Boston (73-53) at Cleveland (69-56)
When: Thursday, August 24th 2017
Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Time: 7:10 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: Boston -174/7
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The Boston Red Sox seek their third-straight victory over the Cleveland Indians when the two teams finish a four-game series Thursday night at Progressive Field. Boston starter Drew Pomeranz went toe-to-toe with Cleveland ace Corey Kluber on Wednesday and the Red Sox scored four in the ninth to pull out the 6-1 victory. The Sox will now have their ace Chris Sale on the mound to close out the series and he will be looking to atone from his worst loss of the season. The Indians pounded Sale on August 1st for seven runs in five innings. The lanky lefty will try to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time this season as he lost in his last outing to the New York Yankees. Boston and Cleveland both hold 4.5-game leads in their respective divisions. The Indians will look to right-hander Trevor Bauer for a solid outing to help an injury-plagued lineup that has four injured starters. The Indians placed 2B Jason Kipnis on the disabled list but are hopeful 1B Carlos Santana can rejoin the lineup for Thursday’s game. Look for Boston to debut Rajai Davis on Thursday, acquired from the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday after center fielder Jackie Bradley, Jr. suffered a sprained ligament in his left thumb.
Pitchers: Red Sox – Chris Sale (14-5, 2.62 ERA) | Indians – Trevor Bauer (12-8, 4.50)
Sale, who allowed four runs in that loss to New York last Saturday, is still the front-runner for the AL Cy Young Award. Prior to the loss versus the Yankees, he was 3-0 and recorded 63 strikeouts in six starts since the All-Star break. Francisco Lindor is 9-for-19 and Edwin Encarnacion 6-for-16 against Sale, who is 5-7 with a 4.44 ERA against Cleveland.
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In his last seven starts, Bauer is 5-0 (six starts, one relief appearance) and is now tied for the staff lead with 12 wins. He held Kansas City scoreless in his last outing over 6.1 innings, two days after he was used for two-thirds of an inning in relief. He beat Boston at Fenway Park on August 14th, allowing three runs on three solo homers while striking out 11. That win left Bauer with a 1-2 record and 8.79 ERA in four appearances (three starts) versus Boston.
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It’s tough to go against Sale, but the Indians have had success with him in the past, including this season. Bauer has been terrific over the last month. Cleveland still has enough pop in their lineup to get the job done. I’ll take the home dog here.
Pick: Indians +150
- Red Sox are 8-1 in their last 9 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 6-1 in their last 7 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Red Sox are 15-3 in their last 18 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Red Sox are 8-2 in their last 10 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 8-2 in their last 10 vs. American League Central.
- Red Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 road games.
- Red Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Red Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Red Sox are 14-4 in their last 18 games on grass.
- Red Sox are 17-5 in their last 22 overall.
- Red Sox are 12-4 in their last 16 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Red Sox are 11-4 in their last 15 games following a win.
- Red Sox are 8-3 in their last 11 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 2-5 in their last 7 Thursday games.
- Red Sox are 0-4 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Red Sox are 4-0 in Sales last 4 road starts.
- Red Sox are 6-0 in Sales last 6 starts vs. American League Central.
- Red Sox are 4-0 in Sales last 4 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 5-1 in Sales last 6 starts.
- Red Sox are 10-2 in Sales last 12 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Red Sox are 5-1 in Sales last 6 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 5-1 in Sales last 6 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 4-1 in Sales last 5 starts on grass.
- Red Sox are 4-1 in Sales last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Red Sox are 8-3 in Sales last 11 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Red Sox are 9-4 in Sales last 13 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Indians are 6-1 in their last 7 during game 4 of a series.
- Indians are 8-2 in their last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Indians are 6-2 in their last 8 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Indians are 6-2 in their last 8 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Indians are 37-14 in their last 51 Thursday games.
- Indians are 5-2 in their last 7 vs. American League East.
- Indians are 9-4 in their last 13 overall.
- Indians are 2-5 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Indians are 2-5 in their last 7 home games.
- Indians are 2-5 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Indians are 4-10 in their last 14 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Indians are 4-0 in Bauers last 4 Thursday starts.
- Indians are 6-1 in Bauers last 7 starts vs. American League East.
- Indians are 5-1 in Bauers last 6 starts.
- Indians are 5-1 in Bauers last 6 starts on grass.
- Indians are 4-1 in Bauers last 5 starts during game 4 of a series.
- Indians are 4-1 in Bauers last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Indians are 4-1 in Bauers last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Indians are 10-3 in Bauers last 13 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Indians are 5-2 in Bauers last 7 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Indians are 4-9 in Bauers last 13 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Indians are 2-8 in Bauers last 10 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1-2 in Red Sox last 8 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Under is 4-1-2 in Red Sox last 7 games following a win.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Red Sox last 6 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1-2 in Red Sox last 7 vs. American League Central.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Red Sox last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Red Sox last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Red Sox last 5 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Red Sox last 5 on grass.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Red Sox last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Red Sox last 5 overall.
- Under is 4-0 in Sales last 4 Thursday starts.
- Under is 4-0 in Sales last 4 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Under is 7-1 in Sales last 8 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 6-1 in Sales last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-1 in Sales last 6 starts vs. American League Central.
- Under is 5-1 in Sales last 6 road starts.
- Under is 8-2 in Sales last 10 starts overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Sales last 5 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Sales last 7 starts on grass.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Indians last 4 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 6-0-1 in Indians last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 2-0-2 in Indians last 4 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 2-0-2 in Indians last 4 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 3-0-1 in Indians last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 5-1-2 in Indians last 8 vs. American League East.
- Under is 4-1 in Indians last 5 Thursday games.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Indians last 6 games following a loss.
- Under is 4-1 in Indians last 5 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Indians last 5 during game 4 of a series.
- Under is 6-2-2 in Indians last 10 home games.
- Under is 9-3-2 in Indians last 14 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 17-6-3 in Indians last 26 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 8-3-1 in Indians last 12 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 10-4-2 in Indians last 16 overall.
- Under is 33-14-4 in Indians last 51 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 3-0-2 in Bauers last 5 starts on grass.
- Under is 5-0-2 in Bauers last 7 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 2-0-2 in Bauers last 4 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Bauers last 4 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 3-0-2 in Bauers last 5 starts overall.
- Under is 7-1-2 in Bauers last 10 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Under is 5-1 in Bauers last 6 starts during game 4 of a series.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Bauers last 7 home starts.
- Under is 20-7-2 in Bauers last 29 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2-3 in Bauers last 10 starts vs. American League East.
- Under is 20-8-5 in Bauers last 33 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Over is 2-0-2 in Bauers last 4 starts vs. Red Sox.
- Under is 7-3-3 in the last 13 meetings.
- Red Sox are 4-10 in the last 14 meetings in Cleveland.
