Game: Boston Red Sox @ Houston Astros
Time: 8:10 p.m.
Odds: Red Sox -103, Astros -107
Total: 9
After getting swept by the Seattle Mariners last weekend, the Houston Astros called for an impromptu team meeting. The results seem to have worked.
Houston won Game 1 of their series with Boston last night with a 7-3 victory over the visiting Red Sox. The second game of the series is tonight. After a strong performance by Justin Verlander, the Astros will go with Jose Urquidy (2-3, 5.21 ERA) as their starting pitcher tonight.
Since his three-month absence due to right shoulder discomfort on the injured list, the right-hander has made three appearances. Most recently, Urquidy pitched two scoreless innings of relief on Friday in the Astros’ 2-0 loss to the Mariners. He struck out three batters. In those three appearances (two starts), Urquidy gave up six runs over 10.1 innings.
Over the course of three career starts against the Red Sox, Urquidy is 3-0 with a 2.50 ERA. On August 3, 2022, Urquidy faced Boston in his most recent start and won 6-1 at home with two hits allowed and 10 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings.
The Red Sox will start Chris Sale (5-3, 4.50 ERA). The left-hander lost his most recent start against the Washington Nationals last Thursday after throwing 4.1 innings and surrendering three runs (two earned) on two hits, three walks, and three strikeouts. Since his return from a 59-game absence due to left shoulder inflammation, Sale is 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA in two starts. Prior to being placed on the IL, his six previous starts saw him go 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA. Over nine starts against the Astros in his career, Sale is 5-3 with a 2.20 ERA.
Boston made three mistakes on Tuesday, just one night after Red Sox manager Alex Cora bemoaned a shoddy defensive showing in the series opener. Right fielder Wilyer Abreu and reliever Mauricio Llovera both made throwing errors in the seventh inning, which allowed the Astros to score four runs.
The Red Sox have the most errors of any team in the majors (90). They are also just 4-for-28 in the series so far with runners in scoring position. That’s one of the reasons why Boston has won just 3 of its last 7 games. The Red Sox are 7-3 though in the last 10 games against AL opponents.
Houston has won the first two games of this series and has done it at the plate. The Astros scored 9 runs in Game 1 and 7 last night. Six of their last seven games have seen the total go Over. The Over has also hit in 4 of the Astros’ last 5 home games. It’s much the same for Boston. The total has gone Over in each of the Red Sox last 6 games and the Over has cashed in each of Boston’s last five games on the road.
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