Red Sox lineup is depleted already and many of the replacements are swing-and-miss guys. I'm old enough to remember Detmers striking out 12 Sox in 6 IP a few days ago, and then was when BOS was riding high with Devers in lineup. Detmers also K'd 7 at Camden Yards against an O's lineup that doesn't punch out much. Angels rush their pitchers to majors and make them work, so a quick hook with mounting pitch-count doesn't scare me. Sox are pressing after swept in opening series at home and I am playing 9+ in alt markets.

Mike Trout is back. He's only seen Tanner Houck 5 times and doesn;t have a hit but that will change. Like other BOS starters, Houk's numbers about to dip pitching in this bandbox. Trout tied for MLB HR lead with an RBI in 3 of the last 4 games. Career .865 OPS at Fenway is not too shabby. Seeing the ball well now, looks as twitchy as we've seen in a long time and seems out to prove to people that he's all the way back

We have been backed the Angels starter in various ways lately and love him vs a BOS team that cant catch the ball, has a suspect lineup with Devers shoulder a mounting concern, and has a pen that's spent from BAL series. LAA better rested with a flame-throwing lefty on the mound. Hard to watch BOS and not get a weird vibe from them. Their lame-duck skipper making some interesting decisions, too. Could be a long weekend for them vs a team that just saw them in Anaheim

In many ways, this is a bad spot for the Red Sox as they used a large chunk of their bullpen in Thursday's 10-inning loss to Baltimore as the O's completed the three-game sweep. But tonight's pitcher Tanner Houck has been great in the early going, including six shutout innings last Sunday against the Angels in Anaheim. Almost feels like a mini-urgent situation for the Sox to avoid falling 0-4 at Fenway Park.

Tanner Houck is set to face the Angels after shutting them down in his previous start to the tune of six scoreless inning and 7 Ks just 5 days ago in Los Angeles. For starters it is difficult to shut down a team in back to back starts. I would also argue Houck is a serious regression candidate his recent strikeout metrics certainly reflect that notion. Houck possesses a swinging strike percentage of 11.5%, compared to his career average of 12.9%, however Houcks K rate this season is 37.8%, which is nearly double his K rate over the last two seasons of 21.7%. Houck has only totaled 7+ Ks in 18 of his last 23 starts (78%), dating back to the beginning of last season.

Tanner Houck has looked dominant so far this season and through two starts hasnt allowed a single earned run, while piling up 17 strikeouts in just 11 IP. One of those gems came against this same Angels lineup in his previous appearance where he allowed just 4 hits. I think Houck will be at a disadvantage and the Angels will have more success in this out as it is difficult/rare to shut down a team in consecutive starts. Also if we zoom in at some of Houcks metrics they are aren''t pretty and look identical to last season where he possessed an ERA over 5.0. He has only gone 6+ innings in 8 of his last 23 starts.