Friday, April 22, 2016

Minute Maid Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Steven Wright vs. Collin McHugh

The Boston Red Sox visit Minute Maid Park on Friday to play the Houston Astros. The probable starters are Steven Wright for the Red Sox and Collin McHugh for the Astros. The opening line for this matchup has Boston at +126 and Houston at -136. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Red Sox have a 7-7-0 over/under record and a 8-6-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 57% of the time. The Astros are 4-11-0 against the run line and have a 8-6-1 over/under record. They cover the spread 27% of the time.

The Red Sox head into this matchup with a 7-7 record, including 3-2 on the road. Starting pitcher Steven Wright has a 0-2 record with an earned run average of 2.13 and a WHIP of 1.18. He has 11 strikeouts over his 12.2 innings pitched and he has given up 12 hits so far this season. He has allowed 8.5 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.51. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.38 and they have given up 37 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .203 against the bullpen while being struck out 61 times and walking 22 times this season. As a team, Boston has allowed 7.99 hits per nine innings while striking out 10.44 batters per nine. They are 23rd in the league in team earned run average at 4.32. The Red Sox pitchers have collectively given up 111 base hits and 60 earned runs. They have allowed 17 home runs this season and they allow 1.2 homers per nine innings as a staff. Boston as a pitching staff has walked 50 batters and struck out 145. They walk 3.6 men per 9 innings while striking out 10.4 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.29 and their FIP as a unit is 3.90.

As a team, Boston is batting .256, good for 8th in the league while putting together a .276 average away from home. The Red Sox hold a .403 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .323 which is good for 9th in baseball. They rank 10th in baseball with 8.64 hits per game. David Ortiz comes into this game hitting .295 and his on-base percentage is at .415. He has 13 hits this season along with 5 runs scored and 13 runs batted in. He's struck out 9 times and has walked 9 times. Dustin Pedroia is hitting .268 and he has an on-base percentage of .317. He has totaled 15 hits so far while scoring 9 runs and he's driven in 3. He has walked 4 times and has struck out 11 times. The Red Sox have 121 hits, including 32 doubles and 11 home runs. They've stolen 11 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 1 times. Boston has walked 45 times this season and they've struck out 115 times as a unit. They've left 88 men on base and have a team OPS of .726. They score 4.71 runs per contest and have scored a total of 66 runs so far this year.

Houston comes into this matchup with a 3-4 home record and a 5-10 overall mark. With an earned run average of 6.39, Collin McHugh has a 1-2 record and a 1.90 WHIP. He has 11 strikeouts over the 12.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 21 hits. He has allowed 14.9 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.04. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 4.79 and they have given up 45 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .242 against the Astros bullpen while being struck out 56 times and walking 15 times this season. As a team, Houston has allowed 9.7 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.95 batters per nine. They are 27th in the league in team earned run average at 4.81. The Astros pitchers as a team have surrendered 139 base knocks and 69 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 23 home runs this year and they give up 1.6 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Houston as a staff has walked 41 hitters and struck out 114. They give up a walk 2.9 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.40 while their FIP as a staff is 4.54.

As a team, they are batting .240, good for 16th in the league while putting together a .244 average at home. The Astros hold a .444 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .314 which is good for 16th in baseball. They rank 21st in baseball with 7.8 hits per contest. Jose Altuve comes into this matchup batting .310 and he has an OBP of .412. He has 18 hits this year along with 14 runs scored and 10 RBI. He's struck out 9 times and has walked on 7 occasions. Carlos Correa is hitting .269 and he has an OBP of .345. He has collected 14 hits so far while he's scored 6 runs and drove in 7. He has earned a walk 6 times and has punched out 10 times. The Astros as a unit have 117 base hits, including 26 doubles and 22 homers. They have 15 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 6 times. Houston as a team has walked 48 times this year and they have struck out 147 times. They've had 90 men left on base and have an OPS of .755. They score 3.8 runs per game and have totaled 57 runs so far this season.

Boston Red Sox Betting Trends

The Boston Red Sox are 7-7-0 against the over/under so far this season

The Boston Red Sox are 8-6-0 against the run line so far this season

Houston Astros Betting Trends

The Houston Astros are 8-6-1 against the over/under so far this season

The Houston Astros are 4-11-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Boston Red Sox

04/19/16 P Joe Kelly Shoulder 15-day DL (4/19)
04/13/16 3B Pablo Sandoval Shoulder 15-day DL (4/11)
04/04/16 P Brandon Workman Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Carson Smith Elbow 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Eduardo Rodrigue Knee 15-day DL (4/2)

Houston Astros

04/04/16 P Lance McCuller Shoulder 15-day DL (3/25)
04/02/16 C Max Stassi Wrist 15-day DL (3/29)

Tony's Pick: Take the Red Sox

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