Boston Red Sox vs Houston Astros Prediction, 8/24/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Boston Red Sox vs Houston Astros

Date: Thursday, August 24, 2023

Location: Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX

TV: AT&T SportsNet Southwest

Odds/Point Spread: Boston (+105) Houston (-125)

Minute Maid Park is the location where the Houston Astros (72-55) will try to defeat the Boston Red Sox (66-60) on Thursday. The moneyline on this game has the Red Sox at +105 while the Astros are at -125. The betting total comes in at 9.5. The expected starting pitchers are Brayan Bello and J.P. France.

As a squad, the Boston Red Sox are earning 4.9 runs per outing, which ranks them 8th in the league. They have 614 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .328. The Red Sox have compiled 272 doubles as a team and have hit 145 baseballs out of the stadium. They have 588 RBI's and 1,130 base knocks on the campaign, and their batting average is sitting at .262. Boston has a slugging rate of .433 and have struck out 1,030 times, while being walked on 381 occasions.

They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 3.01 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.31. Red Sox pitchers have allowed 167 home runs and also 587 runs in total (18th in the league). Boston has allowed 1,097 base hits (8.9 per 9 innings) in addition to 540 earned runs. The Red Sox have compiled a team ERA of 4.37 over the course of the season (18th in the league), and the staff has struck out 1,089 hitters. They have walked 362 players from the other team and their FIP comes in at 4.41 as a squad so far this year.

The Red Sox have dispatched 395 relief pitchers to the hill on the year. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 131 base runners on the campaign and 29.0% of them crossed home plate. They have recorded 37 saves this year and have blown 11 of 48 save opportunities. The Red Sox bullpen have accumulated a save percentage of 77.1% and has stepped onto the mound in 107 save situations. The bullpen have a total of 58 holds for the season (24th in baseball). Red Sox bullpen pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on base 86 times as well as having 112 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Boston Red Sox have a tally of 3,333 putouts on the campaign, as well as 1,127 assists and 90 errors. Their fielding rate is currently at .980 which is 30th in baseball, and they have turned 112 double plays. The Red Sox have turned 67.9% of balls in play into outs out of their 9,999 innings, which has them sitting at 26th in baseball.

Bello has taken the hill for 176 frames and has accumulated 155 strikeouts thus far in his career. Bello (11-15 career win-loss mark) holds a FIP of 3.89 while he has faced 770 opposing hitters in the major leagues. His ERA is 4.02 (79 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.426. He has conceded 194 hits (9.9 hits per nine innings) and has 58 free passes.

Houston is sitting with 166 long balls this season and 604 runs batted in. They have 211 doubles, while taking a walk 428 times and putting up 624 runs. The Houston Astros have compiled a team on-base percentage of .325 as well as a team batting average of .253 so far this year. The Astros have a team slugging % of .422 and they are earning 4.91 runs per game (7th in baseball). They have struck out on 998 instances (27th in baseball) and have notched a total of 1,094 base hits.

The Houston pitching staff have yielded 535 runs over the course of the season and come in with a team ERA of 3.84 (483 earned runs allowed). They have given up 154 long balls and they concede 4.25 runs per 9 innings (9th in baseball). The Astros are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.277 and have a FIP of 4.26 as a pitching staff this year. Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 9.10 (1,146 strikeouts vs 409 walks). They are currently ranked 15th in MLB as a staff in total hits allowed with 1,037.

Houston has called on relief pitchers to take the mound in 53 save opportunities and they have tallied 37 saves. They rank 5th in the league holding a save rate of 69.8%, and they have dispatched 402 bullpen pitchers onto the diamond over the course of the season. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 126 times in high leverage situations and on 75 occasions with runners on base. Houston bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 30.6% of 124 inherited base runners. Sitting with 123 save situations, the Astros have accumulated 69 holds and 16 blown saves.

The Houston Astros have gotten 119 double plays and have a fielding rate of .985 (14th in the majors). The Astros have accrued 1,077 assists, 66 errors and have a total of 3,398 putouts so far this season. In 10,194 innings on the diamond, the Astros have earned a defensive efficiency of 69.3% (15th in MLB).

In his MLB career, France has allowed 100 hits while earning 80 K's in 108 frames. France (9-4 career mark) is the owner of a 2.75 ERA while surrendering 8.3 hits per 9 innings. He has given up 33 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.213 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.2. His K/BB ratio is 2.58 and he has faced 446 batters in his career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Houston (-125) and under 9.5 runs

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