Red Sox vs Orioles Betting: O’s Should Start Weekend Strong

Can Baltimore Slide Back Into Playoff Race This Weekend?

The Baltimore Orioles will welcome the Boston Red Sox to Oriole Park at Camden Yards for a massive four-game divisional series tonight. The Red Sox are 7.5 games back of the division and two games back from the AL Wild Card.  A series win this weekend over the Orioles would help the Red Sox get closer to an AL Wild Card spot. After all, the Orioles are slotted into the top spot of the AL Wild Card and leading by five games.

Baltimore has one more win than Boston does over the last ten games. Plus, the Orioles have an advantage at home since they’ve gone 35-26 at home. Still, don’t forget that the Red Sox have been better on the road this year, going 34-24 away from Fenway Park.

The Orioles hoped Jackson Holliday would be an MLB Rookie of the Year candidate this year. While he struggled early, he’s been red hot for the Orioles lately.

In Game 1 of the series, the Orioles are -143 favorites at home, while the total is 8.5. However, the Over is juiced to -115 at this time.

With so much to unpack, here’s our Red Sox vs Orioles betting preview for this four-game AL East series.

Red Sox logo Red Sox vs Orioles Orioles logo

📊Records: Boston Red Sox (63-56), Baltimore Orioles (71-50)
⏰Day/Time: Thursday, August 15, 6:35 pm ET
📍Location: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD
📺Streaming: NESN, MASN

Jarren Duran Is Back In The Lineup

After a two-game suspension handed by the MLB, Jarren Duran was back in the lineup for the Boston Red Sox yesterday.

Duran used a homophobic slur at a fan that was caught by Boston’s microphones on the broadcast. He’s apologized and has since gotten a standing ovation from fans to show their support.

While he won’t be the MLB MVP, Duran has been a major reason for Boston’s success this season.

Could Craig Kimbrel Lose Closing Role?

Craig Kimbrel has a 5.87 ERA in the second half. That looks better than his 6.18 FIP in the second half of the season.

While Kimbrel has struggled, Seranthony Dominguez has already been used in multiple save situations. Kimbrel may pitch himself out of the closing role by September.

The Red Sox vs Orioles Betting Odds For Game 1:

RL: Orioles -1.5 (+155) ML: Orioles -135, O/U: 8.5 -110/-110

Red Sox vs Orioles Betting Preview

⚾ Game 1 ⚾

Thursday, 6:35 pm ET

Nick Pivetta vs. Zach Eflin

In the first matchup, Nick Pivetta will get the start. He was skipped last week, but he’ll get his usual start this week. Pivetta has struck out 34.1% of batters and has only walked 3.5% in the previous 30 days.

Yet, he’s still allowed a .272 ISO and wOBA of .337 with 39.6% of fly balls and 24.5% of ground balls. He’s allowing hard contact in the air when he’s not earning strikeouts.

The Orioles will counter with Zach Eflin. Eflin has limited his last 128 batters to a .117 ISO and wOBA of .300. He’s also held those batters to 22.1% of fly balls and has earned more than 43% of ground balls.

Eflin’s strikeout rate won’t get high against the lefties in Boston’s lineup. But he’s still held lefties to a .290 wOBA over the last month.

That’s enough to back the Orioles in tonight’s game at -135. It’s one of our favorite MLB predictions for today.

⚾ Game 2 ⚾

Friday, 7:05 pm ET

TBD vs. Corbin Burnes

Boston’s James Paxton tore his calf. It’s a long shot he’ll even return to the mound this season. This would’ve been his night on the mound. Therefore, the Red Sox have not announced a starter for this game.

This is a game that Boston will have to concede.

The Orioles will throw Corbin Burnes in this one. Burnes is an All-Star starter who has held his last 127 batters to a .114 ISO and wOBA of .267. Burnes has also held his previous 127 batters to 15.9% of line drives and has allowed only 20.5% of fly balls.

His strikeout rate has dropped over the last month, but he’s getting contact that typically earns outs. Take the Orioles in Game 2.

⚾ Game 3 ⚾

Saturday, 7:05 pm ET

Brayan Bello vs. Albert Suarez

In the third of four games, Brayan Bello will get the call. He’s a righty who has dominated righties. However, he’s also struggled with lefties, allowing a .259 ISO and wOBA of .411 to his last 66 lefties.

Ultimately, Bello has given up more than 13% of walks and hasn’t struck out more than 14% of lefties over the last 30 days. That’s put him in a poor position. He’s still induced nearly 46% of grounders and has allowed no more than 21.7% of fly balls over the last month to lefties.

Meanwhile, the Orioles will roll with Albert Suarez. He’s allowed a .263 ISO and wOBA of .420 to his last 43 lefties. That’s never a good sign when taking on the Red Sox, which has some of the most dominant left-handed hitters in the game.

Grab the Red Sox for Saturday’s game.

⚾ Game 4 ⚾

Sunday, 1:35 pm ET

Kutter Crawford vs. Trevor Rogers

In the last month, Kutter Crawford has struggled with low strikeouts and a high ISO and wOBA against both sides of the plate. The only thing he’s done well has been limiting walks and giving up just 17.6% of line drives over the last month.

Crawford has even given up a hard contact rate of 51.5% to batters over the last 30 days.

On the flip side, he’ll go up against Trevor Rogers, who has allowed a .367 wOBA over the last month. He’s earned below 12% of strikeouts and has allowed 55.2% of hard contact in the previous 30 days. Sunday’s game should be an explosion of runs. Take the Over to close out the Red Sox vs Orioles betting preview.

For MLB odds, betting analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.


Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

Robot_subscription sombras
Subscribe to get
get_expert_img
get_expert_img
Thank you for subscribing subscribed_icon

Back to top button

pointspreads

WHO WILL WIN?

Submit your vote and view the results
Hey Again

vote all you can

pointspreads

PS-email

PS-email

Robot_subscription sombras
Subscribe to get
get_expert_img
Thank you for subscribing subscribed_icon