Odds and Bets: Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox Open a Crucial Three-Game Set

Houston Astros vs Boston Red Sox

On Monday in Massachusetts, the Boston Red Sox (66-58) and Houston Astros (70-55) start a three-game set that could go a long way to determining how their respective campaigns play out. Boston is on a roll. Last week in our Power Rankings we referenced how they refuse to leave the Wild Card conversation. They emphasized the point with a sweep of the Yankees this weekend in the Bronx. The Astros were in tight versus the Seattle Mariners and got swept themselves.

With Houston sitting just inside the Wild Card bubble and Boston three games out, they meet for three nights. Jose Urquidy (2-3, 5.21 ERA) takes to the mound for Houston and Chris Sale (5-3, 4.50 ERA) does so for Boston. The Sox have scored at least five runs in seven of the last nine games. They’re feeling it these days and can take at least two out of three from the Astros. However, the Astros are a better road team than they are at home (33-29 and 37-26).

Best Bet: Boston Red Sox on the moneyline

Dallas Wings vs Minnesota Lynx

On Tuesday, the Dallas Wings (18-14) visit a potential first-round opponent in the Minnesota Lynx (15-17). The Wings recently completed an impressive two-game sweep of the Connecticut Sun before handing the Washington Mystics a bad loss. Minnesota is just hanging around in sixth place. They’re also a shockingly poor team at home with a 6-10 record. Were the playoffs to start today, Dallas would have the worst home record of any postseason club by far.

The Lynx are also hampered by the second-worst defence in the WNBA, conceding 84.4 points a night. Conversely, the Wings, led by Arike Ogunbowale and Satou Sabally, have the third-best attack (87.0). Frankly, Dallas is playing great basketball at exactly the right Tim – the home stretch as the playoffs gear up – whereas it’s very difficult to trust the Lynx.

Best Bet: Dallas Wings on the moneyline. Check out our WNBA Futures

Cincinnati Reds vs Los Angeles Angels

Monday night sees the start of a three-game series between the iffy Cincinnati Reds (64-61) and the Angeles Angels (61-64). Even though the Ohio-based club is only three games above .500, that hasn’t prevented them from being a single game out of a Wild Card spot in the National League. Losing two of three to the Blue Jays this past weekend didn’t put much of a dent in their ambitions either given the plodding nature of their rivals fighting for a postseason berth.

It will be Graham Ashcraft (6-8, 4.89) for the Reds and Lucas Giolito (7-9, 4.44) for the Angels. Giolito has not played well since joining the Angeles from the Chicago White Sox at the trade deadline. Although Cincy has lost the consistency that put it in the playoff conversation, they perform slightly better on the road than at home, going 31-34 and 33-27, respectively. The Angels’ season is pretty much lost unless they have something in the tank to make an unexpected push. The Reds are right in the thick of it and should take advantage of a moribund L.A. side.

Best Bet: Cincinnati Reds on the moneyline