Sunday, April 24, 2016
Minute Maid Park
For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here
Probable Pitchers: Henry Owens vs. Scott Feldman
The Boston Red Sox visit Minute Maid Park on Sunday to play the Houston Astros. The probable starters are Henry Owens for the Red Sox and Scott Feldman for the Astros. The opening line for this matchup has Boston at +124 and Houston at -134. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Red Sox have a 8-8-0 over/under record and a 9-7-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 56% of the time. The Astros are 4-13-0 against the run line and have a 9-7-1 over/under record. They cover the spread 24% of the time.
The Red Sox head into this matchup with a 8-8 record, including 4-2 on the road. Starting pitcher Henry Owens will be making his season debut for the Red Sox. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.70 and they have given up 46 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .216 against the bullpen while being struck out 68 times and walking 28 times this season. As a team, Boston has allowed 8.31 hits per nine innings while striking out 10.26 batters per nine. They are 25th in the league in team earned run average at 4.59. The Red Sox pitchers have collectively given up 132 base hits and 73 earned runs. They have allowed 19 home runs this season and they allow 1.2 homers per nine innings as a staff. Boston as a pitching staff has walked 63 batters and struck out 163. They walk 4 men per 9 innings while striking out 10.3 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.36 and their FIP as a unit is 4.07.
As a team, Boston is batting .274, good for 3rd in the league while putting together a .298 average away from home. The Red Sox hold a .436 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .338 which is good for 5th in baseball. They rank 2nd in baseball with 9.44 hits per game. David Ortiz comes into this game hitting .269 and his on-base percentage is at .397. He has 14 hits this season along with 6 runs scored and 13 runs batted in. He's struck out 10 times and has walked 11 times. Dustin Pedroia is hitting .299 and he has an on-base percentage of .338. He has totaled 20 hits so far while scoring 11 runs and he's driven in 6. He has walked 4 times and has struck out 12 times. The Red Sox have 151 hits, including 42 doubles and 13 home runs. They've stolen 13 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 1 times. Boston has walked 51 times this season and they've struck out 129 times as a unit. They've left 107 men on base and have a team OPS of .773. They score 5.33 runs per contest and have scored a total of 80 runs so far this year.
Houston comes into this matchup with a 3-5 home record and a 5-12 overall mark. With an earned run average of 4.11, Scott Feldman has a 0-2 record and a 1.63 WHIP. He has 10 strikeouts over the 15.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 18 hits. He has allowed 10.6 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 5.64. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 4.50 and they have given up 51 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .243 against the Astros bullpen while being struck out 62 times and walking 16 times this season. As a team, Houston has allowed 10.36 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.89 batters per nine. They are 27th in the league in team earned run average at 5.05. The Astros pitchers as a team have surrendered 168 base knocks and 82 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 25 home runs this year and they give up 1.5 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Houston as a staff has walked 43 hitters and struck out 128. They give up a walk 2.7 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.9 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.45 while their FIP as a staff is 4.41.
As a team, they are batting .235, good for 21st in the league while putting together a .237 average at home. The Astros hold a .430 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .311 which is good for 20th in baseball. They rank 22nd in baseball with 7.65 hits per contest. Jose Altuve comes into this matchup batting .292 and he has an OBP of .403. He has 19 hits this year along with 15 runs scored and 10 RBI. He's struck out 11 times and has walked on 9 occasions. Carlos Correa is hitting .283 and he has an OBP of .358. He has collected 17 hits so far while he's scored 7 runs and drove in 7. He has earned a walk 7 times and has punched out 12 times. The Astros as a unit have 130 base hits, including 29 doubles and 24 homers. They have 15 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 7 times. Houston as a team has walked 57 times this year and they have struck out 166 times. They've had 105 men left on base and have an OPS of .740. They score 3.94 runs per game and have totaled 63 runs so far this season.
Boston Red Sox Betting Trends
The Boston Red Sox are 8-8-0 against the over/under so far this season
The Boston Red Sox are 9-7-0 against the run line so far this season
Houston Astros Betting Trends
The Houston Astros are 9-7-1 against the over/under so far this season
The Houston Astros are 4-13-0 against the run line so far this season
Injuries to Watch
Boston Red Sox
04/23/16 SS Xander Bogaerts Wrist "?" Sunday vs. Houston Astros
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)
Guy's Pick: Take the Red Sox
Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here
Read more articles by Guy Bruhn
Get all of Today's Free MLB Picks
Get all of Today's Expert MLB Picks