LA Angels at Boston
Wednesday, May 4th, 7:05 PM
(matchup)
The Boston Red Sox will look to make it seven in a row over the Los Angeles Angels tonight. They have won the first two games of this series by counts of 9-5 and 7-3 and when you include the back to back shutouts that capped a four-game sweep earlier in the year, Boston has outscored LA 28-8 in the last four games. The Red Sox are up to big $1.80 favorites on the betting line tonight behind Josh Beckett.
This game will be broadcast on ESPN. Note that live betting is available at Bodog Sportsbook.
Are the Halos worth a shot on the money line here? It’s pretty tough to make the case considering their history vs. Boston, which includes four straight losses by four runs or more. Also, tonight’s starter Erwin Santana has not been effective so far in 2011 with a 4.89 ERA in six starts, including 6.35 the last three.
However, Santana is coming off his first win of the year, allowing only one earned run (three unearned) in an 8-5 decision over Tampa Bay last Friday. He now has a team start record of 16-7 in the underdog role after his team cashed at +145 on the betting line in that game. Furthermore, Boston is still only 2-6 this year as a home favorite of -150 or more.
That being said, Beckett has been masterful in two starts here at Fenway with a 0.60 ERA, 19 strikeouts and a pair of wins. He is coming off his most unproductive outing of the season though, allowing four runs and seven hits in six innings of work at Baltimore. He did not receive a decision in the team’s 5-4 loss.
Beckett did beat the Angels back on April 21st as a $1.45 favorite, allowing just three hits in a 4-2 Boston victory. Two days later, Santana took the hill and took the loss, allowing five runs and nine hits in a 5-0 loss to the Red Sox as -110 favorites.
After opening the year with six straight losses, Boston can reach .500 for the first time all season with a win tonight. They are just 8-15 vs. the rest of the American League, excluding the Angels.
Last night, Red Sox starter Lester struck out 11 and allowed just one run. The Boston starting rotation has really befuddled the Angels lineup this year with a 1.03 ERA over 28+ innings. They have 41 strikeouts and allowed just 28 hits.
