Houston Astros vs Boston Red Sox
Series score 0-0 (Series up to 4 wins). Game 1
Stadium: Minute Maid Park (Houston)
Game 1 of the American League Finals will take place in Houston where the Astros will take on the Red Sox. Both teams confidently passed their opponents in the divisional round and are now ready to fight for the right to play in the World Series. Who will come out on top?
Houston responds to all the haters
The Astros are hated across America. The so-called sign-stealing scandal during the championship season has severely tarnished the reputation of the Texas team. Now every fan in every stadium in the country except Houston's own feels the responsibility to boo, insult, and yell at Astros baseball players.
But this season shows that shenanigans are far from the only and certainly not the most important reason for the 2017 title. It's just that Dave Roberts' team is really strong. Plus, it's clear that the Astros weren't the only ones using illegal techniques to get results. Their only fault is that they were so blatantly caught. Boston's 2018 championship is just as scandalous and controversial, but for some reason, the public has chosen not to focus on it.
As for the divisional round series against the Chicago White Sox, we can call Kyle Tucker its main hero. The outfielder racked up seven RBI and hit two home runs. Although the rest of the team once again demonstrated that they are one of the best offensive gangs in the MLB today. 31 RBI in 4 games against the White Sox is an impressive result.
Boston is also strong on offense
Alex Cora's team had an unexpectedly easy series with Tampa in the divisional round. And the main reason, as with Houston, is that the Red Sox are scary on offense. The second game in particular was the most prominent. Boston won 14-6 on the road, becoming the first team in history with 20 hits and 5 home runs in a playoff game. Six players on the team scored 2 or more RBI in that game, another historic accomplishment. For the entire series, plus the wild-card game against the New York Yankees, three players - Rafael Devers, Enrique Hernandez, and Alex Verdugo - had 6 RBIs each.
Head-to-head encounters
Houston has an advantage in the regular-season series, 5-2.
Expert Betting Tips
Apart from that, a win for the Astros is worth considering. Maintaining the home advantage is the top priority in a playoff series. So, if Houston does lose, it will be in the second game rather than the first.
Prediction: Houston will win in a high-scoring match.
Betting options:
- Handicap Houston (-1) for 1.99;
- Total Over (8.5) for 1.97.