This is a 10* TOTAL OF THE WEEK on the UNDER Red Sox/Astros.

Both teams have been playing to several OVERS coming into this one. I like going against lop-sided trends and numbers and that's going to be the case here, as I expect these starting pitchers to garner most of the headlines in tomorrow's summaries.

The Astros saw the total go UNDER in their very first playoff game agaisnt the White Sox, but since then they've seen the total fly OVER in four straight, including in yesterday's 5-4 series opening victory here over the Red Sox.

And with yesterday's setback, Boston has now seen the total go OVER in five of six so far in the postseason, including in four straight.

Despite yesterday's game eclipsing the posted total though, note that Boston has seen the total go UNDER in eight of its last 11 after playing to three or more straight OVERS in a row.

Luis Garcia was shelled for five runs off five hits over three innings in his team's 12-6 loss to the White Sox last week.

I think Garcia bounces back here after getting those initial playoff jitters out of the way. He finished the regular season with a 3.40 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 167:50 K:BB over 155.1 innings of work.

He'll be opposed by Nathan Eovaldi, who gave up two runs off three hits while striking out eight over five innings in a win over the Rays last week.

He's lasted at least five frames in each of his first two postseason starts this year and I have no reason not to think he can't duplicate that success here as well.

The stage is finally set for a lower-scoring "duel."

The play is the UNDER.

Good luck, NP