O’s, Red Sox kick off huge set in Charm City
Baltimore merely split its just-completed series with last-place Tampa Bay. There’s no time like the present, though, to make up ground in the American League East.
Buck Showalter’s gang takes on the division-leading Red Sox tonight, with a 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch at Camden Yards. Online sports BetDSI gives the visitors odds of -123 to prevail, while the Orioles enter the proceedings as +113 underdogs. The over/under run total rests at nine.
A weekend sweep of the Yankees has pushed Boston’s record to 85-64. Manager John Farrell also gets to deploy Rick Porcello (20-4, 3.12 ERA), who paces the junior circuit in victories, this evening. The veteran righty’s on a bit of a revenge quest, having dropped a 1-0 decision to the O’s several days ago. He’s 3-8 with a 1.36 WHIP in 14 career outings against them.
As for the hosts, Dylan Bundy (9-5, 3.88) hopes to continue a rock-solid second half. But he’d be smart do well to tread lightly around Mookie Betts. The right fielder’s in the midst of a 7-for-17 stretch at the plate.
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The 80-65 Orioles definitely blew their chance to beat up on the inferior Rays. Still, don’t doubt Bundy’s ability to rise to the occasion here. The Oklahoma native is 3-1 since Aug. 22 and boasts the kind of repertoire that could infuriate even the mighty Red Sox.
MONDAY MLB FREE PICK: ORIOLES +1.5