Red Sox at Astros Game 1 Betting Preview: Red Sox Look to Upset the Odds
The Boston Red Sox have fought tooth and nail to get to this point. They did not officially clinch a playoff spot until the final game of the regular season; they had to beat the Bronx Bombers in the Wild Card Game and then overcame almost everybody’s predictions to defeat the best team in the American League in the Tampa Bay Rays.
Now they are tasked with trying to quiet one of the hottest lineups in all of baseball in the Houston Astros.
Let’s take a look at the game preview and MLB betting odds for Game 1 of the ALCS.
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Betting Odds & Betting Lines
According to Bovada, the moneyline favors the Astros at -140. Boston’s moneyline is set +117.
BetUs echoes a similar sentiment with their betting odds, as the Astros moneyline is identical at -140, and the Red Sox is +125.
Astros Preview: Pounce Early
The Houston Astros hit the baseball. It’s as simple as that. Yes, we all know they have had their share of controversies over the past few seasons dating back to 2017.
But this is a team that has leaned into the villain role. They have listened to everybody criticize and taunt them, and it has only fueled their fire. Love them or hate them, this is a good team.
The Astros pitching is not what it once was, but they turn to the left-hander Framber Valdez to start Game 1. As long as he avoids laying a goose egg and limits Boston over 5 or 6 innings, Houston will be in tremendous shape.
The Astros lineup features plenty of right-handed pop, but they will have to deal with a talented lefty in Chris Sale. Regardless, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa will lead the way, and the Astros should still post an impressive number of runs in Game 1. Their goal will be to knock Sale out of the game early and then try and score against the Boston bullpen.
Red Sox Preview: Stay in the Game
This is a team that has shown a flair for the dramatic. Kike Hernandez and Rafael Devers were scorching hot at the plate in the ALDS, and they will look to keep the good times rolling against the Houston pitching staff.
As long as the Red Sox can find ways to stay competitive early on, they will have opportunities for clutch hits late in games which is something they have thrived on so far in the postseason.
Chris Sale has seen his share of big moments throughout the course of his career, and if he can limit Houston to three or less runs, that would be a victory for the veteran left-hander.
X-Factors
Alex Verdugo is going to be a weapon for Boston. He crushes righties, and when the Astros turn to a right-handed reliever in this game, look for the Red Sox to implement Verduo in a big way. He has power and good contact ability, which might lead to a late-game rally for the Sox.
Kyle Tucker is consistently batting closer to the bottom of the order for the Astros. This is a guy who would be hitting third or fourth for the majority of teams. While opponents often spend most of their time game planning, looking for ways to deal with Altuve, Correa, Bregman, and Brantley, Tucker might be the unsung hero in this series.
Prediction: Who takes Game 1?
The Astros are the favorites in this series. With home-field advantage, I expect them to win Game 1. Valdez has improved a lot this season and should be able to post a decent start against the Red Sox.
With the Astros’ strong lineup leading the way, my ALCS Game 1 MLB betting pick is for the Astros to win and grab an early 1-0 series lead.
