Can Baltimore contain Boston’s bomb squad?
Due to the grandiose feats of some of his teammates, Boston right fielder Mookie Betts had been operating a bit below the radar. Those days are so long gone.
Betts targets a second straight gargantuan power display in tonight’s contest vs. division rival Baltimore, with a 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch at Camden Yards. Oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lv list the visiting club as a 1.5-run favorite. Buck Showalter’s gang, on the other, enters as a +101 underdog. The over/under total is nine runs.
John Farrell’s leadoff man can’t claim an epic hitting streak or even an RBI figure in the 40s. The Tennessee native does own a three-homer game, however, thanks to yesterday’s exhibition in a 6-2 victory. Betts began the tilt with a bomb, tacked on a three-run shot in the second and then belted a solo blast in the seventh. Will Middlebrooks was the last Red Sox player to accomplish such a Herculean feat.
With all due respect to the squad’s former infielder, though, Betts’ upside belongs in another realm. He’s expected to ride alongside the likes of David Ortiz, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Xander Bogaerts as Boston (32-20) keeps ruling the American League East. The next chance to inflict major damage comes against Mike Wright (2-3, 3.50 ERA). Most recently, the righty yielded three runs and six hits across 4 2/3 innings at Cleveland.
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Farrell responds with Joe Kelly (2-0, 6.30), whose encounters with the Orioles have left a bit to be desired. Kelly totes a 5.10 ERA in six starts vs. the O’s (28-22). On April 13, he issued five walks and barely went five frames.
Nonetheless, one knows he’s bound to receive plenty of support. The Red Sox pace the bigs in batting average (.294), runs (308), doubles (134) and slugging percentage (.489). Baltimore fans would do well to avert their eyes this evening.
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