Houston Astros vs Boston Red Sox Prediction 8-19-24 MLB Picks

The Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros meet Monday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. Here’s a Houston Astros vs Boston Red Sox prediction. This will be the first installment in a three-Game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Astros vs Red Sox pick.

Boston Red Sox Betting Preview

Over the weekend the Red Sox played the rival Baltimore Orioles. Boston lost Thursday 5-1 then won the next pair 12-10 and 5-1. In the finale the Sox gave up just three hits (and had 11 themselves) in a 4-2 loss. Kutter Crawford went 5.1 innings in the start with three earned runs.

As starter for Monday the Red Sox will go with Tanner Houck. So far Houck is 8-8 with a 3.01 ERA in 24 starts. Over 98 career Games (65 starts) Houck is 23-27 with a 3.54 ERA.

Houston Astros Betting Preview

Over on the Astros’ side, they played the Chicago White Sox in their last set. Houston lost 5-4 Friday then took a 6-1 win in Game two. In the rubber match the Astros out-hit the Sox 5-3 in a 2-0 shutout win. Starter Framber Valdez put up 7.0 clean frames with nine strikeouts.

In the starter slot Monday, Houston is sending out Yusei Kikuchi. In 2024 Kikuchi is 6-9 with a 4.49 ERA in 25 starts. He’s 38-46 with a 4.67 ERA in 159 career Games (147 starts).

Total Runs Facts

• Each of the Astros’ last seven night games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Seven of the Red Sox’s last eight night games against AL West opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the last seven night games between the Red Sox and Astros.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Red Sox’s last six games at Minute Maid Park.

Houston Astros Player Prop Facts

• Alex Bregman has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 13 appearances against the Red Sox.
• Alex Bregman has hit a home run in four of the Astros’ last five games against AL East opponents.
• Yordan Alvarez has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Astros’ last four games against opponents that held a winning record.
• Alex Bregman has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 13 appearances against the Red Sox.
• Jeremy Pena has recorded a Double in five of the Astros’ last six games as favorites against the Red Sox.
• Alex Bregman has recorded at least one Single in each of his last nine home appearances against the Red Sox.
• Alex Bregman has scored at least one run in each of the Astros’ last six games against the Red Sox.

Boston Red Sox Player Prop Facts

• Jarren Duran has recorded at least one total base in each of the Red Sox’s last nine road games against AL West opponents.
• Tyler O’Neill has hit at least one home run in three of the Red Sox’s last four road games against AL West opponents that held a winning record.
• Wilyer Abreu has recorded at least one RBI in each of his four previous appearances against the Astros after playing the previous day.
• Jarren Duran has recorded at least one hit in each of the Red Sox’s last nine road games against AL West opponents.
• Rafael Devers has recorded at least one Double in four of his last five appearances with the Red Sox as underdogs against AL West opponents.
• Jarren Duran has recorded at least one Single in each of the Red Sox’s last nine road games against AL West opponents.
• Triston Casas has scored a run in seven of his last eight road appearances against AL opponents.

Houston Astros vs Boston Red Sox Prediction

I’ll try Houston here. I could probably go either way, though; we should have a good starter matchup. Kikuchi is 2-0 over his last three starts, giving up a combined five earned in 16.2 innings during that time. As for Houck, he’s got three earned on 10 hits and five walks over his last 12.2 innings.

On Sunday the Astros got a nice pitching performance across the board. The bullpen (Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader) combined for 2.0 innings, no hits, no walks and four Ks. There was something to be desired with the offense though, as both runs came via solo homers. Still, Houston should be riding high coming into Monday’s matchup.