Who will WIN this matchup?
Boston Red Sox (92-70)
@ Houston Astros (95-67)
Starting Pitchers:
Sale (BOS): 5-1; 3.16 ERA (regular season)
Valdez (HOU) 11-6; 3.14 ERA (regular season)
Current odds:
Boston Red Sox: (+130)
Houston Astros: (-140)
• Alex Cora serves as the all-too-convenient tie that binds the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros as the teams head into Game 1 of the American League Championship Series on Friday in Houston. Cora, after all, was the Astros’ bench coach for their World Series title-winning team in 2017 and the Red Sox’ manager during their championship-winning season the following year. His involvement in the cheating scandal has been rehashed ad nauseam, and to his credit, he hasn’t shied away from it.
• Cora, on Thursday, raised a few eyebrows in tabbing Chris Sale (0-0, 45.00 ERA) as the starter for Game 1 against Houston’s Framber Valdez (0-0, 8.31) in a battle of left-handers. Sale, 32, was shelled last Friday, allowing five runs on four hits in one inning of a no-decision against Tampa Bay. Boston responded by winning that contest on its way to dispatching the Rays in four games during the AL Division Series.
• Sale missed both series in June versus Houston as he worked his way back from Tommy John surgery. He is 5-3 with a 2.20 ERA in nine career starts against the Astros.
• Cora also noted right-hander starter Nathan Eovaldi will benefit from receiving an extra day of rest before starting Game 2 on Saturday.
• Speaking of extra rest, Red Sox outfielder and DH J.D. Martinez admitted Thursday the swelling in his ankle has “gone down a lot.” The slugger went 7-for-15 with one homer and four RBIs in three games against Tampa Bay in the ALDS.
• The Astros, who won five of the seven meetings against the Red Sox in June, will be making their fifth straight ALCS appearance.
• Valdez, 27, struggled in his lone postseason action last week after posting an 11-6 record with a 3.14 ERA in 22 starts during the regular season. He allowed four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings of a no-decision against the Chicago White Sox on Friday. Valdez owns a 2-1 record with a 1.59 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) against the Red Sox. He has permitted two runs and struck out 18 batters in 14 1/3 innings en route to posting a 2-0 with a 1.26 ERA in two starts versus Boston this season.
• Luis Garcia will start Game 2 for the Astros. As for Game 3, well, there’s a bit of mystery there with right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. nursing forearm tightness in his pitching arm and removed from the ALCS roster. Right-hander Jake Odorizzi was added to the roster in place of McCullers. Odorizzi was left off Houston’s ALDS roster against the White Sox.
• Astros outfielder Jake Meyers participated in practice Thursday for the first time since injuring his shoulder while attempting to make a leaping catch in Game 4 versus the White Sox. Manager Dusty Baker, however, told reporters that he hadn’t made a decision on Meyers’ involvement for the upcoming series.
Red Sox line-up:
Astros line-up:
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