Sunday, July 5, 2015

Fenway Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Lance McCullers (4-2) vs. Eduardo Rodriguez (4-2)

The Boston Red Sox host the Houston Astros at Fenway Park on Sunday. The Astros send Lance McCullers to the mound to face Eduardo Rodriguez of the Red Sox. The opening line for this matchup has Houston at +108 and Boston at -118. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Astros, with a 49-33 run line record, cover the spread 60% of the time. They also have a 39-39 over/under record. The Red Sox have a 39-40 over/under record and a 35-47 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 43% of the time.

The Astros head into this matchup with a 48-34 record, including 20-18 on the road. Lance McCullers has an earned run average of 2.19 and is 4-2 so far on the season while having a 1.01 WHIP. The Astros are 4-5 over his 53.1 innings pitched and he's also given up 36 hits over that time period. The Astros are also 2-5 against the over/under in his starts. The team is averaging 3.7 runs when he starts. The bullpen's earned run average is currently 2.63 and they've given up 170 hits on the season. Opposing teams are hitting .192 against the Astros bullpen while walking 70 times and striking out 246 times. Houston is averaging 7.78 strikeouts per game while getting 7.88 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 9th in baseball in team earned run average at 3.56.

Houston is batting .243 as a team, which is good for 24th in the league and hitting .250 away from home. Ranked at 20th in the league in on-base percentage, the Astros sit at .311 and they hold a .428 team slugging percentage. Jose Altuve leads the team in hits with 87 while the team ranks 26th in baseball with 8.15 hits per game.

With a 17-21 home record, Boston will hope to improve on their 37-45 overall mark. Eduardo Rodriguez is starting this game 4-2 for the season with an earned run average of 3.92 and a WHIP of 1.11. The Red Sox have a record of 4-3 over the 41.1 innings he's pitched during which he's given up 33 hits. The Red Sox are also 4-3 against the over/under in his starts. The team is averaging 4.7 runs when he takes the field. The bullpen's earned run average is currently at 3.94 and they have given up 267 hits on the season. Opposing teams are hitting .260 against the Red Sox bullpen while walking 91 times and striking out 221 times. Boston is averaging 7.31 strikeouts per game while getting 9.37 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 28th in the league in team earned run average at 4.53.

They are batting .256 as a team, which is good for 13th in the league and hitting .276 at home. Ranked at 11th in the league in on-base percentage, the Red Sox sit at .321 and they hold a .399 team slugging percentage. Dustin Pedroia leads the team in hits with 86 while the team ranks 11th in baseball with 8.8 hits a game.

The Astros have committed 42 errors and have combined for 885 assists and 2,214 put outs leading to a .987 team fielding percentage. The Red Sox have committed 48 errors on the season with 853 assists and 2,193 put outs leading to a team fielding percentage of .984 on the year.

Houston Astros Betting Trends

The Houston Astros are 39-39 against the over/under so far this season

The Houston Astros are 49-33 against the run line so far this season

Boston Red Sox Betting Trends

The Boston Red Sox are 39-40 against the over/under so far this season

The Boston Red Sox are 35-47 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Houston Astros

07/04/15 CF Colby Rasmus Wrist is upgraded to expected to be in the starting lineup Saturday vs. Boston Red Sox
07/02/15 RF George Springer Wrist Injury is on the 15 day disabled list ((7/1)
06/26/15 P Chad Qualls Neck Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/25)
06/22/15 CF Jake Marisnick Hamstring Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/19)
05/29/15 P Scott Feldman Knee Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (5/27)
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)

Boston Red Sox

07/04/15 C Blake Swihart Foot Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/1)
06/25/15 2B Dustin Pedroia Hamstring Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (5/25)
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)
05/28/15 RF Daniel Nava Thumb Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (5/26)
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

Josh's Pick: Take the Red Sox

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