Two teams that are struggling in August will begin a four-game AL series on Thursday night at Progressive Field. Let’s take a closer look at the Red Sox and Indians from a betting perspective and find out which side you should add as one of your MLB picks.
The streak is over
The Cleveland Indians
snapped their season-high 11-game losing streak on Wednesday afternoon with a
6-2 home win over the Minnesota Twins, but they still find themselves 9.5 games
back of the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central standings. The Tribe have dropped seven of eight games in August, while their opponent
over the next four games has a 2-6 mark this month.
Doubront is perfect
against this division
Red Sox starting
pitcher Felix Doubront (10-5, 4.56 ERA) has watched the club alternate wins and
losses over his last four outings, coming off a no-decision effort in a 6-5
home setback to the Minnesota Twins in his last outing. The left-hander
is 5-2 with a 3.57 ERA in 10 road starts, with opposing hitters batting .231
against him. In six career starts versus AL Central opponents, Doubront
has tallied a perfect 5-0 record and 3.82 ERA, which includes a 4-1 home
victory versus the Indians on May 12 (6 IP, ER).
Ubaldo Jimenez (8-11,
5.29 ERA) will look to snap a personal four-game losing streak, which includes
a pair of road losses against the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins, allowing
11 runs and 13 hits over 11.2 combined innings. The right-hander has done
his best work at this ballpark, entering with a 4-3 record and 3.28 ERA,
surrendering eight home runs in 57.2 frames. In two lifetime appearances
versus the Red Sox, Jimenez has registered an 0-1 mark and 11.70 ERA.
Series-opening
situation favors the Tribe
Cleveland has been a
sinking ship since the All-Star break, but the club still possesses a 23-13
record in series openers in 2012, including a 12-6 mark at home. The
statistic gains even more strength when researching that Boston has dropped 13
of its last 18 games in the same situation.
Red Sox are overvalued
The current MLB odds certainly take into account that the Indians are losers of 11 of
their last 12 games, but it’s important to note that the Red Sox are
coming off a 4-6 homestand. Boston is 4-4 as a road favorite of -125 to
-150, while Cleveland has won eight of 14 games as a home underdog of +100 to
+125.
Prediction
From an emotional
standpoint, I believe the Indians are in a better state of mind heading into
this series, as they ended a long losing streak that everyone was talking
about. Jimenez will not have to worry about facing David Ortiz on
Thursday night, as he’s still bothered by a right Achilles’ injury, while also
having confidence in his ability to shut down Adrian Gonzalez. The Red
Sox first baseman is 5 for 27 (.185) with 11 strikeouts in their past meetings.
MLB Pick: Cleveland
Indians +120