American League

The Houston Astros receive their first chance to back up the tag as the American League favorite in Game 1 of the ALDS versus Tampa Bay on Friday. 

Houston has odds of -125 (bet $125 to win $100) to advance out of the American League and are +200 (bet $100 to win $200) to win the World Series, per Caesars. 

The Rays already have one road win from the AL Wild Card Game, but beating Justin Verlander at Minute Maid Park is a much tougher task. 

In his 26th playoff appearance, Verlander will be opposed by Tyler Glasnow, who is making his playoff debut. 

James Paxton and Jose Berrios will toe the rubber for New York and Minnesota, respectively. They face a challenge controlling the opposing lineups, as the Yankees and Twins were the two best home-run hitting teams in the regular season. 

                         

Friday ALDS Schedule

Game 1: No. 5 Tampa Bay at No. 1 Houston (2:05 p.m. ET, FS1) 

Game 1: No. 3 Minnesota at No. 2 New York Yankees (7:07 p.m. ET, MLB Network) 

Games can be live-streamed on Fox Sports Go and MLB.com At Bat app.

                  

Tampa Bay at Houston

The 18th and newest member of the 3,000-strikeout club has a 6-2 mark in the last two postseasons. 

In his last two ALDS Game 1 starts, Verlander conceded four earned runs over 11.1 innings. 

The only time in which he allowed more than three runs in a playoff game for Houston was Game 5 of the ALCS versus Boston, when the Red Sox put up four. 

Against Tampa Bay in 2019, the 36-year-old is 2-0 with two runs allowed in 12.1 innings with 13 strikeouts. Tommy Pham was the only Tampa Bay hitter to record two hits off Verlander, both of which were doubles. 

Pham went 2-of-4 in the AL Wild Card Game, and he could provide the visitors with a spark from the No. 2 hole. Leadoff hitter Yandy Diaz is 2-for-4 in his career versus Verlander, with a double in 2019. 

If the Rays can hit Verlander early, it may open an opportunity for Glasnow to settle into a rhythm against Houston's experienced postseason bats. 

In 12.1 innings since returning from a four-month injury layoff, Glasnow conceded a pair of earned runs on five hits. Those numbers are promising, but they also came against three teams out of playoff contention. 

In their 2018 playoff opener, the Astros put up seven runs and hit four balls over the fence, including one each from Alex Bregman and George Springer. 

The two sluggers combined for 80 home runs and 216 RBI in the regular season, and they are among the most successful playoff hitters in recent memory. 

Bregman has a pair of two-hit games in ALDS Game 1s from 2017 and 2018, while Springer had two hits last season. 

Additionally, Josh Reddick has is 4-of-7 in ALDS openers, and four Houston players reached base twice in each year.  

If the Astros replicate their strong start at the plate, they should hand Verlander enough of a cushion to work with to earn their third straight 1-0 ALDS lead. 

                  

Minnesota at New York

James Paxton could be the perfect hurler to neutralize Minnesota's bats. 

In his last eight appearances, the Yankees' Game 1 starter has given up two home runs: one to Seattle and the other to Texas. 

The southpaw did not let a single ball fly over the fence in his last three home starts, and he held opponents without one in nine of his 15 games on home soil. 

That could present a roadblock to the Minnesota offense that produced a single-season record of 307 home runs. 

The Twins enter Yankee Stadium with 33 runs from their six-game road swing to end the regular season, but earlier in the campaign, they faced some difficulties in the Bronx. 

New York limited Rocco Baldelli's club to 11 runs in a three-game set in May. In their two victories, the Yankees allowed four Twins players to cross home plate. 

In those two games, the Twins were held to a single home run and struck out on 18 occasions. 

Paxton has eight outings with eight strikeouts or better, and in those games, opponents hit five home runs, four of which were by Boston on July 26. 

In contrast, opponents hit 10 home runs off Berrios in August and September. He has given up two or more dingers in four road appearances. 

If the 15-game winner performs at a similar rate Friday, the Yankees could extend Minnesota's playoff losing streak to 14. 

                   

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference.  

After six months of fighting their way into the postseason, the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics will square off in the American League Wild Card Game to keep their hopes of winning a championship alive. 

The Rays earned their first postseason berth since 2013 thanks to a 96-66 record. The win total is tied for the second-most in franchise history and one shy of the most. This is also their second consecutive 90-win campaign. 

The Athletics are in the AL Wild Card Game for the second straight year. They are hoping for better results after losing 7-2 to the New York Yankees in 2018. Manager Bob Melvin led his team to a 46-23 record after the All-Star break, including 18 wins in September. 

 

2019 AL Wild-Card Schedule

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 2

Start Time: 8:09 p.m. ET

Location: RingCentral Coliseum (Oakland, California)

Network: ESPN

      

Pitching Matchup

Charlie Morton (TB) (16-6, 3.05 ERA, 194.2 IP, 240 K's) vs. TBD

      

Prediction

Playing at home has been a huge advantage for the A's this season. They finished the regular season 52-27 in Oakland, their most wins since 2013. 

Key differences between this year's Athletics and the group that was bounced in the Wild Card Game last year is relief pitching and offensive depth. 

The 2018 A's were carried by relievers Blake Treinen and Lou Trivino. That duo combined to allow just 31 earned runs with 182 strikeouts in 154.1 innings. Both players were inconsistent this season before injuries forced them to be shut down in September. 

Making up for their drops in performance, Liam Hendriks emerged as one of the AL's best closers. The 30-year-old right-hander was named to his first All-Star team and finished with a 1.80 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 85 innings. 

General manager Billy Beane patched together a starting rotation by acquiring Homer Bailey at midseason and signing Brett Anderson.

One notable absence for the A's this postseason is Frankie Montas, who is ineligible due to a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. The Dominican Republic native emerged as their ace with a 2.63 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 96 innings. 

Making up for the lack of starting depth is an offense that packs a lot of punch at the top. Mark Canha, Marcus Semien, Matt Olson, Ramon Laureano and Matt Chapman all have OPS+ totals above 125, putting them at least 25 percent better than the league average. 

From that group, Laureano is the only who didn't hit at least 25 homers during the regular season. 

The Rays have an excellent way to counter Oakland's power with Charlie Morton. The right-hander turned into one of the best free-agent bargains of 2019 after agreeing to a two-year deal worth $30 million in December. 

Morton finished fourth among AL pitchers with 6.1 FanGraphs wins above replacement and set a career high with 240 strikeouts. The 35-year-old matches up well against the A's best hitters, four of whom bat right-handed. He limited righties to a .562 OPS with just four homers allowed in 351 at-bats. 

Tampa Bay's offense doesn't pack as much pop as the A's, but it isn't lacking for production. Austin Meadows was an All-Star in 2019 and posted a .922 OPS with 33 homers to lead the team. He was one of nine Rays to hit at least 10 homers this season. 

Willy Adames and Ji-Man Choi should present matchup problems for the A's predominantly right-handed pitching staff. Adames has an OPS 250 points higher against righties (.820) than lefties (.568). Choi has a .373 on-base percentage and hit 16 of his 18 homers off right-handed pitchers. 

Playing on the road doesn't seem like it will be an intimidating factor for Tampa Bay. The team's 48-32 record away from Tropicana Field was the second-best in MLB (behind the Minnesota Twins' 55-25 mark). 

Given how evenly matched both teams appear on paper, the Rays get a slight edge because their starting pitcher is better than anyone the A's will be able to throw out in a must-win scenario.

Prediction: Rays 4, A's 2

Ever since the Houston Astros took them down in the 2017 American League Championship Series, the New York Yankees have been looking to close the gap on their new blood rivals. Forget the Boston Red Sox. It's the 'Stros who stand in the way of a pennant and the Bombers' first trip to the World Series in a decade.

Let's be more precise: It's Justin Verlander who the Yankees need to conquer in a Game 1 or a Game 7 setting. So far, no one on their staff has been able to outperform this ageless velocity machine, a fact that continues to haunt the Yankees with the postseason just around the corner.

With no disrespect to the Los Angeles Dodgers—or any other National League team—one Yankees veteran recently said a showdown against the Astros "would be the real World Series."

No translation is necessary here. The feeling in the Bronx is that the American League champ will end up running the table in October. True or not, real or perceived, Verlander's presence hangs over the Yankees like a guillotine.

But two recent developments have bolstered the Yankees' belief that a Verlander killer has finally emerged.

The first is James Paxton's surge since the start of August. He's 8-0 with a 2.57 ERA, averaging almost 11 strikeouts per nine innings. The 6'4" left-hander—nicknamed Big Maple in honor of his Canadian roots and imposing stature on the mound—has so thoroughly dominated hitters lately that one major league executive said, "That's the kind of stuff that you ride [to the World Series]."

Option two is Luis Severino, out all season with shoulder and lat issues but finally ready to take the ball on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels. It will be his first appearance since a disastrous showing in last October's division series against the Red Sox, which left the organization with a number of unanswered questions. 

Severino never got a chance to address his second-half regression in 2018 or the nagging belief that he was tipping his pitches. Instead, he experienced pain in his lat early in spring training and was on the injured list before Opening Day.

So far, however, Severino has demonstrated renewed arm strength, not to mention unwavering confidence that whatever went wrong last summer is no longer relevant.

The Yankees have always loved the 25-year-old for that can-do attitude fueled by a 98 mph four-seam fastball. No Yankee starter throws harder than Severino, and he not only dominated but also demoralized hitters on his best days in '18. That's the version the Bombers are expecting to see Tuesday and for the next six weeks.

If so, manager Aaron Boone has a powerful set of choices if and when the Yankees face the Astros. No one in the Bronx has to be reminded of the battle plan: beat Verlander and inflict collateral damage on the rest of Houston's rotation.

Again, this is no slight against Gerrit Cole or Zack Greinke, but it's Verlander who's left his imprint on the Yankees.

He beat Severino in Game 6 of the ALCS in 2017, throwing seven shutout innings en route to the Astros' 7-1 victory that set up their pennant-winner the next night.

The Yankees were just nine innings away from the World Series when they took the field at Minute Maid Park, having swept Houston in the Bronx in Games 3-5. But there was Verlander in Game 6, delivering high-90s heat with that big, old-fashioned delivery—just like he did in Game 2, when he struck out 13 over nine innings of one-run ball.

What stung even more was knowing Verlander could've been a Yankee at the trade deadline that summer. All Hal Steinbrenner had to do was give general manager Brian Cashman the go-ahead to acquire the ace the 2017 squad lacked.

But George Steinbrenner's youngest son runs the Yankees with greater restraint than his father ever did, instructing Cashman to stand down and closing the spigot just as his team was on the verge of a breakthrough.

The Yankees have been paying for Steinbrenner's caution ever since.

Even in the midst of a sterling 2019 season with a projected finish of 106 wins, the Yankees are still in search of a standout at the front of their rotation. When Verlander beat them again in June, this time outpitching J.A. Happ in a 9-4 victory, first baseman Luke Voit could only shake his head and say, "The guy is just incredible."

No American League pitcher keeps opponents to a lower batting average (.166) and permits less traffic on the bases (.077 WHIP). No wonder the Yankees are betting so heavily on Severino and Paxton. They represent the best—and perhaps only—chances to match Verlander with the season on the line.

Of course, Boone isn't anywhere close to deciding who would get the ball first in the division series, let alone the ALCS. The Yankees need to see for themselves that Severino is pain-free, has the stamina to pitch deep into games again and has finally fixed the tip-pitching habits that ruined him in 2018.

But the reports along the Severino injury-rehab trail have been encouraging, similar to their epiphany that Paxton isn't Sonny Gray after all—a nice guy with tremendous stuff who just couldn't pitch in New York.

The Yankees are about to find out if either hurler has what counts most in the Bronx: an October heart to match Verlander's.

Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani won the 2018 American League Rookie of the Year Award, MLB announced Monday.

The hype was real.

Your 2018 American League Rookie of the Year: Shohei Ohtani. pic.twitter.com/GBvlRVUzFD

— MLB (@MLB) November 12, 2018

With 25 first-place votes, Ohtani finished ahead of New York Yankees third baseman Miguel Andujar. The Athletic's Lindsey Adler shared the results:

https://twitter.com/lindseyadler/status/1062130289886015488

Expectations couldn't have been much higher for the 24-year-old Ohtani as he was making the move from Japan. 

In five seasons with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, he had a .286/.358/.500 slash line to go along with 48 home runs and 166 RBI. He also went 42-15 with a 2.52 ERA in 85 appearances on the mound.

MLB fans got even more excited when Ohtani expressed a willingness to pull double duty in the majors. He ended up becoming the first player since Babe Ruth in 1919 to hit at least 15 home runs and pitch 50 innings in the same season.

The Angels started Ohtani 82 times at designated hitter. He posted a .390 weighted on-base average while hitting 22 home runs and 61 RBI. His 2.8 WAR was fourth-highest among Angels position players.

He threw 51.2 innings over 10 starts and averaged 10.97 strikeouts to 3.83 walks while posting a 3.31 ERA and 3.57 FIP.

He would have been the runaway favorite for Rookie of the Year had injuries not interrupted his debut campaign. After the month of May, Ohtani only pitched twice, and he subsequently underwent Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1, after the regular season was over.

Voters had to decide whether 104 total appearances was sufficient for Ohtani to collect the award.

Andujar and Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres were the only serious challengers.

Torres hit 24 homers, drove in 77 RBI and owned a .271/.340/.480 slash line. Andujar, meanwhile, had a .297/.328/.527 slash line, 27 home runs and 92 RBI in 149 games.

However, Ohtani posted more offensive WAR than Torres (1.9) and Andujar (2.7) before factoring in his value as a pitcher. 

Sports Illustrated's Emma Baccellieri argued only one outcome made sense:

"Ohtani has been one of the best rookie hitters in recent memory, and the numbers say that he's undeniably been the best this year in the American League. If you were to evaluate him just at the plate—judging him as a designated hitter, taking the limited playing time into account—he would still have a remarkably solid case for Rookie of the Year. Think about that, and then throw in the fact that he's also been a legitimate top-of-the-rotation arm, with a 128 ERA+ and the highest strikeout rate of any rookie starting pitcher in the American League."

Considering both his age and early success in MLB, Ohtani's potential is nearly limitless. By having Tommy John surgery, he won't pitch in 2019 but can still contribute to Los Angeles' lineup, likely as a designated hitter.

As long as he can stay relatively healthy—elbow injury notwithstanding—an All-Star appearance should be within reach for Ohtani in year two.

              

Stats are courtesy of FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.

The World Series champion Houston Astros hope to stave off elimination and send the American League Championship Series back to Boston on Thursday, when they host the Red Sox as home favorites in Game 5 of the set.

The Astros have lost the first two games of this series at Minute Maid Park, where they went 46-35 during the regular season. They lost nine straight at home between July 15 and August 14.

                    

MLB betting line: The Astros opened as -152 favorites (wager $152 to win $100); the total is at 7.5 runs, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. Line updates and matchup report.

MLB betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 5.4-2.8, Astros. MLB picks on every game.

Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or Spotify or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week's top sports betting news.

                      

Why the Red Sox Can Pay on the MLB Lines

Boston has been phenomenal away from home this year, going 55-30, including the postseason. The Red Sox are a perfect 4-0 on the road in the playoffs, and their offense has been the difference no matter who they have sent to the mound as their starting pitcher.

The Red Sox are averaging nine runs per game in those four outings, scoring eight in both Games 3 and 4 at Houston. In Wednesday's 8-6 victory, Boston outfielder Andrew Benintendi saved the game with a spectacular bases-loaded catch even though closer Craig Kimbrel technically earned it despite allowing one run and two hits in two innings.

               

Why the Astros Can Pay on the MLB Lines

The Astros will not have expected to be in this situation, down 3-1 in the ALCS at home, but they could not have a better pitcher than ace Justin Verlander (16-9, 2.52 ERA) in Game 5. The 35-year-old has won each of his first two starts in the postseason, including Game 1 at Fenway Park after allowing two runs and two hits in six innings with four walks and six strikeouts.

Verlander also limited the Red Sox to a .143 batting average in one start during the regular season, walking away with a no-decision following six innings of work in an eventual 5-4 home loss back on June 2.

                

Smart Betting Pick

Houston obviously has a serious problem in needing three consecutive wins to advance to the World Series for the second year in a row, but Verlander will not let the team's season end at home.

Instead, expect Verlander and the Astros to play hard with the heart of champions and put pressure on their opponent to win the series at Fenway Park. The Red Sox have not won four straight games in more than a month, and they will not pull off that feat again here. Take Houston.

             

MLB betting trends

The total has gone over in 11 of Boston's past 13 games.

The total has gone over in seven of Boston's past nine games on the road.

Houston is 12-5 in its past 17 games.

               

All MLB odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.

The Boston Red Sox appeared to be in some trouble after losing the first game of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park with ace Chris Sale on the mound.

However, that assessment turned out to be wrong, as the Red Sox have rebounded with two consecutive wins, including an 8-2 triumph in Game 3 in Houston. Jackie Bradley Jr., who had a bases-loaded double in Game 2 to key that victory, delivered a crushing blow when he hit a grand slam in the eighth inning off Houston closer Roberto Osuna.

That blow took the air out of Minute Maid Park and allowed the visitors to breathe easier as they closed out the game without facing any troublesome situations.

"I was looking for a fastball from Osuna," Bradley told TBS' Lauren Shehadi. "I got a pitch I could handle and I put a good swing on it. Our guys did a great job that inning with hits by Bogey (Xander Bogaerts and (Rafael) Devers and a couple of hit batters, and that set up the whole thing."

       

Schedule

Game 1: Astros 7, Red Sox 2

Game 2: Red Sox 7, Astros 5

Game 3: Red Sox 8, Astros 2; Red Sox lead, 2-1

Game 4: Red Sox at Astros; Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 8:39 p.m. ET on TBS 

Game 5: Red Sox at Astros; Thursday, Oct. 18 at 8:09 p.m. ET on TBS 

*Game 6: Astros at Red Sox; Saturday, Oct. 20 at 5:09 p.m. ET on TBS 

*Game 7: Astros at Red Sox; Sunday, Oct. 21 at 7:39 p.m. ET on TBS 

*if necessary

New from @nickcafardo: What’s striking about Nathan Eovaldi is he’s truly calm on the mound. And he was cool for a gusty six innings in Game 3.

"I was in some tough situations but I was able to get out of them. I try not to put added pressure on myself."https://t.co/HugmteZtVf pic.twitter.com/PAPeAiduub

— Boston Globe Sports (@BGlobeSports) October 17, 2018

Nathan Eovaldi and Dallas Keuchel both pitched impressively after rough starts. The Red Sox scored two runs in the top of the first inning, but Keuchel settled down after that and did not allow any more runs in his five innings.

Eovaldi allowed one run in the bottom of the first and another in the fifth, but after Steve Pearce untied the game with a home run in the top of the sixth, Eovaldi shut the Astros down in the sixth. 

Relievers Ryan Brasier, Matt Barnes, Joe Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez blanked the Astros in the final three innings.

The Red Sox will try to push their advantage to 3-1 when they send Rick Porcello to the mound in Game 4. The Astros will counter with Charlie Morton.

Porcello pitched the eighth inning in Game 2, helping to get to closer Craig Kimbrel, and Porcello also pitched effectively against the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series.

Morton has not pitched to this point in the postseason, but he was 15-3 in the regular season with a 3.13 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP.

The Astros are minus-140 favorites (bet $140 to win $100) to win Game 4 and square the series, while the Red Sox are plus-120, per OddsShark.

       

Prediction

Morton is an excellent pitcher who came through in key situations in last year's postseason. However, he has not pitched since Sept. 30.

Porcello has excelled as a starter and a reliever in two different series, and he should be prepared to start.

Morton must get through the first couple of innings without giving up more than a run or two. That may be difficult, and the Astros can no longer be overly confident about their bullpen.

There were a lot of questions about the Red Sox's strength in that area going into the ALCS. Boston's relievers have answered several key questions to this point, but closer Craig Kimbrel appears to have issues. 

He is their best reliever, but he has been shaky to this point.

However, Porcello has been on his game and should be again. Boston takes a tight game and takes a 3-1 lead in the series.

As the American League Championship Series shifts to Texas, no ground has been gained by the Houston Astros or Boston Red Sox. 

The defending World Series champion went into Fenway Park and took Game 1 of the best-of-seven series, but the Red Sox responded with a Game 2 victory to level the series. 

Not only do both teams have the same number of victories heading into Minute Maid Park, they possess the same batting average of .188. Both pitching staffs conceded 12 hits in the first two games, and four doubles were hit by both lineups. 

One of the few differences between the two winningest teams in the AL this season is home runs, as Houston has four in the series compared to none by the Red Sox, and earned runs, as the Astros have conceded four fewer than the Red Sox. 

     

ALCS Schedule

Tuesday, October 16

Game 3: Boston at Houston (5:05 p.m., TBS) 

Wednesday, October 17

Game 4: Boston at Houston (8:39 p.m., TBS) 

Thursday, October 18

Game 5: Boston at Houston (8:09 p.m., TBS) 

Saturday, October 20

Game 6*: Houston at Boston (5:09 p.m., TBS) 

Sunday, October 21

Game 7*: Houston at Boston (7:39 p.m., TBS) 

*-if necessary 

     

Predictions

Bregman Continues To Reach Base, Does So With His Bat

Alex Bregman was a constant fixture on the basepaths at Fenway, but he didn't reach base because he put the ball in play. 

In this ALCS, Bregman walked on six occasions, which is already a new high for him in a postseason series. 

The third baseman should increase his productivity at Minute Maid, where he has a .279 batting average and .369 on-base percentage in his career. 

The No. 3 hitter is a candidate to break out and lead the Houston lineup because of the success he's achieved in October during his two-year postseason career. 

In three of the four completed series he's been a part of, Bregman has hit two home runs, including a pair in the AL Division Series victory over the Cleveland Indians. 

Bregman should also have the opportunity to drive in runs for the rest of the series, as leadoff man George Springer is in the middle of an 11-game postseason hitting streak.

If Bregman produces a few clutch hits on home soil, the Astros should be able to take at least two of the next three games there.

      

Boston Benefits From Confident Bullpen

Outside of Brandon Workman's rough Game 1, the Red Sox bullpen has performed well in the ALCS. 

The six relievers besides Workman who took the mound at Fenway gave up two earned runs on three hits. 

In Game 2, the trio of Matt Barnes, Ryan Brasier and Rick Porcello allowed one baserunner, while Craig Kimbrel shook off a Jose Altuve RBI single to close out the victory. 

If Nathan Eovaldi and Porcello are able to reach the sixth inning in their respective starts in Games 3 and 4, the Red Sox should be able to get to Kimbrel with ease behind a combination of setup men. 

The best news the Red Sox could have entering Game 3 is all of their relievers are fresh, which means we could see manager Alex Cora throw more trust behind a pitcher or two to get more than three outs. 

Finding the hot hand in front of Kimbrel is crucial to closing games out on the road, and depending on how Game 3 goes, the Red Sox might call on David Price to pitch an inning or two out of the bullpen. 

Cora has applied the same strategy with Porcello throughout the postseason, and if Boston runs into a spot of bother in Game 3 or 4, Price could be the ideal option to bridge the gap between the starters and the bullpen regulars. 

As the bullpen's confidence grows in Houston, the Red Sox will rely on the relievers to finish off at least one win in order to bring the series back to Fenway Park.

       

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters Monday that ace starter Chris Sale was hospitalized with a stomach illness but added that Sale is expected to be fine.

"He was feeling bad and he's at the hospital," Cora said. "From what I know it's nothing serious, but whenever you have to go to the hospital you have to be, quote-unquote, worried. He should be fine; hopefully we get news in the upcoming hours and he'll join us in Houston."

The Red Sox also released a statement regarding Sale's illness Sunday night: 

#RedSox LHP Chris Sale reported a stomach illness today and was admitted to MGH for observation this afternoon. He will be kept overnight for evaluation and any further updates will be released when available.

— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 15, 2018

The 29-year-old was Boston's ace once again in 2018, going 12-4 with a 2.11 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 237 strikeouts in 158 innings. He struggled in Boston's Game 1 loss to the Houston Astros on Saturday night, however, giving up two runs on one hit and four walks while throwing 86 pitches in just four innings before being pulled.

But Cora told reporters that Sale wasn't affected by the illness Saturday, noting that he began feeling sick at some point after his Game 1 appearance.

The next three games will be played in Houston, with Game 3 on Tuesday, Game 4 on Wednesday and Game 5 on Thursday. Nathan Eovaldi will get the Game 3 start for Boston, with Sale likely to start Game 5 for the Red Sox.

The World Series champion Houston Astros will try to continue their recent success at Fenway Park on Saturday, when they visit the Boston Red Sox as small road underdogs at sportsbooks for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.

The Astros have won six of their past nine games against the Red Sox at Fenway, according to the OddsShark MLB Database, and knocked them out of last year's playoffs with a 5-4 victory in Game 4 there. Boston will be out to avenge that defeat.

                

MLB betting line: The Red Sox opened as -110 favorites (wager $110 to win $100); the total is at seven runs, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. Line updates and matchup report.

MLB betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 5.5-2.1, Astros. MLB picks on every game.

Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or Spotify or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week's top sports betting news.

                   

Why the Astros Can Pay on the MLB Lines

Houston may be a slight underdog in Game 1 but is favored to win the series as an even better team statistically than last year. The Astros won two more games during the regular season this year than last and four more on the road, where they led MLB with an outstanding 57-24 mark.

In fact, Houston's road record was better than every other team's in baseball at home except that of Boston, which went 57-24 at Fenway. The Astros will send Justin Verlander (16-9, 2.52 ERA) to the mound in the series opener, and he earned three-quarters of his wins away from home in 2018, going 12-2 with a 2.14 ERA.

                     

Why the Red Sox Can Pay on the MLB Lines

The Red Sox will count on ace Chris Sale (12-4, 2.11 ERA) to come through for them in this crucial spot, and he picked up a victory in Game 1 of the AL Division Series versus the New York Yankees after allowing two runs and five hits in 5.1 innings with two walks and eight strikeouts.

Sale let his team down in last year's ALDS matchup and will be out to redeem himself here, and Boston's bats have improved since then, with the two league MVP favorites in Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez. While Betts is expected to win MVP honors, Martinez has been much better in the playoffs with a .357 batting average, one home run and six RBI in the four-game series win over New York.

               

Smart Betting Pick

Martinez may make the difference for the Red Sox this time around, as he has hit well against most of Houston's pitchers over the course of his career, including Verlander (2-for-3 with two RBI). That said, this is a must-win matchup for the Red Sox—and especially Sale. If they lose Game 1, they will be big dogs to win the series. That will not happen.

              

MLB Betting Trends

The total has gone over in five of Houston's past six games when playing Boston.

Boston is 4-1 in its past five games.

The total has gone over in seven of Boston's past nine games.

                

All MLB odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.

The Boston Red Sox held on for dear life with a 5-4 win over the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Friday at Fenway Park.    

Shaking off any concerns about his recent dip in velocity, Chris Sale shut down the dangerous Yankees lineup by scattering five singles and striking out eight over 5.1 innings. He was charged with two runs after reliever Ryan Brasier allowed both of his inherited runners to score.  

J.D. Martinez got Boston's offense going with a three-run homer in the first inning. Steve Pearce and Xander Bogaerts each added an RBI in the bottom of the third. The Red Sox chased off Yankees starter J.A. Happ after he gave up five runs on four hits and one walk in two innings.  

Chris Sale Silences Critics with Outstanding Start

One of the major talking points in Boston coming into the playoffs was how Sale's velocity would look after a disturbing downward trend late in the regular season. 

Per CBS Sports' Mike Axisa, Sale's average fastball velocity was 90.2 mph in his final start Sept. 26 against the Baltimore Orioles. 

The seven-time All-Star seems to have figured out something in the eight days he had to prepare for Game 1:

Sale: Average 95.2 mph, topped out 96.6, more sliders (10) than 4-seamers (9) in the first. 4 changeups, 1 two-seamer.

— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) October 5, 2018

New York appeared to be in for a long night. The Bronx Bombers didn't have a runner reach third base until the sixth inning. 

This start was everything the Red Sox needed it to be and also the first of its kind for the team since 2013:

Sale is the first Red Sox starter to record an out in the 6th inning since John Lackey in G6 of the 2013 World Series. He's done after 5 1/3 innings, 93 pitches of shutout ball, though he does leave a couple runners on for Brasier.

— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) October 6, 2018

Most strikeouts by a Red Sox lefty in a postseason game

8: Chris Sale in 2018 ALDS Game 1
8: Jon Lester in 2013 WS Game 1
8: Jon Lester in 2008 ALCS Game 7
8: Bruce Hurst in 1986 WS Game 1

— Jason Catania (@JayCat11) October 6, 2018

It was also a vast improvement for Sale after he allowed nine runs on 13 hits in 9.2 innings over two appearances against the Houston Astros in last year's ALDS. 

Sale is one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball when he's at the top of his game. He led all AL starting pitchers with 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings and ranked second with 6.5 FanGraphs wins above replacement (min. 150 innings). 

If the Red Sox have to turn to Sale again in the series, they can feel much better about his ability to silence one of the best lineups in MLB.

            

Red Sox Bullpen Woes Threatening to Derail Dream Season

Unfortunately for the Red Sox, their bullpen had to log significant innings in Game 1. Relief pitching has been their Achilles' heel all season, and it nearly cost them in their first playoff game. 

When Sale departed, the Red Sox held a five-run lead. That has virtually guaranteed them a victory since they acquired the 6'6" left-hander prior to the start of last season:

Chris Sale finished 12-1 in the regular season when the @RedSox netted him at least 3 runs of support.

He's 27-4 in those games since joining the Red Sox at the beginning of last season.

Boston leads New York 5-0 in #ALDS Game 1. pic.twitter.com/yx96F2yjIn

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 6, 2018

Once Boston manager Alex Cora went to his stable of relief pitchers, starting with Brasier, an air of panic set in over Fenway Park:

Sale out after two hits allowed going 5 1/3 innings, to bring in a guy that has pitched 30 innings after missing 4 seasons and is the 2nd best RP by default...this game has changed so much.

— Russillo (@ryenarussillo) October 6, 2018

The Yankees loaded the bases against Boston relievers in the sixth and seventh innings. Brasier and Brandon Workman combined to give up three hits, two walks and one run in just 0.2 innings. 

Rick Porcello and Craig Kimbrel settled things down by recording the final six outs to preserve the win. 

Boston's bullpen scuffled down the stretch with an AL-worst 4.84 ERA in September. That group did everything possible to give away this game, but the Yankees weren't able to cash in on those chances in the later innings. 

After a historic season in which the Red Sox won a franchise-record 108 games, the bullpen has to pick up its performance to avoid an October disappointment. 

                                   

Yankees Missed Opportunities Set Up Must-Win Game 2

The good news for New York is there's a quick turnaround heading into Game 2 on Saturday.

The bad news is this is a game the Yankees will reflect back on if they don't win the series. It started out looking like a potential disaster. Happ, who had a 2.98 ERA in 21 career appearances against the Red Sox, only recorded six outs. 

Once Happ was gone, four Yankees relievers combined to allow four hits and two walks with five strikeouts over six scoreless innings. 

Their ability to put zeroes on the board gave the offense chances to at least tie the game. Gleyber Torres struck out as the go-ahead run with the bases loaded in the sixth inning. Didi Gregorius grounded out with the tying run on second to get Boston out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh. 

Aaron Judge closed New York's deficit to one run with a solo homer off Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel to start the ninth:

Kimbrel settled down after that to strike out Brett Gardner, Giancarlo Stanton and Luke Voit in order to earn the save. 

With the Yankees failing to take advantage of opportunities Boston handed them, they are facing a must-win scenario Saturday. 

Last season, they were able to overcome a 2-0 series deficit against the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS by winning three straight games. But winning away from Yankee Stadium in October has been a difficult task. They are 1-7 in their last eight road playoff games dating back to 2017. 

Trying to win three straight games against a Red Sox team capable of scoring runs in bunches—and a potential return for Sale in Game 4 or 5—makes it imperative that New York doesn't continue to miss chances like it did Friday. 

                         

What's Next?

The Red Sox will look to take a commanding lead in the series by sending David Price (16-7, 3.58 ERA) to the mound against Masahiro Tanaka (12-6, 3.75 ERA) and the Yankees for Saturday's Game 2 at 8:15 p.m. ET.