Red Sox Win Total Prediction
With a stacked rotation, will the Boston Red Sox be able to surge to the top of the MLB standings in the 2017 season?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, the Red Sox over/under for wins in 2017 has been set at 93. The over and under also both carry lines of -115. Their odds to win the 2017 World Series are listed at 7/1 currently, while their odds to win the ALCS sit at 3/1.
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The Red Sox are coming off a 93-69 record in 2016, winning the AL East. However, they were beaten quickly in the playoffs, losing to the Indians in the ALDS in a three-game sweep. John Farrell returns for his fifth season as manager. He is 339-309 in his four years with the team so far while putting up an 11-8 postseason record. Dave Dombrowski remains as GM and he continued to have a busy offseason to improve the team.
The strength of the Red Sox will certainly be its starting rotation. Rick Porcello returns after winning the Cy Young in 2016. He went 22-4 last season with a 3.15 ERA and 189 strikeouts. David Price is also back. He went 17-9 last season with a 3.99 ERA and 228 strikeouts. In December, the Sox traded for White Sox ace Chris Sale. He is coming off a 17-10 record last season with a 3.34 ERA and 233 strikeouts. For the bullpen, the team added Tyler Thornburg. He was with the Brewers last season and had a 2.15 ERA with 13 saves and 20 holds. Craig Kimbrel is also back after racking up 31 saves in 2016 with a 3.40 ERA.
The Red Sox should have a pretty good lineup once again despite losing longtime DH David Ortiz to retirement. Ortiz had 38 HR and 127 RBI last season to lead the league’s top-scoring offense. Boston put up 878 runs last year and had a run differential of +184. Mookie Betts is coming off a huge 2016 season and is now looked at to be the team leader. He had 31 HR and 113 RBI with 26 stolen bases. Hanley Ramirez is also back after hitting 30 HR with 111 RBI. Xander Bogaerts and Jackie Bradley Jr. also each had over 20 HR and 85 RBI. That doesn’t even factor in the likes of Dustin Pedroia and Travis Shaw either, who both had over 70 RBI. Pedroia hit .318 in 2016. The team added Mitch Moreland in the offseason. He had 22 HR and 60 RBI for the Rangers last season.
It’s hard to see the Red Sox taking a step back from last season given their tremendous pitching staff. However, the Sox lost a big leader in Ortiz, on the field and in the clubhouse. That can be a big factor, as I don’t see Farrell as really steering this ship. Injuries could also play a factor at any point. The AL East should also be very competitive once again, keeping the Sox from just running away with a big win total. Getting to 93 wins isn’t easy and I think you need a little good fortune to get there.
2017 MLB SEASON WIN TOTAL PREDICTION: BOSTON RED SOX UNDER 93