Thursday, July 23, 2015

Minute Maid Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Wade Miley (8-8) vs. Lance McCullers (4-3)

The Boston Red Sox take on the Houston Astros on Thursday at Minute Maid Park. The probable starters are Wade Miley for the Red Sox and Lance McCullers for the Astros. The opening line for this matchup has Boston at +122 and Houston at -132. The over/under was set at 8. The Red Sox, with a 39-55 run line record, cover the spread 42% of the time. They also have a 44-46 over/under record. The Astros have a 44-46 over/under record and a 53-42 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 56% of the time.

The Red Sox come into this game with a 42-52 record, and they are 20-29 away from home. Wade Miley has an earned run average of 4.49 and is 8-8 so far on the season while having a 1.37 WHIP. The Red Sox are 10-9 over his 108.1 innings pitched and he's also given up 109 hits over that time period. The Red Sox are also 8-11 against the over/under in his starts. His teammates are averaging 4.6 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen's earned run average is currently 3.84 and they've given up 298 hits on the season. Teams are hitting .253 against the bullpen while being struck out 257 times and walking 100 times this season. As a team, Boston has allowed 9.24 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.36 batters per nine. They are 28th in the league in team earned run average at 4.50.

Boston ranks 15th in the league in team batting average at .253 while hitting .234 on the road. Ranked at 12th in the league in on-base percentage, the Red Sox sit at .317 and they hold a .390 team slugging percentage. They rank 11th in baseball with 8.68 hits per game and Xander Bogaerts leads the team with 102.

With a 52-43 overall record, Houston will come into this game 31-17 at home. Lance McCullers is starting this game 4-3 for the season with an earned run average of 2.52 and a WHIP of 1.10. The Astros have a record of 4-7 over the 64.1 innings he's pitched during which he's given up 47 hits. The Astros are also 3-5 against the over/under in his starts. His teammates score an average of 3.6 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen's earned run average is currently at 2.69 and they have given up 196 hits on the season. Teams are hitting .196 against the Astros bullpen while being struck out 265 times and walking 81 times this season. As a team, Houston has allowed 8.02 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.72 batters per nine. They are 10th in the league in team earned run average at 3.56.

They rank 24th in the league in team batting average with a .242 average while hitting .240 at home. Ranked at 21st in the league in on-base percentage, the Astros sit at .309 and they hold a .421 team slugging percentage. They rank 26th in baseball with 8.09 hits per game and Jose Altuve leads the team with 102.

The Red Sox have committed 54 errors and have combined for 959 assists and 2,504 put outs leading to a .985 team fielding percentage. For the home team, they hold a .987 team fielding percentage while committing 48 errors, accumulating 1022 assists and compiling 2,541 put outs.

Boston Red Sox Betting Trends

The Boston Red Sox are 44-46 against the over/under so far this season

The Boston Red Sox are 39-55 against the run line so far this season

Houston Astros Betting Trends

The Houston Astros are 44-46 against the over/under so far this season

The Houston Astros are 53-42 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Boston Red Sox

07/11/15 P Clay Buchholz Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/11)
05/29/15 P Brandon Workman Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/3)
05/28/15 P Anthony Varvaro Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/29)
05/13/15 P Justin Masterson Arm Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (5/13)
04/04/15 C Christian Vazquez Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/30), out for season

Houston Astros

07/22/15 2B Marwin Gonzalez Foot doubtful Wednesday vs. Boston Red Sox
07/02/15 RF George Springer Wrist Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/1)
05/19/15 P Samuel Deduno Back Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (5/14)
04/28/15 SS Jed Lowrie Thumb Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/28)
04/17/15 P Brad Peacock Side Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/14)

Tony's Pick: Take the Astros

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