Scalding-hot Red Sox visit Orioles
Boston typically provides Rick Porcello a lot of run support. Yesterday, however, the righty required hardly any help from his friends.
Porcello held Baltimore to four hits in the series opener between the two clubs, piloting the Red Sox (86-64) to their fifth consecutive victory. The Orioles will try to avoid falling further behind in the American League East standings tonight, with a 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch at Camden Yards. Online sports book Bovada.lv gives the hosts odds of -137 to prevail. Conversely, John Farrell’s crew represents a +127 underdog.
If Eduardo Rodriguez (2-7, 4.98 ERA) looks anything like Porcello, the O’s might as well venture to the Inner Harbor instead. The lefty owns a 0-1 mark with a 1.04 WHIP so far this month. Most recently, the Yankees tagged him for eight base knocks and four runs in 2 1/3 frames.
Buck Showalter counters with fourth-year pro Kevin Gausman (8-10, 3.43). After stumbling out of the gate, the LSU product has gone 7-4 with a 2.58 ERA since the All-Star break. He’ll face David Ortiz (.317/.403/.630) & Co. for the fourth time in 2016.
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Some of the Orioles’ (82-68) biggest bashers, primarily Manny Machado and Chris Davis, rarely enjoy much success vs. Rodriguez. Taking into account Boston’s current hot streak, too, we’re extremely leery of the favorites here. Side with the Red Sox to improve to 41-32 away from Fenway Park.
TUESDAY MLB FREE PICK: RED SOX +1.5