Tonight's parlay is Astros moneyline and over 8.5 total runs. More info below on free clothes and a chance to win $100 👇

Around The League

The two NBA Game 7s were a little disappointing, as the Celtics and Mavs destroyed the Bucks and Suns to advance. We also had a NHL Game 7 go to overtime, with the Rangers taking care of business at the Garden after being down 3-1 in the series. With no playoffs in either of these leagues today, we're heading to the diamond. Here's a quick MLB update to set the scene 👇

• The Yankees lead all of baseball with their 25-9 record

• The Reds opened up with a league-worst 3-19 start, but have since eked out a couple of wins, dragging them up to a 9-26 mark, still the majors' worst

• Angels outfielder Taylor Ward was projected to be a spot starter, but now leads the majors in batting average and on-base percentage, and has two grand-slams

Barreling towards June, we'll see if this seasons' emergent stars like Ward, the Brewers' slugger Rowdy Tellez, and the Marlins' electrifying infielder Jazz Chisolm can stay on track to earn the first All-Star bids of their respective careers. But, for today we're heading to Boston 👇

Astros vs. Red Sox Betting Preview (subject to change)

• Spread: Astros +1.5 (-205), Red Sox -1.5 (+168)

• Moneyline: Astros +102, Red Sox -120

• O/U: 8.5 total runs

Holding It Down for H-Town

Entering this season, the Astros, on paper, looked set to play their worst baseball in years. Despite making it at least as far as the ALCS in each of the past five years - coinciding with the beginning of the cheating scandal - the team had lost much of the talent that made them so special 👎

• Two-time All-Star and reigning Platinum Glove shortstop Carlos Correa walked to sign with the Twins in free agency this offseason

• Three-time All-Star and World Series MVP George Springer departed to play centerfield in Toronto for the Blue Jays

• Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman have each fallen off from their twenty-teens MVP-level play

However, some resurgent stars and fresh faces have kept them afloat as they continue to play as well as they ever have 👇

• Justin Verlander has returned from Tommy John surgery at age 39, pumping fastballs in the upper-nineties with his gold standard off-speed stuff

• Rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena has done more than enough to replace Correa's production, slugging .514 out of the gate while grading out as one of the game's faster runners and sharper defenders

• Outfielder and DH Yordan Alvarez looks to be on-pace for a Big Papi-esque career as one of the game's premier lefty sluggers, maintaining a near-1.000 OPS across his four-year career and into his age-25 season

Frustrations At Fenway

At 13-21 and last in the AL East, the Red Sox are light years away from where they hoped to be entering the season. Even with their solid young core, Boston has struggled to stay in ballgames both at home and on the road, despite owning the sixth-highest payroll in baseball. In particular, their offense has been especially anemic 👇

• They have the seventh-worst offense in the majors

• After the core of Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts, and J.D. Martinez, not one Red Sox player with more than 50 plate appearances has produced at a league average level

• Free agent signing Trevor Story hasn't yet lived up to his six-year, $140M contract, so far looking like one of the league's worst qualified hitters

Their pitching staff - the oldest in the majors - has been average overall, but is missing its two biggest names 😬

• Theoretical ace Chris Sale hasn't pitched a full season since 2019, and is again on the IL with a stress fracture in his ribcage. He's yet to pick up a baseball and start throwing this season

• Offseason signee James Paxton is rehabbing from his own offseason Tommy John surgery, but a recent setback has prevented him too from beginning throwing, putting his targeted return of July's All-Star Break in jeopardy

If they can get just average production from the bottom half of their lineup while their pitching staff works towards being fully healthy, the Sox could be in position for a late-season Wild Card surge. However, with their current record at the bottom of one of baseball's toughest divisions, their playoff hopes are starting to look like a pipe dream 🤥

For My Parlay Gurus

Among the Red Sox's pitchers, Rule 5 Draft selection Garrett Whitlock (2.19 ERA) has easily been their most impressive. With him on the bump today, after ascending his relief role to a regular slot in the rotation, the Sox are favored at home. But, I'm taking the Astros and over - I think each team does damage against the others bullpen 👇

• Astros moneyline @ Red Sox: +102

• Over 8.5 total runs: -118

$100 on this bet would win you $273 — if we hit, make sure you email [email protected] for a chance to win up to $100*. Many will enter, only some will win 😉

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