Dueling Aces: Houck vs. Schmidt in a Must-Win Matchup

Dueling Aces: Houck vs. Schmidt in a Must-Win Matchup

Friday, September 13, 2024 at 7:05 p.m. ET, Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York

The storied rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees is set to continue on Friday night as the two teams face off at Yankee Stadium. With the Yankees holding a slim lead in the American League East, this game could have significant implications for the division race.

Top 5 Successful MLB Prediction Models

  1. Bet Labs: Predicted runs: 8.5
  2. Sharp Sports: Predicted runs: 8.2
  3. FiveThirtyEight: Predicted runs: 8.3
  4. Sports Insights: Predicted runs: 8.1
  5. Action Network: Predicted runs: 8.4

Average Predicted Runs: 8.3

Pitching Matchup

The starting pitchers for this game are Tanner Houck for the Red Sox and Clarke Schmidt for the Yankees. Houck has been a reliable starter for Boston, posting a 3.24 ERA in 169.2 innings pitched. He has faced the Yankees nine times in his career, going 3-3 with a 2.38 ERA. Schmidt, on the other hand, has been impressive since returning from injury, with a 2.34 ERA in 65.1 innings pitched. He has faced the Red Sox eight times in his career, going 0-1 with a 4.23 ERA.

Offensive Outlook

Both teams have had their ups and downs offensively this season. The Yankees have been led by their powerful lineup, which includes sluggers like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. However, they have struggled to score runs consistently in recent games. The Red Sox, on the other hand, have been more balanced offensively, with contributions from multiple players.

Why the Under is a Strong Bet

Despite the offensive firepower of both teams, the under is a strong bet in this game. Here’s why:

  • Strong Pitching Matchup: Both Houck and Schmidt have been effective pitchers this season. If they can pitch well, it will be difficult for either team to score a lot of runs.
  • Recent Trends: Both teams have been struggling to score runs consistently in recent games. This suggests that the under is a more likely outcome.
  • Historical Data: Historically, games between the Red Sox and Yankees have often been low-scoring affairs.

While the Yankees are slight favorites in this game, the under is a more attractive bet. With both teams struggling to score runs and the pitching matchup favoring a low-scoring game, the under is the best play.

Conclusion

The Red Sox vs. Yankees rivalry is one of the most storied in all of sports. This game is sure to be a thrilling matchup between two teams with playoff aspirations. While the Yankees may have a slight edge, the under is the best bet for this game.

Pick: Under 8.5