Can The Astros Hang On to AL West Lead this Weekend?
Check Out All Three of Our Astros vs Red Sox Picks for The Series
The Houston Astros will take their two-game winning streak to Fenway Park to take on the Boston Red Sox in a three-game series.
- While the Astros and Red Sox aren’t in the same division, they could compete for the same playoff spot.
The Astros are hanging on to a super small lead in the AL West, while the Boston Red Sox are just a couple of games out of the AL Wild Card.
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However, a couple more Houston losses, and they’ll be fighting the Red Sox and many other American League teams for a potential AL Wild Card spot.
Ironically, the Red Sox have a much better record than the Astros, but Houston is in a better position because they’re playing in a weaker division. We’ll see if any of that matters this weekend against Boston.
Below, we’ll provide Astros vs Red Sox picks for all three games during the series.
Astros vs Red Sox 
Day/Time:
Records: Astros (59-55)/Red Sox (61-52)
Location: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Streaming: NESN, Space City Home Network, MLBN
Will Kyle Tucker Ever Return?
It’s been over two months since Kyle Tucker has seen the field for the Astros. Tucker was having an MVP-like season before his injury. It feels like we haven’t heard from him in so long.
Ultimately, Tucker fouled a sinker off his shin and was diagnosed with a right shin contusion. Doctors explained his injury to the New York Times and suggested this type of MLB injury might not hurt one day, but then the next, it could be super painful.
The Astros hope to have Tucker by the postseason. But at this point, they’re unsure about what to think. Be prepared if you don’t see Tucker back in the lineup with the Astros this season.
Many analysts had the Astros in their MLB Playoffs prediction. Let’s see if they can hang on without one of their best hitters.
Tyler O’Neill Was Added to The IL
Per MLB news and rumors, power slugger Tyler O’Neill has been sent to the Injured List with a leg infection. He’ll be getting treatment daily but won’t be able to play for another week.
This is the second time O’Neill has hit the IL with a leg infection. His absence won’t affect the MLB odds as much as he was struggling to begin with.
Astros vs Red Sox Picks & Odds For Game 1:
ML: Red Sox -110, O/U: 9 -120/+100
Astros vs Red Sox Picks
âš¾ Game 1 âš¾
- Friday, 7:10 pm ET
- Ronel Blanco vs Tanner Houck
The Astros will ride with Ronel Blanco in Game 1. He’s a right-handed pitcher who has allowed a .231 ISO and wOBA of .308 over the last month. Blanco has ultimately been much worse against lefties and has allowed 42% of fly balls to his previous 64 of them.
Additionally, Blanco has given up a .344 ISO and wOBA of .345 to lefties in the last 30 days. Yet, he’s still managed to strike out nearly 29% of batters and has walked just 7.9% in the previous 30 days.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox usually perform against lefties better than righties. That said, they’ll face Blanco and two other right-handed pitchers over the next weekend. That won’t be ideal. However, if Boston can limit strikeouts, they’ll be in a solid position to win this game.
Boston will start Tanner Houck. Houck is a righty that has allowed a .156 ISO and a wOBA of .350 over the last month. But he’ll improve drastically, knowing that he’s added 55.4% of ground balls over the previous month. While Houck isn’t getting strikeouts, he’s getting contact that typically gets batters out.
Plus, the Astros haven’t had much success against righties. Over the last month, the projected lineup has only hit a .151 ISO and wOBA of .315 against righties. At least the strikeouts are low, but that’s the only thing going for Houston’s offense.
Consider the Red Sox in Game 1 at -110.
âš¾ Game 2 âš¾
- Saturday, 4:10 pm ET
- Spencer Arrighetti vs Cooper Criswell
In the second MLB matchup, Spencer Arrighetti will get the call. The right-hander started the season sluggish, but he’s figured it out since. Arrighetti has struck out more than 30% of batters over the last month. He’s also held batters to a .148 ISO and wOBA of .283 in the previous 30 days.
Still, Arrighetti has given up more fly balls than ground balls. The key for him has been strikeouts. But if he lacks strikeouts, he’ll struggle to get consistent outs.
He’ll go toe-to-toe with Cooper Criswell. The right-hander will pitch instead of Nick Pivetta in this game. Criswell rarely earns strikeouts, but he’s held MLB teams to a .097 ISO and wOBA of .296 with 55.1% of ground balls over the last month.
Both pitchers should do a good job keeping their team in the game. Let’s take the Under for Game 2 of this matchup.
âš¾ Game 3 âš¾
- Sunday, 1:35 pm ET
- Hunter Brown vs James Paxton
In the finale of this series, Hunter Brown will get the start for the Astros. Brown is another young starter for the Astros who has come around in the second half of the MLB season.
In the last month, the right-hander has held teams to a .098 ISO and wOBA of .304. He’s also struck out more than 24% of batters and has kept walks down to 8.1%.
Brown has allowed a .387 wOBA to his last 61 lefties. But that’s his only blemish over the previous month.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox will counter with James Paxton. The left-hander has allowed a .179 ISO and wOBA of .342 to his last 88 batters.
Ultimately, the Astros haven’t had much consistent success against lefties, either. But many teams haven’t struggled with Paxton. Take Houston in the finale. That’ll conclude our Astros vs Red Sox picks for the series.
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