Red Sox Head South to Take on AL West Leading Astros

Friday night American League action heads to the Lone Star State when the Boston Red Sox visit the Houston Astros. The current line has Houston slightly favored at -112, Boston at +102 and the over/under run total on 9.

Entering this game, Boston has a record of 37-29 overall and 16-18 on the road. The Red Sox are 6-4 in their last 10 games played. Houston entering this game is 45-22 overall and 22-14 at home. The Astros are 4-6 in their last 10 games played.

The Astros have enjoyed their franchise’s best start in history, although they have gone through a slight downturn with 6 losses in their last 8 games, including four of their first five in a current home stand of nine games.

However, Houston’s offense woke up in its last game pounding out 19 hits in route to a 13-2 victory and hopes to carry over the momentum of that game when they host Boston in the first game of a three-game set.

Jose Altuve had three hits while scoring three runs in Wednesday’s rout over Texas. In his career, Altuve has batted .342 versus Boston. Houston is comfortably atop the American League West with a lead of 11 ½ games.

Boston is in second place in the AL East behind the New York Yankees but on Thursday was shut out 1-0 by the Philadelphia Phillies. It was the sixth time already that Boston has been held scoreless this season.

Mitch Moreland has hit in nine straight games for Boston even though he reportedly is battling a fractured big toe on his left foot.

Boston will send Drew Pomeranz to the mound on Friday. The Red Sox southpaw is 6-4 with an ERA of 4.48. Houston will counter with Mike Fiers. The Astros right-hander is 4-2 with an ERA of 4.29.

Pomeranz was hit hard in his most recent outing allowing eight hits and six runs over just 4 plus innings in an 8-3 loss to Detroit. However, in his three starts previous to that, he scattered 17 hits and allowed 5 runs over 18 innings to win all three.

Fiers enjoyed his best start all season last Saturday for Houston and has now won three straight starts.

Boston is 6-1 in its last 7 games against AL West opponents.

Houston is 13-3 in its last 16 games against AL East opponents.

Prediction: Houston has been very tough this season, but is going through a downturn of late. Boston is finding ways to win and should come out on top here.