Red Sox vs. Reds Pick
Are the Boston Red Sox going to stay hot Saturday afternoon at the Cincinnati Reds? First pitch is at 4:10PM EST.
The Red Sox are listed as a -140 favorite to win on the moneyline according to sports book Bovada.lv. The Reds are a +120 underdog and the over-under is 9.5.
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Pitching for Boston will be Eduardo Rodriguez (5-6, 4.15 ERA), while Cincinatti counters with Robert Stephenson (5-5, 5.01). Rodriguez carries a 1.27 WHIP with 142 strikeouts over 128 innings. He gave up three earned runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and one walk over 5 2/3 innings in a 3-2 loss at the Rays his last outing. He has a 4.42 road ERA in 71 1/3 innings. Stephenson has a 1.64 WHIP with 82 strikeouts in 73 2/3 innings. He threw six one-hit innings his last start, a 5-2 home win over the Pirates, giving up no runs and striking out eight while walking three. Stephenson has a 3.61 home ERA in 42 1/3 innings.
Boston has an 89-64 record and is 43-36 on the road, while Toronto comes in at 66-88 and 39-40 at home. Boston won Friday night’s game 5-4, the first meeting between the two teams since 2014.
Friday’s game saw Rafael Devers lead the way by going 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and three RBIs. David Price earned the win in relief, throwing 2 2/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Scooter Gennett hit a first-inning grand slam to account for the Reds offense. Billy Hamilton was 2-for-5 with a run. Zach Cozart finished 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Sal Romano allowed five earned runs in four innings to take the loss.
Stephenson has figured it out as a pitcher, which is a scary proposition for opposing offenses. Sure, he walks too many batters but the stuff is filthy and he should be a viable starter for Reds in 2018. Rodriguez also has plus stuff with a high strikeout rate, but he goes against a strong offense today. The Red Sox barely nipped the Reds in the series opener, but we like the hosts to even it up today.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: CINCINNATI REDS +120