Giants Look to Keep Pace as They Visit Boston
Giants vs Sox Odds: SF Favored in Opening Game
The San Francisco Giants open a three-game series at Boston on Tuesday. The Giants trail the Dodgers by 4.5 games in the NL West. The Red Sox are 2.5 games behind Baltimore and New York in the AL East. Both MLB teams need to pick it up there to remain in contention for the playoffs. The Giants vs Sox odds see San Francisco’s Logan Webb -130 over Cooper Criswell (+110) and the total on the game is 8.
San Francisco is 5-8 on the road this season, but Boston has struggled at home, also going 5-8. The Giants are No. 13 in team batting average but score just 4.0 runs per game. San Francisco is tied for No. 20 in home runs and fares a little better against right-handed starters. The Giants are scoring 4.8 runs per game on the road.
San Francisco’s pitching hasn’t been impressive. The Giants are No. 25 in team ERA and are allowing 5.3 runs per game on the road, compared to 4.6 at home. San Francisco is No. 26 in saves with just five. The bullpen has been poor at home and away this season.
The Red Sox are No. 12 in team batting but are averaging 4.8 runs per game. Boston is fourth in MLB in home runs, but also tied for the third-most strikeouts in baseball. The Red Sox score more runs on the road than at home and have right-handed pitchers better than lefties.
Pitching has been the name of the game for Boston. The Red Sox lead MLB in team ERA, but the bullpen is much better on the road than at home. Boston is allowing 3.7 runs per game, although that number balloons to 5.2 runs at Fenway Park.
Giants vs Sox 
Records: San Francisco Giants (14-15), Boston Red Sox (16-13)
Location: Fenway Park
Day/Time: Stream: MLB Network
Tuesday’s Game (Game 1)
Webb has been solid all season and the Giants are 4-2 when he starts. He’s allowed just one run over his last three starts and has given up more than two runs just once. San Francisco is 1-1 in Webb’s two road starts this season and 3-3 in totals with him on the mound.
Criswell is making his third start and Boston won his first two outings. He also has one relief appearance on the season and a 2.38 ERA. He’s allowed six runs in 11 1/3 innings, with three of them earned. He’s lasted four and five innings in his starts, so expect to see the Boston bullpen plenty here.
The Giants vs Sox odds are pretty much where you would expect. The Red Sox have the better team, which keeps the line from getting too high, but Webb is the better starter. It’s hard to take the over with the way Webb is pitching. One of the tougher games on the schedule to use for one of your baseball picks, but the Giants are probably the way to look.
Wednesday’s Game (Game 2)
The Giants haven’t named a starting pitcher for this game. San Francisco used Ryan Walker after Webb the last time, but Walker is only going to give you an inning or so. Blake Snell typically followed Webb until his injury. Mason Black, one of the MLB’s top prospects for the Giants is a possibility. He was the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year last season. In AAA this season, Black has a 1.19 ERA with 25 strikeouts over 22 2/3 innings.
Kutter Crawford will start for Boston and he’s off to a strong start this season. Crawford is sporting a 1.35 ERA this season, but the Boston bullpen has let him down several times. The Red Sox are just 2-4 when he starts this season.
Strictly on value, the Giants could be the side to look at here. Crawford’s ERA will inflate the line a little bit and despite pitching well, the Red Sox are still losing when he starts. Black will be a good-sized underdog and worth a look as one of your best MLB bets today if he starts.
Thursday’s Game (Game 3)
The Giants vs Sox odds should see Boston as a smaller favorite here. Kyle Harrison will get the start for the Giants against Josh Winckowski. San Francisco has gone 4-2 in the games Harrison has started. He hasn’t pitched exceptionally great but has given the Giants a chance to win. That’s really all you can ask out of your starting pitcher.
Winckowski has only pitched 6 1/3 innings in his two starts but allowed just one run. The Red Sox are 2-0 when he takes the mound. He has appeared in seven games in relief and is sporting a 3.50 ERA on the season.
Harrison has pitched well enough and does get a team that hasn’t hit left-handers quite as well. With the Red Sox having to use the bullpen a fair amount of the game, the Giants may offer the best betting value.
Giants vs Sox Betting Lines
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