Astros are in control of the ALDS with Brad Peacock for Game 3

The Red Sox face an uphill battle to overtake the Houston Astros.

After winning game one of the ALDS, the Houston Astros had a chance to take a 2-0 commanding lead. Behind Dallas Keuchel, the Houston hitters scored eight runs again versus the Red Sox. They took advantage and now have the upper hand.

For the second straight game, the Astros win 8-2. So much for the highly anticipated pitching matchups, the Houston hitters are hot! In a five-game series, it only takes three wins to advance to the ALCS.

The Astros will now travel to Boston to play Game 3 with Brad Peacock on the mound. Peacock has been the most consistent pitcher this season in whatever role he has been placed in. He has gone from a potential roster cut after spring training to the Astros Game 3 starter.

The Stros matchup well with the Red Sox.

The Astros were overtaken by the Indians behind their 22-game win streak for the top seed in the AL. By doing so, they would not face the winner of the Wild Card game. The Red Sox were the better matchup for the Astros, so maybe it wasn’t a terrible thing that the team struggled in August. They are one win away from advancing to the ALDS.

While nothing is a sure thing in baseball, the Red Sox now have to win three games in a row to advance. What signs have you seen that the Red Sox would even be able to beat the Stros three times straight? With Doug Fister on the mound for Boston, it will take a lot of luck to beat Houston.

History is on our side.

Buster Olney tweeted out a stat that was interesting from Elias. In the history of five-game playoffs, when the home team wins the first two games, they win 86.4% of the time. The home team had only lost 6 of 44 games in those situations.

Pete Abraham said, “There was a sort of grim resignation in the Red Sox clubhouse that Houston is a much better team.” If this is the case, the Astros need to keep them thinking this. Don’t give them a chance to regain any momentum in game three.

It should also be pointed out that the Astros have never swept a playoffs series. They have only won three playoffs series in franchise history. They almost did that in 2015, but the Royals came back to win Games 4 and 5.

Next: Astros will face a familiar foe in game 3 in Doug Fister

Peacock will be given a chance to continue what Keuchel and Justin Verlander started. Looking around the playoffs, what the Astros starters have done has been impressive. If Peacock does indeed go six innings, the Red Sox will have to deal with the backend of the bullpen. Let’s go Astros.

***Stats from Baseball-Reference and Elias***