Houston at Boston

It's a Sunday get-away game for these teams. Some umpires have a little wider strike zone for Sunday games, knowing they and the players have planes to catch. Notice that Houston is 7-2-1 UNDER the total in Sunday games, while Boston is 8-2 UNDER. The disappointing Astros' offense ranks #15 in baseball in runs scored, #14 in on base percentage. The free swinging Houston offense leads the majors in strikeouts with 377. The Astros will attack the Boston offense with starter Chris Devenski (1.72 ERA), who has been outstanding with a 27-7 strikeout to walk ratio in 31 innings. Unfortunately he's winless as the team can't score for him. He has received only three runs of offense in his three starts, allowing just two runs on five hits in 6+ innings to take the loss in a 4-0 setback to Cleveland on Tuesday. Devenski also kept Boston under wraps in 5+ scoreless innings of relief last month. Boston has a deep pen and will use it as number five starter Sean O'Sullivan (6.43 ERA) won't be around long. The Red Sox defense is strong, third in baseball in fewest errors, making this total too high. Play Houston/Boston UNDER the total.