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The Wednesday night ESPN national TV game features a potential playoff preview between the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros from Minute Maid Park with the Astros opening as slight favorites on the MLB odds.

How to Bet Red Sox at Astros MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Wednesday, 8 PM ET
Where: Minute Maid Park
Probable pitchers (away/home): Nick Pivetta/Framber Valdez
TV: ESPN
Stream/gameday audio: ESPN app

Why Bet on Boston? | Betting Odds for MLB

The Red Sox are in the midst of playing a game on 17 consecutive days. They have been remarkably healthy so far. They have used an MLB-low 31 players in 2021. Their 16 pitchers used and 15 position players used are both the fewest in the majors. The Sox have used only 6 starting pitchers, tied with the White Sox for the fewest in the majors. In 2020, the Sox used 47 players in 60 games (27 pitchers, 20 position players).

Hunter Renfroe had an incredibly hot May, as he carried more than his share offensively. Batting .319/.333/.604 for the month of May, Renfroe finished the month with the second-best wRC+ (155) on the team, trailing only Xander Bogaerts and finishing a spot ahead of Rafael Devers.

The Sox are 32-26 all-time vs. Houston, but the Astros have won each of the last 3 season series. Twelve of the last 23 games between these teams have been decided by 1 run.

It’s Nick Pivetta (6-0) on the mound. Pivetta yielded four runs in six innings and struck out nine in a win over the Braves last Wednesday. He was going to come back out for the seventh inning, but heavy rains fell in Boston after the sixth and delayed the game nearly three hours before the teams completed the game.

The Red Sox are 9-1 when he pitches. Pivetta’s ERA has been on the rise of late, increasing to 3.86, but he had a 34/9 K/BB ratio in 28 innings in May compared to 25/17 in 25 2/3 innings in April. He has begun to use his commanding 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame to best advantage.

Pivetta is tied for 3rd in the AL in wins and 8th in HR/9.0 IP (0.67). He leads Red Sox starters in opponent AVG (.215) and strikeouts (59). The Red Sox are 11-1 in his 12 starts since his acquisition, the 1st time in club history the Sox have won 11 of a pitcher’s first 12 starts with the team.

Pivetta is unbeaten since joining the Red Sox, going 8-0 with a 3.53 ERA in 12 starts. He appeared on the verge of losing his career with the Phillies before Boston traded for him late last summer. The righty was all but guaranteed a rotation spot to start this season by virtue of his lack of minor-league options, but the expectations were not very high.

Why Bet on Houston? | Betting Odds for MLB

Houston got good news Tuesday when first baseman Yuli Gurriel and DH Yordan Alvarez both returned from injuries. Gurriel was forced to exit Saturday’s game due to left middle finger inflammation, while Alvarez had been out since tweaking his wrist on a swing last Wednesday.

However, outfielder Michael Brantley remains on the 10-day injured list with right hamstring tightness. Brantley is hitting .305 with three homers and 15 RBIs and was in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak (.333). Chas McCormick has been getting most of the starts in left while Brantley is out. Brantley would be eligible to come off the injured list in time for Friday’s game.

McCormick has made the most of his 12 hits this season, collecting two doubles, four homers, 17 RBI and scoring 14 runs. McCormick is coming off a 2020 season in which he did not appear in an official game, spending the entire campaign at the Astros alternate training site.

It’s one-time touted prospect Framber Valdez (0-0, 2.25) on the mound. He missed the first two months of the season after breaking his left ring finger in his first start of the spring on March 2.

Valdez allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out four over four innings in a no-decision against San Diego last Friday in his season debut. The only damage in the box score was a solo homer from Tommy Pham in the third inning. He executed all of his pitches, relying heavily on his sinker and curveball while throwing 72 pitches (40 strikes). That was right at his pitch limit for the night. The left-hander is expected to get deeper into games as he builds arm strength.

Valdez put together an extremely impressive breakout campaign last year, posting a 3.57 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 76/16 K/BB ratio across 70 2/3 innings (11 appearances, 10 starts).