MLB Picks: Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles

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Last Updated on Friday, 14 October 2011 12:40
Written by BetRepublic
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Some say that 162 games is too long a season for baseball but today in both the American and National League, four teams may prove today that it’s not long enough.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays enter today’s action tied in the Wild Card race with 90 wins and 71 losses apiece. Boston edged the Orioles 8-7 last night and it was clear how hard Baltimore was playing to try and spoil the party so we should probably expect more of the same today.

The Red Sox send left-hander Jon Lester to the hill and Sportsbetting.ag is asking for -190 on the moneyline with an Over/Under set at 9 OV (-125). Lester is 10-4 on the road this season with a 3.49 ERA and in 17 career starts vs. Baltimore has a sparkling 14-0 record (2.33 ERA).

These teams have combined for 5 overs and a push in the past six and Lester was abused in his last start but that was in New York against a Yankees team bent on witnessing the epic collapse of the Red Sox. Lester can handle these O’s and home plate umpire John Hirschbeck is an "Under" ump that won’t help Baltimore’s cause. We can’t rely on Alfredo Simon (4-9, 4.85 ERA) for much so instead we turn to the team totals.
Pick: Take the Orioles team total Under 3.5

The Yankees were late naming a starter for today and it forced online sportsbooks into a holding pattern but it was just announced that Dellin Betances will get the nod. It’s only his second major league appearance and he struggled with control in his debut, walking four batters in a write-off loss to these same Rays Sept. 22.

David Price (12-13, 3.35 ERA) is on for Tampa and the opening line is Rays (-245, O/U 8.5).

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Atlanta and St. Louis are looking for wins over Philadelphia and Houston respectively and the books have added a “Must win” premium to both games.

Atlanta (-200, O/U 8.5) is starting Tim Hudson (16-10, 3.23 ERA) against the Phillies’ Joe Blanton (1-2, 5.03 ERA) but don’t expect to see Blanton for long. It will likely be a mix of relievers that takes over for Philly and it gives this game an unpredictable nature.

In Houston, the Cardinals (-180, O/U 7.5) are going with Chris Carpenter (10-9, 3.59 ERA) and we have a slight lean to the Astros on the run line (-104) but our strongest play is the Red Sox team total.

We’ll discuss all four games in today’s live blog at 5 pm ET, hope to see you there.