The Houston Astros can advance to the World Series for the third time in five seasons when they take on the Boston Red Sox in Game 6 of the 2021 ALCS on Friday at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Behind starting pitching of Framber Valdez and the power of Yordan Alvarez, the Astros took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series with a 9-1 victory in Game 5 on Wednesday. On Friday rookie Luis Garcia (0-1, 24.55 ERA) is expected to start for Houston. Meanwhile Nathan Eovaldi (1-1, 10.50) will take the mound for Boston.
Houston is the -111 favorite (risk $111 to win $100) in the latest Astros vs. Red Sox odds from Caesars Sportsbook while Boston is a +101 underdog. The over-under for total runs scored is nine. First pitch is at 8:08 p.m. ET. Before making any Red Sox vs. Astros picks, make sure to check out the latest MLB playoff predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
This model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, enters the third week of the 2021 MLB playoffs with a 207-176 record on top-rated MLB money-line picks, returning well over $600. Anyone following it has seen some huge returns.
Now, the model has dialed in on Astros vs. Red Sox and just revealed its coveted picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model’s MLB picks. Here are the MLB lines and trends for Red Sox vs. Astros:
- Astros vs. Red Sox money line: Houston -111, Boston +101
- Astros vs. Red Sox run line: Houston -1.5 (+170)
- Astros vs. Red Sox over-under: 9 runs
- HOU: Kyle Tucker is tied for the MLB lead in RBI in the playoffs (12)
- BOS: Kike Hernandez leads all MLB players in the postseason in hits (19)
Featured Game | Houston Astros vs. Boston Red Sox
Why you should back the Astros
The Houston bats are hot heading into Game 6. In the last two games, the Astros have combined to score 18 runs on 23 hits. As a team, they hit .303 with a .393 on-base percentage and a .474 slugging percentage. Alvarez was the catalyst with five hits, including a home run in Game 5, and four RBI in the last two games.
In addition, Houston faces what could be a fatigued Eovaldi. The hard-throwing Boston righty came into a tied Game 4 on just two days’ rest and gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in ⅔ of an inning. Though he threw just 24 pitches on what would normally have been his day to throw on the side, he doesn’t enter Game 6 coming off his optimal routine.
Why you should back the Red Sox
Boston already rocked Garcia earlier in this series. In Game 2, the Red Sox clobbered Garcia for five runs and two hits, including a grand slam, and three walks in just one inning of work. He left that game with right knee discomfort, which puts his possible effectiveness in Game 6 in question. In two postseason starts this season, he has a 24.55 ERA.
In addition, Kike Hernandez has been on fire in the postseason. In his last eight games, the Boston centerfielder is batting .474, slugging .974 and has an OPS of 1.449. He has five home runs, nine RBI and eight runs scored during that stretch.
How to make Astros vs. Red Sox picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the run total, projecting a combined 10.5 runs. It also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can only see the model’s Red Sox vs. Astros pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Game 6 of the ALCS and Astros vs. Red Sox? And which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the money line to jump on, all from the advanced model that has a 207-176 record on top-rated MLB money line picks, and find out.
