We saw another high scoring affair in the fourth game of this series. So far in the ALCS the score lines have been, 5-4 (Astros), 9-5 (Red Sox), 12-3 (Red Sox) and 9-2 (Astros), making the lowest total score in this series nine runs! The Astros and Red Sox are proving just why they are two of the most explosive teams in the league, in terms of offense.
Look below to find our free MLB picks for tonight’s American League Championship Series Game Five between the Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox!
Houston Astros @ Boston Red Sox (Game 5) – 5.08pm EDT
Wow it certainly unravelled quickly for the Red Sox in the top of the ninth innings. Before the ninth innings, everything was tied up, 2-2, but the Astros piled on seven runs to take the final score out to 9-2. The series is now leveled up at two games apiece, and we have the final game in Boston before the series is back in Houston for the last two games (if needed).
Tim Newton
Can the Red Sox afford to head back to Houston down 2-3, needing to win both games on the road to win the series? I picked them to win last night and things were looking good until a ninth inning meltdown defensively, but Boston should have known that just two runs wouldn’t have been good enough anyway. Now the big question is whether they can click back into gear in what is essentially a must-win game.
They should be able to do that given Houston has Framber Valdez starting for them, and he is going at a run per inning pitched so far this postseason. In Game One of this series, which Houston still managed to win 5-4, Valdez gave up three runs in just 2.2 innings of work. That isn’t a good sign for the Astros here, especially given they are in a hostile environment for this clash.
Buckle up, we’ve got ourselves a series.#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/oA9dVzld2J
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 20, 2021
Meanwhile, Boston has Chris Sale starting on the mound and while he wasn’t great against Tampa Bay in his first appearance this postseason, he definitely redeemed himself against Houston in Game One, starting opposite Valdez. While Houston won the game, as mentioned, Sale kept the Astros to just one run from 2.2 innings of work, but did give up five hits in that time. Can he keep the runs low again or will Houston be able to turn those hits into runs for this clash?
I am going to stick to my guns and side with the Red Sox here. While their offense couldn’t get going last night, they did lead for the first seven innings of the game and I fully expect their batting lineup will show something better than the two runs they put up last night.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Boston Red Sox (-130)
Katherine Mouradian
It was a very tight game between the Astros and Red Sox. Well, that was until the Astros blew things wide open in the ninth inning to make it impossible for the Red Sox to stage a last ditch comeback. Now the series is all leveled up, which guarantees us fans with at least a six game series! The Red Sox are again playing at home, will they be able to right their wrongs of their last game and get the win here?
Talk about clutch from the Astros! They have tied the series up and this is thanks to some great scoring. So far this postseason, they are averaging 6.6 runs per game! It is Tucker who is leading the Astros and he has three home runs as well as 12 RBIs so far in the playoffs. In this game we will see Valdez step up on the mound. He has struggled slightly in his two starts so far this postseason, but both starts did end up with a win for the Astros. In his start against the White Sox he allowed seven hits and four earned runs in just over four innings. In his game against the Red Sox, he allowed six hits and three runs in just over two innings.
HEAT. pic.twitter.com/rXxzulgHR2
— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 20, 2021
It hasn’t been the easiest of roads for the Red Sox, but they are still in a great position to win the ALDS and make it through to the World Series. So far throughout the post season the Red Sox team ERA stands at 4.66. We are likely to see Sale up on the mound for the Red Sox in this game. He has started in two postseason games so far, and he has allowed nine hits and six earned runs in just over three innings.
This is an interesting pitching line up as both opening pitches performed well in the regular season but are yet to show off their true abilities in the postseason. Last game I finally got on board the “overs” bandwagon, and that worked out well for me (thanks to the last innings heroics of the Astros). I’m going to take the over for this game as well. At a park with interesting dimensions, we have two of the most explosive offenses going around.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Over 8.5 (-104)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
