Major League Baseball

FOX Bet Super 6 ALCS Game 1: Win $10,000 of Big Papi's money for free

Updated Oct. 15, 2021 4:02 p.m. ET

By Kevin Cooney
Special to FOX Sports

All season, they were right there in the mix. Yet on some level, it is still surprising to arrive at the threshold of the World Series and see the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox as the last two teams standing in the American League.

After all, the Rays, White Sox and Yankees all took turns as the flavor of the month. The Astros were almost too boringly consistent to earn much buzz. And after leading the AL East through the All-Star Break, Boston spent a lot of the second half in a free fall, thanks to injuries and COVID cases that almost knocked them out of the playoffs.

Still, October has a mind of its own. Both Houston and Boston looked dominant in their ALDS wins over Chicago and Tampa, respectively, and now they meet Friday at Minute Maid Park for Game 1 of the ALCS (8 p.m. ET, FOX).

And you could win $10,000 of Big Papi's money on Game 1 with FOX Bet Super 6. Just answer all six questions correctly about how the game will play out, and you have a chance at the grand prize. It’s quick, easy and fun just by downloading the FOX Bet Super 6 app on your phone or mobile device.

Here are the questions for Game 1 and our predictions.

Which player will hit the first home run for the Astros?
Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, other, no HR

Tucker had two homers in the ALDS against the White Sox, while Altuve and Yordan Alvarez each had one. In nine games against Chris Sale during the former AL Cy Young Award winner's career, Houston has hit six homers.

At Minute Maid, it seems difficult to believe someone won’t reach the Crawford Boxes. And in the ALCS, why not pick the guy who lives for this moment, with 10 LCS home runs on his résumé?

Prediction: Altuve

Which team will throw the most strikeouts, and how many will it have?
Red Sox, Astros or tie, with ranges from one to 13+

The Red Sox's pitching staff has 57 strikeouts in 48 postseason innings. They have a lot of hard throwers — especially in the battered bullpen — and have thrived in the moment so far.

Also worth noting: The Astros have more bigger swingers. Those guys can get in a funk in October.

Prediction: Red Sox, 11 strikeouts

Which team will have the most hits, and how many will it have?
Red Sox, Astros or tie, with ranges from one to 13+

Both teams can post some enormous numbers in base runners and hits. The Red Sox are averaging 12.6 hits per game through five postseason games. The Astros are averaging 10 hits through their four postseason games.

Both Sale and Framber Valdez can be overpowering, but both teams will get their chances.

Prediction: Astros, 11 hits

Which team will have the most runners left on base, and how many will it have?
Red Sox, Astros or tie, with ranges from one to 17+

The Astros left 28 runners on base against the White Sox, but they were outstanding with runners in scoring position, with a .378 average.

Boston hit .314 with runners in scoring position, and it left 31 on base against Tampa Bay.

Prediction: Red Sox, 9-10

Which team will have the most extra-base hits, and how many will it have?
Red Sox, Astros or tie with ranges from one to nine+

The Red Sox had 16 extra-base hits in the series against the Rays, bludgeoning Tampa’s pitching with seven doubles and nine homers. The Astros had 12 extra-base hits and didn’t appear to need a constant extra-base brigade to score on Chicago.

Prediction: Red Sox, 5

Which team will win, and by how many runs?

This all depends on Sale. If he’s the Chris Sale from 2018 (and even at moments since he returned), the Red Sox could get the game they want in Houston right off the bat. But counting on that seems like a reach.

Houston gets the early jump.

Prediction: Astros by 3

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