Red Sox vs. Reds Pick
The Boston Red Sox and host Cincinnati Reds open a three-game series Friday night at 7:10PM EST.
Oddsmakers at Bovada.lv have made the Red Sox a -135 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Reds are a +115 underdog and the over-under is 9.5.
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Rick Porcello (10-17, 4.46 ERA) will start for Boston, while Sal Romano (5-6, 4.07) draws the start for Cincinnati. Porcello allowed one unearned run on five hits with three strikeouts and one walk over 7 1/3 innings in a 3-1 win at the Rays his last start. He has a 3.43 ERA in 86 2/3 road innings this year. Romano has a 1.42 WHIP with 66 strikeouts in 77 1/3 innings. He threw eight shutout innings with five hits allowed, six strikeouts and no walks in a 2-1 win over the Pirates his last start. Romano carries a 4.28 ERA in 40 home innings.
Boston is 88-64 overall and 40-36 on the road, while Cincinnati is 66-87 and 39-39 at home. The two teams have not met since the 2014 season when the Red Sox won all four matchups.
On Wednesday, Boston swept a three-game series at the Orioles with a 9-0 victory. Chris Sale was stellar on tne mound as he struck out 13 in eight four-hit innings. Dustin Pedroia was 1-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Andrew Benintendi was 1-for-4 with two runs. Mookie Betts finished 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple, a walk and three runs. Hanley Ramirez finished 3-for-5 with two doubles, a run and three RBIs. Deven Marrero added a two-run homer. The Reds were swept at home Thursday with an 8-5 loss to the Cardinals. Scott Schebler went 2-for-5 with a pair of solo home runs. Jesse Winker went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs. Phillip Ervin was 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk. Tucker Barnhart ended the game 2-for-4. Homer Bailey surrendered four earned runs in four innings to take the loss.
Porcello threw well in his last start and might be regressing back to the mean as the season winds down after dealing with some bad luck this season. Romano has been a nice addition to the Reds pitching staff. These are two strong offenses, but the wind is blowing in slightly and we’re favoring the pitching in this one.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: REDS/RED SOX UNDER 9.5
