In a game that could be a shootout, Dallas Keuchel (2-4, 4.70 ERA) and the Houston Astros (14-21) are in Boston to square off against David Price (4-1, 6.75 ERA) and the Red Sox (21-13). This is the first of a four-game series at Fenway Park. Action begins at 7:10 p.m. ET on Thursday, May. 12 and can be seen on RTSW and NESN.
Price pitched 4.2 innings in his most recent start, surrendering six runs, striking out four and walking three in an 8-2 defeat to the Yankees. Jackie Bradley Jr. (.322, 18 Rs, 6 HRs, 28 RBIs, 2 SBs) continued his strong play yesterday, going 3 for 5 with two runs, two home runs, and six RBIs. Keuchel went 7.0 innings, surrendering two runs, striking out eight and walking one in a 3-2 defeat to the Mariners in his last outing. Jose Altuve (.321, 32 Rs, 9 HRs, 22 RBIs, 13 SBs) has been successful at the plate for the Astros, going 2 for 6 yesterday with one run.
The odds for Boston and Houston are even, while the Over/Under (O/U) is currently unavailable. The Red Sox have no trouble scoring as they rank second in the AL in offense with 0.0 runs per game. The Red Sox lead the MLB in batting average with a phenomenal team average of .293. Boston is one of the best in the MLB in terms of steals, swiping 27 bases. Boston’s pitching staff has been doing better against opposing offenses during the last 10 games, only allowing an average of 0.0 runs per game, well under their season average of 0.0.
Offensively, the Astros have really picked up the pace in the last 10 games. They have exceeded their season average of 0.0 runs per game by averaging 0.0 during that stretch. The Astros are an excellent base-stealing team with an MLB-best 29 stolen bases. The Astros allow 0.0 runs per game, but have improved upon those numbers in the past 10 games, allowing 0.0 runs per game during that span. When it comes to issuing walks, the Astros have the third-fewest in the AL with an average of just 2.5 walks allowed per game.
The Red Sox lead the season series, 2-1.
Predictions: SU Winner – BOS
Notes
When leading after seven innings, Boston is 12-5, while Houston is 5-9.
When they are outhit, the Red Sox are 1-8. The Astros have a 4-17 record when opponents outhit them.
Boston and Houston both rank in the top 10 of the league in home runs. Boston sits at 10th with 40 home runs this season and Houston ranks eighth with 43.
Boston ranks at the top of the league when it comes to hits with 10.35 per game this season. Houston ranks near the bottom at 26th with 7.63.
Ranking 17th, Houston is in the bottom half of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.729). Boston ranks in the top five at second with an OPS of .836.
When the Astros allow at least one home run, they are 9-15. When the Red Sox allow one or more homers, they have a 13-9 record.
