<br />
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<b>RED SOX </b>
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<p>
[SS] 10/01/2017 - Eduardo Nunez "?" Thursday vs. Houston Astros ( Knee )<br />
[2B] 07/31/2017 - Josh Rutledge 60-day DL (06/24) ( Concussion )<br />
[P] 07/10/2017 - Robbie Ross 60-day DL (05/19) ( Elbow )<br />
[SS] 05/28/2017 - Marco Hernandez 60-day DL (05/04) ( Shoulder )<br />
[P] 05/28/2017 - Steven Wright 60-day DL (04/30) ( Knee )<br />
[P] 05/28/2017 - Tyler Thornburg 60-day DL (04/01) ( Shoulder )
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<b>ASTROS </b>
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[P] 10/01/2017 - Brady Rodgers 60-day DL (08/31) ( Elbow )<br />
[P] 10/01/2017 - David Paulino 60-day DL (10/01) ( Elbow )<br />
[RF] 10/01/2017 - Josh Reddick "?" Thursday vs. Boston Red Sox ( Back )<br />
[CF] 09/14/2017 - Jake Marisnick out indefinitely ( Thumb )<br />
[P] 04/20/2017 - Jandel Gustave 60-day DL (04/19) ( Elbow ))<br />
[P] 04/20/2017 - Jandel Gustave 60-day DL (04/19) ( Forearm )
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