The Boston Red Sox will look to draw even in their best-of-seven 2021 American League Championship Series with the Houston Astros when they meet in Game 2 on Saturday afternoon. The Astros rallied from a two-run deficit to post a 5-4 victory in Friday's Game 1. The Red Sox (92-70), who have made the playoffs in four of the last six seasons, are trying to reach their second World Series in four years. The Astros (95-67), who have made the postseason in each of the last five seasons, are looking to reach their third World Series in five years.
The game is slated to begin at 4:20 p.m. ET from Minute Maid Park in Houston. The Red Sox and Astros are the top two hitting teams this postseason. Boston has a .322 team batting average, while the Astros are hitting .298. Houston is a -115 favorite (risk $115 to win $100) on the money line in the latest Red Sox vs. Astros odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total runs scored is 8.5. Before making any Astros vs. Red Sox picks, be sure to see the 2021 MLB playoff predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
This model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, enters the second week of the 2021 MLB playoffs with a 207-175 record on top-rated MLB money-line picks, returning well over $700. It also had a banner 2019 season, the league's last full schedule, returning more than $1,400 on its top-rated money-line and run-line MLB picks. Anyone following it has seen some huge returns.
Now, the model has dialed in on Red Sox vs. Astros and just released its coveted 2021 American League Championship Series picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's ALCS picks. Here are the MLB odds and betting lines for Astros vs. Red Sox:
- Red Sox vs. Astros money line: Boston +105, Houston -115
- Red Sox vs. Astros run line: Houston -1.5 (+160)
- Red Sox vs. Astros over-under: 8.5 runs
- BOS: The Red Sox are 4-1 in their last five league championship games
- HOU: The Astros are 6-1 in their last seven games vs. a team with a winning record
Why you should back the Astros
Houston is expected to send right-hander Luis Garcia (11-8, 3.30 ERA) to the mound. In 28 starts and 30 appearances during the regular season, Garcia allowed just 132 hits in 155 1/3 innings with 50 walks and 167 strikeouts. Shortstop Carlos Correa opened the ALCS with a 3-for-4 performance, including a home run. He has hits in four of Houston's five postseason games and is 8-for-17 (.471) with two doubles and a home run. During the regular season, Correa batted .279 with 26 homers, 92 RBIs and 104 runs scored. He has had a lot of success against Boston in 2021, batting .393 with three doubles, two home runs and five RBIs.
Also red hot is outfielder Michael Brantley, who is batting .333 in the postseason, including hits in all five games. In the decisive Game 4 win over the Chicago White Sox, Brantley was 3-for-6 with two RBIs. He had seven hits in the series. During the regular season, Brantley batted .311 with eight homers, 47 RBIs and 68 runs scored. In three games against Boston in 2021, he is batting .333 with a double, one RBI and two runs scored.
Why you should back the Red Sox
Boston is expected to start right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (11-9, 3.75 ERA). He has been dominant in his last three starts, picking up a pair of wins. Although he got a no-decision in Boston's 6-4 13-inning win over Tampa Bay in Game 3 of the ALDS, he allowed just two earned runs on three hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out eight. He defeated the New York Yankees 6-2 in the AL Wild Card Game on Oct. 5, allowing one earned run on four hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter. In six career starts against the Astros, Eovaldi is 1-2 with a 3.93 ERA. He's walked 12, while striking out 33.
Powering Boston's offense in the Game 1 loss to Houston was center fielder Kike Hernandez, who was 4-for-5 with two home runs. Hernandez has been on fire in the postseason, going 14-for-28 (.500) with four doubles, four homers and eight RBIs. In the 14-6 ALDS Game 2 win over Tampa Bay, he was 5-for-6 with three doubles, one home run, three RBIs and three runs scored. In 16 career games vs. Houston, Hernandez is hitting .264 with four doubles, three homers and six RBIs.
How to make Red Sox vs. Astros ALCS picks
The model is leaning over on the total, projecting 10.5 combined runs. It also says one side of the money line has all the value. Head to SportsLine to see its MLB picks.
So who wins Game 2 of Astros vs. Red Sox in the ALCS 2021? And which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SpotsLine now to see which side to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its MLB picks, and find out.
