Welcome to the first game of the ALCS between the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox!

Moneyline: Astros -140 / Red Sox +117

O/U: 8.5 runs

Head-to-head record this year: Astros 5 wins, Red Sox 2 wins

 

Offensive Ranks

Astros: 5.39 runs per game (1st)

Red Sox: 5.16 runs per game (4th)

As you can see, these are two of the best offenses in the league this season. 

**Please note that players not listed below are not necessarily a complete fade and any player listed can certainly be used as the MVP/Captain. These are merely suggestions for players to use when setting Showdown lineups.

 

MVP/Captain

Framber Valdez, HOU – Valdez had a really nice season, racking up 11 wins with a 3.14 ERA. He was very successful against the Red Sox this season in his two outings against them, going 2-0 with a 1.26 ERA and 18 strikeouts across 14.1 innings pitched. And while his ERA was slightly higher at home this season, his K/9 was far better with a mark of 9.8, compared to 7.1 on the road and we know how important strikeouts are. His average DFS score of 17.7 points per game (on DK) was the highest of any player in today’s game. 

Chris Sale, BOS – On the flip side of Valdez we have Sale. Sale has really struggled in his last couple outings, but we know he has elite upside and could easily be the MVP for the winning lineup today. He went 5-1 with a 3.16 ERA and 52 punch-outs across 42.2 innings pitched this season. He scored north of 21 points on DK in nearly half of his starts this season, despite only pitching more than 5.1 innings one time. 

Kyle Tucker, HOU – Tucker had a big season, hitting .294 with 30 home runs, 14 steals, and 92 RBI. He went 5-13 with two home runs, two steals, and seven RBI over the final three games in the series against the White Sox, so he comes into this game hot. Tucker was fantastic against the Red Sox this year, slashing .480/.500/.720 against them with six doubles and seven RBI in 25 at-bats against Boston. He hit 13 home runs in 185 at-bats against lefties this year, compared to 17 home runs in 321 at-bats against righties. And lastly he was amazing at home this year, slashing .332/.391/.615, compared to .259/.330/.502 on the road. 

 

UTIL

Yordan Alvarez, HOU – Alvarez also had a nice year, hitting .277 with 33 home runs and 104 RBI. He had slightly reverse splits this season, slashing .283/.349/.532 against southpaws, compared to .274/.344/.530 against righties. He had a very solid series against the White Sox, slashing .273/.529/.636 across the four games with a home run, three RBI, and four runs scored. 

Jose Altuve, HOU – Altuve had another nice year, hitting .278 with 31 home runs, five steals, and 117 runs scored. He slashed .313/.476/.625 in the series against the White Sox with a home run, a steal, three RBI, and NINE runs scored. Nine… in four games. Much like Tucker, Altuve was a far better player at home this year, slashing .296/.374/.558, compared to .261/.326/.423 on the road. 

Alex Bregman, HOU – Like the other Astros, Bregs had a great ALDS, slashing .375/.444/.438 with a double, four RBI, and four runs scored. He had big platoon splits this season, slashing .300/.397/.442 against lefties, compared to .254/.332/.412 against righties. 

Kiké Hernández, BOS – Hernandez was incredible over the final three games against the Rays, going 9-16 (.563) with two home runs, three doubles, and six RBI. He was far better against lefties this season, slashing .260/.361/.490 against them with 10 home runs in 196 at-bats, compared to .244/.321/.423 against righties with 10 home runs in 312 at-bats. He is my top Boston bat today value wise.  

Xander Bogaerts, BOS – Bogaerts had a strong year, hitting .295 with 23 home runs, five steals, and 90 runs scored. He is slashing .350/.435/.650 with two home runs and five runs scored thus far in playoffs. 

 

Dart Throws

Chas McCormick, HOU – The list continues on Astros bats doing well last series as McCormick went 2-5 with a RBI, two walks, and two runs scored in two games against the White Sox. He hit for a higher average against righties this year, but his OBP (.330) and SLG (.500) were both higher against lefties than they were against righties (.314 and .427, respectively). 

Kevin Plawecki, BOS – If Plawecki draws the start (far from a guarantee), I like him. He was very strong against lefties this season, slashing .310/.372/.423, compared to .267/.330/.360 against righties. He also ended the year on a high note, hitting .309 (29-94) since the start of July.