Boston (85-35) at Philadelphia (65-52)
When: Tuesday, August 14th 2018
Where: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: Boston -152/9
The Boston Red Sox continue to cruise through the summer and are now 50 games over .500 with a month and a half left to play. The AL East leaders seek their fifth-straight victory when they open a two-game interleague series in Philadelphia Tuesday against the Phillies. Boston had some trouble scoring when the Phillies visited Boston last month, scoring just three times and splitting the two-game set. Other than that series, the Red Sox haven’t had any trouble sending players across home plate. They lead the majors in most offensive categories, including runs scored (659), average (.270), OPS (.804), and stolen bases (95). Boston enjoys a 9.5-game lead over the New York Yankees in the AL East entering play on Monday, while Philadelphia is locked in a battle atop the NL East and sits in a virtual tie for first with the Atlanta Braves, with the Washington Nationals 5.5 games back as of Monday. The Phillies may insert newly acquired Justin Bour at first base with Carlos Santana struggling to 3-for-24 stretch, dropping his average to .215. Boston right fielder Mookie Betts is 15-for-33 with 12 runs scored during an eight-game hitting streak. Former Cy Young winner Rick Porcello of Boston will oppose Philadelphia’s Nick Pivetta in the opener.
Pitchers: Red Sox – Rick Porcello (14-5, 4.17 ERA) | Phillies – Nick Pivetta (7-9, 4.51)
Porcello is coming off one of his worst outings of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays, allowing seven runs on six hits and three walks in four innings on Thursday. Porcello was brilliant in the start before against the second-place Yankees, throwing an 86-pitch complete-game one-hitter on August 3rd. He is 1-1 in three career starts against Philadelphia and owns a 19-8 record with a 4.22 ERA in 38 interleague games – 36 starts.
Pivetta snapped a three-start winless streak on Tuesday when he pitched six scoreless innings to earn a win at Arizona. Pivetta boast 41 strikeouts in 30 innings covering his last five starts. He faced Boston once during his 2017 rookie season and allowed four hits while striking out nine in seven scoreless innings but did not factor in the decision.
The Phillies had some trouble this past weekend scoring against the last-place San Diego Padres and that won’t work when facing this Boston squad. The pitching matchup favors the Red Sox in this one and it’s not a real high price for the best team in the majors.
Pick: Red Sox -135
BETTING TRENDS:
- Red Sox are 5-0 in their last 5 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Red Sox are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Red Sox are 10-2 in their last 12 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Red Sox are 42-12 in their last 54 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Red Sox are 41-12 in their last 53 interleague games.
- Red Sox are 43-13 in their last 56 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Red Sox are 39-12 in their last 51 games on grass.
- Red Sox are 42-13 in their last 55 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Red Sox are 41-13 in their last 54 overall.
- Red Sox are 40-14 in their last 54 vs. National League East.
- Red Sox are 19-7 in their last 26 during game 1 of a series.
- Red Sox are 37-14 in their last 51 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 39-15 in their last 54 games following a win.
- Red Sox are 20-8 in their last 28 interleague road games.
- Red Sox are 37-15 in their last 52 Tuesday games.
- Red Sox are 43-19 in their last 62 road games.
- Red Sox are 36-16 in their last 52 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 66-30 in their last 96 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Red Sox are 35-16 in their last 51 games following an off day.
- Red Sox are 4-0 in Porcello’s last 4 starts vs. National League East.
- Red Sox are 11-0 in Porcello’s last 11 interleague starts.
- Red Sox are 7-1 in Porcello’s last 8 starts on grass.
- Red Sox are 7-1 in Porcello’s last 8 Tuesday starts.
- Red Sox are 5-1 in Porcello’s last 6 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 4-1 in Porcello’s last 5 road starts.
- Red Sox are 4-1 in Porcello’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Red Sox are 7-2 in Porcello’s last 9 starts.
- Red Sox are 6-2 in Porcello’s last 8 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Phillies are 5-0 in their last 5 Tuesday games.
- Phillies are 4-0 in their last 4 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Phillies are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. American League East.
- Phillies are 5-1 in their last 6 interleague games.
- Phillies are 4-1 in their last 5 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
- Phillies are 7-2 in their last 9 games following an off day.
- Phillies are 6-2 in their last 8 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Phillies are 42-19 in their last 61 home games.
- Phillies are 35-17 in their last 52 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Phillies are 4-9 in their last 13 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Phillies are 4-0 in Pivetta’s last 4 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Phillies are 6-2 in Pivetta’s last 8 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Phillies are 6-2 in Pivetta’s last 8 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Phillies are 6-2 in Pivetta’s last 8 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Phillies are 9-4 in Pivetta’s last 13 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Phillies are 11-5 in Pivetta’s last 16 home starts.
- Under is 8-1-2 in Red Sox last 11 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 6-1-1 in Red Sox last 8 Tuesday games.
- Under is 4-1-2 in Red Sox last 7 on grass.
- Under is 4-1 in Red Sox last 5 interleague games.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Red Sox last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Red Sox last 5 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 4-1 in Red Sox last 5 vs. National League East.
- Under is 7-2-1 in Red Sox last 10 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 7-2-1 in Red Sox last 10 interleague road games.
- Under is 14-5-2 in Red Sox last 21 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 5-2-1 in Red Sox last 8 road games.
- Over is 5-2 in Red Sox last 7 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 7-3-2 in Red Sox last 12 games following a win.
- Over is 21-10-1 in Red Sox last 32 games following an off day.
- Under is 3-0-2 in Porcello’s last 5 starts vs. National League East.
- Over is 8-1-1 in Porcello’s last 10 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Under is 4-1 in Porcello’s last 5 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 7-2 in Porcello’s last 9 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 7-2 in Porcello’s last 9 road starts.
- Over is 12-4-1 in Porcello’s last 17 starts overall.
- Over is 10-4-1 in Porcello’s last 15 starts on grass.
- Over is 5-2 in Porcello’s last 7 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 5-2 in Porcello’s last 7 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 7-3 in Porcello’s last 10 Tuesday starts.
- Under is 5-0 in Phillies last 5 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-0-1 in Phillies last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 5-0-1 in Phillies last 6 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 6-0 in Phillies last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 5-0 in Phillies last 5 interleague home games.
- Under is 7-0 in Phillies last 7 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 7-0-1 in Phillies last 8 vs. American League East.
- Under is 5-0 in Phillies last 5 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 4-0 in Phillies last 4 during game 1 of a series.
- Over is 6-1 in Phillies last 7 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
- Under is 11-2-1 in Phillies last 14 on grass.
- Under is 11-2-1 in Phillies last 14 overall.
- Under is 4-1 in Phillies last 5 interleague home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 4-1 in Phillies last 5 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 14-4-3 in Phillies last 21 interleague games.
- Under is 39-15-4 in Phillies last 58 games following a loss.
- Under is 12-5-1 in Phillies last 18 Tuesday games.
- Under is 33-15-3 in Phillies last 51 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 5-1 in Pivetta’s last 6 home starts.
- Over is 7-2-1 in Pivetta’s last 10 starts on grass.
- Over is 7-2-1 in Pivetta’s last 10 starts overall.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Pivetta’s last 5 interleague starts.
- Under is 7-3-1 in Pivetta’s last 11 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 5-0-2 in the last 7 meetings.
- Red Sox are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
