Astros vs Red Sox Pick
Our Astros vs Red pick for Monday, October 18, 2021 is for Game 3 of the ALCS. The series is tied. Houston edged the Sox in Game 1 by a score of 5-4. Alternately, Boston won Game 2. The score was 9-5. In Game 2, the Sox had a lot of help from two grand slams. Our Houston Astros vs Boston Red Sox prediction has the home team Sox at -1.5 (+165). Conversely, Houston is at +1.5 (-170). This is the first of three games scheduled for Fenway Park. If needed, the final two games will be played in Houston.
The game is scheduled to begin 8:08 pm ET. The weather in Boston will be mostly clear with temperatures in the low 50s. Winds will be NW and WNW at 12 mph. The game will be telecast on FS1.
Houston Astros vs Boston Red Sox – Pitching
Righty José Urquidy (8-3, 3.62 ERA, 0.99 WHIP) starts for the Astros. In September and October, Urquidy went on a hot streak, winning five-of-six starts. Our Astros vs Red pick observes that the 26-year-old had been scheduled to start Game 4 of the ALDS against the Chicago White Sox, but due to a weather postponement, Houston instead turned to Lance McCullers Jr. on regular rest. Urguidy has four career playoff starts and has a 2.81 ERA over eight games.
Lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (13-8, 4.74 ERA, 1.39 WHIP) comes in to start for the Red Sox. This postseason, Rodriguez has started two games and has gone 6.2 innings earning an 0-1 record, 5.40 ERA, and 1.05 WHIP. He’s recorded seven strikeouts and two walks and allowed four runs on five hits.
Urquidy and Rodriguez - Pitch Selection
The righty relies mainly on his 93 mph four-seam fastball, which generatesa bit more flyballs than other hurlers with a four-seamer. He also uses a slider (79 mph), change (85 mph), and curve (77 mph). His below hitting speed slider sweeps across the plate while his slider features a slight right side fade. When working his curve offers a big bite.
Rodriguez primarily uses his four-seam fastball (93 mph), which has above average speed and less movement than typical, and change (86 mph), which is a major ground ball influencer as it dives down out of the zone and fades slightly to the left. He also mixes in a cutter (89 mph), Sinker (93mph) and slider (82 mph). His slider offers extreme depth.
Key Players - Astros vs Red Sox Pick
For the Astros, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa have each faced Rodriguez a minimum of 16 times. Over 35 at bats, the trio has 16 hits, three homers, and seven RBI. They’ve struck out a total of eight times. Look for them do be the primary damage makers in this game.
Boston hitters have faced Urquidy minimally. No batter has faced him more thasn three times. Over a total of 17 at bats, the Red Sox have three hits, one RBI, and seven strikeouts. As far as which Red Sox to watch in tonight’s game, the answer is the entire lineup. Thus far in the postseason, this has been a dangerous and productive group.
Bills vs Titans Pick – Prediction
Our Astros vs Red pick notes that thus far in the postseason, in hitting, Boston has a real edge over Houston. The Red Sox top the Astros in batting average (.318-.286), on-base percentage (.372-.359), slugging percentage (.553-.447), and OPS (.925-.806). Pitching is everything in baseball, but at Fenway Park hitting is king. We’re taking the Red Sox tonight at -1.5 (-170)
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Houston Astros vs Boston Red Sox – Summary
Boston Red Sox – Runline -1.5 (-170)
