Another entertaining and high scoring affair in Game Three of the ALCS, but would we expect anything else from these two stacked offensive teams? Now, we move onto the fourth game with the Astros needing to win this game to level up the series again. If the Red Sox can win this game, they will be just one game away from heading to the World Series for a crack at becoming the 2021 champions.
Look below to find our free MLB Picks for tonight’s American League Championship Series Game Four between the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros!
Houston Astros @ Boston Red Sox (Game 4) – 8.08pm EDT
If you wanted an entertaining, high scoring game, then that’s exactly what you got! The runs were coming thick and fast, and for the first time in postseason history we saw a team hit three Grand Slams in the same series, courtesy of the Red Sox. The Astros and Red Sox are backing up and playing again in Boston. Who will come out on top in Game 4?
Tim Newton
The Red Sox have taken complete control of this series, outscoring Houston 21-8 over the last two games to take a 2-1 series lead, with an opportunity to extend that to a 3-1 lead in Fenway Park tonight. Will they be able to do it or can the Astros show some life and avoid the 1-3 deficit?
Zack Greinke gets the start for Houston after pitching just one inning so far this postseason and when looking at how he ended his regular season, it leaves a lot to be desired. Over his last seven games, with six of those being starts, Greinke went just 1-3 with a 6.03 ERA. Given how well Boston has been hitting the ball lately, especially over the last two games, that is a worrying sign for Houston.
Tuck tank, #Postseason edition.#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/ZiIOkLjHuI
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 19, 2021
On the other side, the Red Sox are starting Nick Pivetta. Through two postseason games, Pivetta has a 1-0 record and 3.12 ERA, keeping Tampa Bay scoreless from four innings in his last game. The fact that he has been kept warm throughout the postseason, compared to Greinke just waiting in the wings, is a massive factor here.
Boston is on fire right now, at home, and in my opinion, has the better starting pitcher for this clash. They have +240 odds for the World Series, according to FanDuel, -136 odds for this game and I think both of those are incredible bets.
Tim’s MLB Pick: Boston Red Sox (-136)
Katherine Mouradian
The Red Sox have been all over the Astros like a bad rash in the second and third game of the ALCS. The Astros don’t have much time to digest what happened in Game Two, where they lost 12-3, as the teams are playing on back-to-back days. The Red Sox will be hopeful to again use the home field to their advantage, and go up in the series 3-1, which would put them just one win away from a World Series appearance.
The Astros aren’t just losing, they are getting completely dominated, which has got to be impacting their confidence. It really does seem like the Astros are just hanging on, and are being reactive, rather than proactive. It is really important for the Astros to get on the board in this game, otherwise they will be down 1-3 in the series, having to win three games in a row against the Red Sox if they want to make it to the World Series. Looks like it will be Greinke stepping up on the mound for the Astros, he has plenty of experience in pressure games, and has a 4.16 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP along with 120 strikeouts.
Can the Red Sox continue their explosive form? The Red Sox love playing at Fenway Park and have been driving their opponents into the dirt for the entire season. The Red Sox are showing no signs of slowing down, and we could very well see yet another Grand Slam home run! Pivetta is taking the mound for the Red Sox, and he will be coming in with confidence, seeing though last time out he knocked off the Rays. Throughout this season he has a record of 9-8, which includes an ERA of 4.53 and a WHIP of 1.30.
I’m jumping on the “overs” bandwagon! On the road, the Astros are the second highest team in the league when it comes to scoring, at an average of 5.45. So I’m thinking yesterday’s game was a blip and we are going to see them scoring more in this one. If the Red Sox can continue to keep doing what they are doing, this game could very well hit the over even if the Astros don’t score any runs. Take the over for this game.
Katherine’s MLB Pick: Over 10 (-110)
Mike Su
The Red Sox have done it once again, destroying the Astros in a 12-3 beatdown to put them within 1 game of winning this series and going to the World Series. This seems to be a repeat of their series win against the Rays where the Red Sox lost Game 1 but rallied in the next 3 games to take the series. The Red Sox looked dominant from the very beginning with 6 runs in the 2nd innings and then 3 more in the 3rd innings. The Astros couldn’t provide an answer outside of a 3 run 4th inning.
Still got work to do. pic.twitter.com/FEP0BO4xeE
— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 19, 2021
Going into Game 4, the Red Sox will be looking to finish this series in Boston in front of their fans. The Red Sox will be starting Nick Pivetta to try to seal the deal. Pivetta hasn’t been great this season with a 4.53 ERA and 1.3 WHIP leading to a 9-8 record. This doesn’t exactly inspire confidence but Pivetta did perform well against the Astros’ 1st ranked batting unit. In one game against the Red Sox, Pivetta allowed just 2 runs and had 9 strikeouts in 6 innings. Pivetta will be looking for a repeat of that performance.
The Astros will try to equalize this series and keep their playoff hopes alive by starting Zack Greinke. Zack Greinke is statistically better than Pivetta with a 4.16 ERA and 1.17 WHIP but hasn’t been strong against the Red Sox. In one game against the Red Sox, Greinke had 2 strikeouts and allowed 4 runs in 3 innings. Greinke needs to avoid a repeat to keep the Astros afloat. The Red Sox have all the momentum at the moment and it would be unwise to bet against them here.
Mike’s MLB Pick: Boston Red Sox (-136)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
