The Boston Red Sox have followed the same blueprint on the road to start the first two rounds of the MLB postseason. 

In ALCS Game 2, the Red Sox used their bats to pull away from the Houston Astros, just like with their 14-run output in ALDS Game 2 versus the Tampa Bay Rays. 

Boston has the edge in the series as it goes back home for Game 3. The Red Sox saved Eduardo Rodriguez for Fenway Park, and on paper, they have the advantage in the pitching matchup over Houston's Jose Urquidy. 

Once the Boston bats woke up in the ALDS, they did not go quiet. Boston put up six runs in each of its two ALDS home games. 

If the Red Sox continue to follow the same path as the ALDS, they may have a chance to close out the series at home on Wednesday. 

ALCS Schedule

Game 3: Monday, October 18 (8:08 p.m. ET, FS1)

Game 4: Tuesday, October 19 (8:08 p.m. ET, FS1)

Game 5: Wednesday, October 20 (5:08 p.m. ET, FS1)

Game 6: Friday, October 22 (8:08 p.m. ET, FS1)*

Game 7: Saturday, October 23 (8:08 p.m. ET, Fox)*

* if necessary

ALCS Odds

via DraftKings Sportsbook

Game 3: Boston (-120; bet $120 to win $100); Houston (+100; bet $100 to win $100)

Series Price: Houston (-125); Boston (+105) 

Prediction

Boston in 6

The Red Sox flipped the complexion of the ALCS with two swings in the first two innings of Game 2. 

The grand slams hit by J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers did a few things to help Boston's chances of advancing to the World Series. 

The most obvious is a leveled series heading into Boston, where the Red Sox are 3-0 this postseason. They beat the New York Yankees in the Wild Card Game at Fenway Park and defeated the Rays in ALDS Games 3 and 4. 

Martinez and Devers upped their individual confidence levels with the big hits. Those home runs allowed Nathan Eovaldi to work 5.1 low-stress innings. That could help the right-hander when he returns to the mound later in the series. 

If Boston jumps on Houston's starters for the rest of the series, it will not have to worry about getting runs off the power arms in Houston's bullpen: Phil Maton, Kendall Graveman and Ryan Pressly. 

Urquidy has eight postseason appearances, but he was not great in the 2020 playoffs. The righty gave up four earned runs and conceded four home runs in the ALDS against the Oakland Athletics. He finished the regular season with nine earned runs conceded over his last three appearances. The 26-year-old struck out nine batters in a May 31 game against Boston, but his form dipped since then. 

Rodriguez was decent enough in ALDS Game 4 to let the Red Sox lineup take the lead. The left-hander gave up two earned runs over five innings. Boston hopped out to a 5-0 advantage while he was on the mound. 

If Boston gets the same type of outing from Rodriguez in Game 3, it should be in a decent position to take runs off Urquidy. If Boston's starters can do the same thing in Games 4 and 5, it has a chance to finish up the best-of-seven series at home. 

However, the one weakness Boston could have is in Game 4 as it waits for Chris Sale and Eovaldi to come back for Games 5 and 6.

Eovaldi and Sale were both better than Framber Valdez and Luis Garcia in Games 1 and 2. If they continue to limit damage and pitch a step above their counterparts, Boston should find itself in the Fall Classic. 

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