The Boston Red Sox will be looking to build on a four-game win streak that earned them their first postseason berth in three years when they visit the Tampa Bay Rays for Game 1 of their ALDS on Thursday night as +157 road underdogs on the MLB odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Red Sox avoided elimination from post-season contention with a three-game sweep in Washington on the weekend, and followed up with a decisive 6-2 win over New York in Tuesday’s AL wild-card contest. But despite that recent surge, Boston trails all AL teams as a +800 wager on the World Series odds going into Thursday night’s matchup at Tropicana Field.
Boston has enjoyed a remarkable turnaround this season after winning just 24 games during the 60-game 2020 campaign. The team has been particularly steady on the road down the stretch, winning six of its final eight away from Fenway Park. The Red Sox have also won two straight at Tampa, ending a lengthy seven-game road losing streak against the two-time defending AL East champions.
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After enjoying a three-day rest, the Rays are -168 home favourites in the series opener. Winners of an AL-leading 100 games this season, the Rays have been assured of a playoff spot since early last week, but still maintained momentum with a schedule-ending 7-3 run. Tampa Bay returns to the post-season for a third straight year sporting the AL’s best home record, fueled by its current 4-1 run. The team has also been steady on home turf in recent October appearances, going 10-4 in its past 14 postseason contests. However, the Rays fell to Boston in their last ALDS clash in 2013, bowing out in four games.
This week’s other ALDS series also starts on Thursday, as the Houston Astros take on the Chicago White Sox as -133 home chalk at sports betting sites.
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The Astros return to the post-season on the strength of their fourth AL West division title in five years. Houston has enjoyed steady success in recent ALDS appearances, losing just four total games while claiming four straight divisional series wins. They have also dominated in recent home dates with the White Sox, sweeping Chicago in a four-game series back in June to improve to 12-3 in their past 15 clashes at Minute Maid Park.
Listed as +123 underdogs for Thursday’s Game 1 matchup, the White Sox cruised to the top of the AL Central standings this season, outpacing second-place Cleveland by 13 games. However, Chicago has failed to win a post-season series since sweeping the Astros in the 2004 World Series.
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