Boston Red Sox vs. Cincinnati Reds Prediction: Can Chris Sale, Red Sox Cool Down Red-Hot Reds?
The Boston Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds play the final game in their series tonight. Can Chris Sale and the Red Sox cool down the red-hot Reds? Oddschecker handicapper Krabs breaks it down.
Krabs - June 1, 2023, 2:37 PM EDT
5 minBoston Red Sox vs. Cincinnati Reds Prediction: Can Chris Sale, Red Sox Cool Down Red-Hot Reds?
Hunter Greene is coming off the best start of his young career. The 23-year-old flamethrower pitched six hitless innings against the Chicago Cubs with eleven strikeouts. Greene showed the world what he is capable of at his best. There’s a reason he was the second overall draft pick back in 2017. Unfortunately, the young righty will have his hands full tonight against one of the best offenses in baseball.
Red Sox vs. Reds Start Time and Where to Watch
- Date: Thursday, June 1, 2023
- Start Time: 7:10 pm ET
- Where to Watch: MLB.TV
Boston Red Sox vs. Cincinnati Reds Prediction
The Boston Red Sox have overperformed greatly in 2023. Most analysts predicted Boston to finish last in the AL East. Well, they’re still in last, but Boston is above .500 in the best division in baseball. They have the fourth-ranked offense in MLB. The Red Sox have no trouble scoring, especially when they are home.
Overs are 19-8-1 in Boston’s 28 home games this season. Some are saying it may be the new lights installed at Fenway Park, making it much easier to see the baseball. The new lights paired with this electric Boston offense have led to some very high-scoring games.
Although Boston has been on fire offensively, they’ve lost their previous three games. The Reds are debatably the hottest team in baseball right now, on a five-game winning streak where they’ve scored 39 runs in those games. If the Cincinnati Reds are so hot, and the Red Sox are on a three game losing streak, why is Boston (-165) to win this game tonight?
Not only is Boston a much more significant favorite than I expected, but the total has risen an entire run from the 8.5 opener. Two respectable pitchers are on the bump tonight in Greene and Sale; why is this total creeping up after last night’s contest went under?
Well, the wind is blowing out at Fenway Park, and wind matters more in these older ballparks like Wrigley and Fenway. The older architecture of these stadiums wasn’t meant to block the wind as many of the newer stadiums do. If that wind is blowing out to center or right, it could be just what the doctor ordered to get this Red Sox offense going again.
Instead of laying the juice on the Red Sox at (-165) to win this game, back Boston on their team total. With the over on the move, I am more than comfortable backing Boston to score some runs after Greene’s impressive no-hitter he threw last week.
Oddsmakers aren’t giving Greene or the streaking Reds any respect in this game, which tells me we will see a much different version of Hunter Greene tonight. His props have already been bumped down for this contest, another reason to fade Greene after last week’s performance. Let’s eliminate the need to back Boston’s suspect bullpen and take the Red Sox team total instead.
Boston Red Sox vs. Cincinnati Reds Pick
Boston Red Sox TTO 5 -105 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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