Pittsburgh (0-1) at Boston (1-0)
When: Wednesday, April 5th 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Time: 7:10 ET | TV: ROOT Pittsburgh, NESN
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Chris Sale will make his Boston Red Sox debut when his new team faces the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second game of a three-game set on Wednesday night at Fenway Park. Acquired in December from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for for a bus load of prospects, Sale has been an All-Star in five straight seasons while finishing in the top six in Cy Young Award voting each of those seasons. Sale joins a stocked Boston rotation led by the reigning Cy Young winner in Rick Porcello, who pitched 6.1 strong innings to help the Red Sox win 5-3 in Monday’s opener. It was Boston’s first game without their longtime designated hitter, David Ortiz, on the roster. Rookie Andrew Benintendi ripped a three-run homer and had a leaping catch in left field to kill a rally by the Pirates in the seventh. Pittsburgh will hope for a rebound performance from its star outfielders – Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte – who combined to go 0-for-8 on Monday, with McCutchen striking out three times. McCutchen has 175 career home runs, one shy of matching Barry Bonds for fourth on the franchise’s all-time list. Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts had two hits and two stolen bases on Monday.
Pitchers: Pirates – Jameson Taillon (2016: 5-4, 3.38 ERA) | Red Sox – Chris Sale (2016: 17-10, 3.34)
Jameson Taillon gets the nod after allowing three earned runs or fewer in 13 of his final 14 starts last year after being promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis in June. He surrendered three runs and struck out 14 batters in 14 innings spread over two interleague starts last year. The No. 2 pick in the 2010 draft missed all of 2014 and 2015 following Tommy John and hernia surgeries, but seems poised for a possible breakout campaign.
Sale matched a career high in wins while posting personal bests in starts (32), innings (226.2) and complete games (six) for a 78-84 Chicago team last year. He is 1-1 with a 3.63 ERA in six career games (three starts) at Fenway Park and has a spectacular 1.00 ERA in nine career appearances (seven starts) against National League Central teams, although he has never faced the Pirates. Sale allowed six earned runs and struck out 26 in 21 innings during Grapefruit League action.
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Sale is as good as they come and now that he has an offense to back him up, the sky’s the limit. I won’t be betting against him very often this season. Look for the Red Sox to win this one easily. Take the runline.
Pick: Red Sox -1.5 +100
W/L TRENDS
| Pittsburgh |
- Pirates are 6-0 in their last 6 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Pirates are 4-1 in their last 5 interleague road games.
- Pirates are 6-2 in their last 8 vs. American League East.
- Pirates are 11-4 in their last 15 interleague road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Pirates are 20-8 in their last 29 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Pirates are 20-8 in their last 28 interleague games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Pirates are 3-7 in their last 10 during game 2 of a series.
- Pirates are 19-45 in their last 64 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Pirates are 3-9 in their last 13 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Pirates are 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Pirates are 1-4 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Pirates are 4-17 in their last 22 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Pirates are 1-6 in their last 7 games following a loss.
- Pirates are 1-6 in their last 7 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Pirates are 0-5 in their last 5 road games.
- Pirates are 0-4 in their last 5 overall.
- Pirates are 0-4 in their last 5 games on grass.
- Pirates are 4-0 in Taillon’s last 4 starts.
- Pirates are 4-0 in Taillon’s last 4 starts on grass.
- Pirates are 4-0 in Taillon’s last 4 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Pirates are 8-1 in Taillon’s last 9 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Pirates are 6-1 in Taillon’s last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Pirates are 4-1 in Taillon’s last 5 road starts.
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| Boston |
- Red Sox are 10-2 in their last 12 games following a win.
- Red Sox are 8-2 in their last 10 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Red Sox are 8-2 in their last 10 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 51-17 in their last 68 interleague home games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Red Sox are 21-7 in their last 28 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 75-26 in their last 101 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Red Sox are 20-7 in their last 27 interleague games.
- Red Sox are 11-4 in their last 15 games following an off day.
- Red Sox are 87-34 in their last 121 interleague home games.
- Red Sox are 5-2 in their last 7 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Red Sox are 76-32 in their last 108 interleague games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Red Sox are 7-3 in their last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
- Red Sox are 116-50 in their last 166 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Red Sox are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Red Sox are 1-5 in their last 6 overall.
- Red Sox are 1-5 in their last 6 games on grass.
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OU TRENDS
| Pittsburgh |
- Over is 4-0 in Pirates last 4 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Pirates last 7 road games.
- Under is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 on grass.
- Under is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 vs. American League East.
- Over is 7-2-1 in Pirates last 10 games following a loss.
- Over is 15-5-1 in Pirates last 21 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 6-2 in Pirates last 8 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 6-2 in Pirates last 8 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 16-6-1 in Pirates last 23 interleague games.
- Over is 23-9-1 in Pirates last 33 Wednesday games.
- Over is 10-4 in Pirates last 14 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 5-2 in Pirates last 7 during game 2 of a series.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Taillon’s last 6 road starts.
- Over is 5-2-1 in Taillon’s last 8 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
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| Boston |
- Under is 4-0 in Red Sox last 4 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 5-0-1 in Red Sox last 6 home games.
- Under is 7-0-1 in Red Sox last 8 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 6-1 in Red Sox last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 5-1 in Red Sox last 6 interleague home games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 14-3-1 in Red Sox last 18 overall.
- Under is 12-3-1 in Red Sox last 16 on grass.
- Under is 4-1 in Red Sox last 5 during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 7-2-1 in Red Sox last 10 games following a win.
- Under is 19-7-1 in Red Sox last 27 vs. National League Central.
- Under is 27-10-1 in Red Sox last 38 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 23-9-3 in Red Sox last 35 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
- Over is 27-11-2 in Red Sox last 40 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
- Over is 39-19-3 in Red Sox last 61 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
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HEAD TO HEAD
- Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Pirates are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
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