The Houston Astros will host the Boston Red Sox tonight for game 1 of the ALCS at Minute Maid Park. First pitch at 8:07 ET. Veteran right-hander Chris Sale will take the mound for the Red Sox. He owned a 3.62 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 3.83 xFIP in September. However, in his last 3 starts of the regular season, he pitched 12.2 innings and gave up 7 earned runs. In his lone start of the postseason this year, the Rays put up 5 runs on 4 hits as he could only get through 1 inning. He has made 8 appearances in the postseason during his career and has posted a bad 7.27 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 26 innings pitched. The Astros will give the ball to lefty Framber Valdez in game 1. He posted a 3.45 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 4.17 FIP at home during the regular season and owned a 1.35 WHIP and 4.99 FIP in September. He also has 1 start this postseason and that was against the White Sox in the ALDS where he gave up 7 hits and 4 earned runs in 4.1 innings pitched. It wont get any easier for either of these guys. The Red Sox and Astros have ranked in the top 5 in every major hitting stat all year long and they are both thriving in the playoffs. Take Over 8.5 runs