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An important series regarding the American League playoff race begins on Friday night as the wild-card chasing Boston Red Sox host the AL West-leading Astros.

We might see this matchup in the first round of the playoffs come October. Boston is a slight favorite Friday on the MLB odds according to MyBookie Sportsbook.

Opening MLB Lines: Red Sox -110, Astros +100 (total 9)
Score Prediction: Red Sox 5, Astros 4

Houston Astros Moneyline +109

Houston enters having won two straight following a three-game skid and is neck-and-neck with Seattle atop the AL West. It might only take about 88 wins to capture the division. Through April 26, the Astros were 7-19. Since, they are 52-36.

In Wednesday’s 6-4 win over Texas to win that series, Astros closer Josh Hader, pitching on a third consecutive day for the first time this season, struck out Corey Seager to start a perfect ninth for his 24th consecutive save, tying Brad Lidge’s single-season franchise record from 2005. Hader owns a 3.75 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 77:18 K:BB across 50.1 innings this season, converting 24 of 25 save opportunities.

Yordan Alvarez

All-Star slugger Alvarez has been outstanding on the road in 2024 as his.352 road average is tops in the AL while his 1.086 road OPS is second. Not great news, though, for fellow All-Star Kyle Tucker, who has been out since June 3 with a shin injury. Espada said Wednesday that Tucker remains unable to sprint but has been jogging without issue, so his return is not particularly close and Tucker will remain in Houston rehabbing.

Justin Verlander

Ace Verlander will go out on a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend for Triple-A Sugar Land. Verlander said he would need two rehab outings before rejoining Houston’s rotation. The three-time Cy Young Award winner began the season on the injured list with a shoulder issue and then went 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA in 10 starts before suffering a neck stiffness injury.

Ronel Blanco on the Mound

It’s right-hander Blanco on the mound Friday. Blanco (9-6) allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven over five innings, taking the loss versus the Rays last Saturday. A two-run home run by Josh Lowe in the fifth inning was enough to saddle Blanco with the loss. While he’s allowed exactly two runs in four of his last six starts, he has a 1-3 record in that span. The 30-year-old continues to put together an impressive campaign with a 2.98 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 121:48 K:BB through 124 innings over 21 starts. Of course, he had a no-hitter early this season.

Blanco is pitching more this season than he ever has in his MLB career. He’s already up to 124 innings; he threw 125 1/3 innings between the minors and majors during the entirety of his 2023 season. Blanco has not thrown six innings since July 14 against the Rangers, and has logged seven frames just once in his past seven outings. . The Astros would most likely move to a six-man rotation once Verlander is ready to rejoin the team, which would allow Blanco to get an extra day of rest.

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Boston Red Sox Moneyline -128

The Red Sox currently are not an AL wild-card team, but only 1.5 games back of the final spot held by Kansas City. Boston is 19-13-5 in series play and has won 3 consecutive series after losing 3 straight following the All-Star break. The Sox have won or tied 15 of their last 19 series, beginning May 30 (11-4-4). Boston had a three-game streak of winning snapped on Wednesday, 8-4, as it was trying for an impressive sweep in KC. Romy Gonzalez was a bright spot with a three-run homer.

Chris Martin

Ahead of that game, reliever Martin was reinstated from the 15-day injured list, where he had been since July 5 (retroactive to July 4) with right elbow inflammation. In a corresponding move, lefty Cam Booser was optioned to Triple-A Worcester. And outfielder Tyler O’Neill, having a career year, was placed on the 10-day IL (retroactive to Aug. 4) with a left leg infection.

The right-handed slugger has hit 22 homers and driven in 45 runs while compiling a .901 OPS in 80 games this season. O’Neill leads MLB with 5 multi-HR games. The Red Sox have recorded 12 individual multi-homer games, tied with the Mets for the most in MLB. But since Boston traded for O’Neill in December, the 29-year-old has landed on the IL with right knee inflammation and a concussion. Utility player Emmanuel Valdez was recalled from Worcester to take his place.

Las 9 Games

The Red Sox have recorded 10+ hits in 7 of their last 9 games and in 12 of their last 15. Boston is tied for the MLB lead with 49 games with at least 10 hits, going 40-9 in those games. Boston has scored at least five runs in 59 games, third-most in the majors.

Tanner Houck on the Hill

It’s righty Houck on the mound Friday. Houck (8-8, 3.09 ERA) took the loss last Saturday, coughing up six runs on eight hits and two walks over five-plus innings as the Red Sox fell 7-4 to the Rangers. He struck out seven. Houck appeared to be firmly in control to begin the game, blanking Texas through three innings, but the wheels came off for Houck in the fourth as Jonah Heim and Leody Taveras hit back-to-back homers off him.

It was the second time this season Houck has served up multiple homers in a start, but last Saturday’s outing marked the fifth straight in which he issued multiple walks, and he sports a rough 4.78 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 18:16 K:BB through 26.1 innings over that stretch.

In his first 16 starts of the season, through June 24, Houck had a 2.18 ERA while allowing just two home runs and holding the opposition to a .211 average and .528 OPS. In 103 1/3 innings, he walked 18 and had 101 strikeouts. That was the body of work that earned Houck a trip to his first All-Star Game. The last six starts have been brutal, as Houck has a 6.16 ERA while allowing six homers; opponents have a .290 average against him and an .848 OPS. In those 30 2/3 innings, Houck has 17 walks and 22 strikeouts.

Houck is 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA and two saves in three career appearances spanning 7.2 innings vs. Houston.

Bet Astros at Red Sox MLB Odds

When: Friday, 7:10 PM ET
Where: Fenway Park
Pitchers (away/home): Ronel Blanco/Tanner Houck
TV: MLB Extra Innings, MLB Network
Stream/game day audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/