Boston at Cleveland
Monday, May 23rd, 7:05 PM
(matchup)
Despite the facts that they own MLB’s best overall record, are 18-4 at home and swept the Boston Red Sox earlier in the season, the Cleveland Indians find themselves as a slight underdog Monday night. The Tribe is in off a three-game sweep of in-state rival Cincinnati as they draw a Boston team that is much hotter right now than the last time these two clubs met.
The Indians also have the advantage that the Red Sox had to play Sunday night. Boston beat the Cubs 5-1, their eighth win in nine games overall, to move a season-high four games over .500. Since April 16th, the Red Sox have the best record in the majors at 23-11 and are now just one-half game behind AL East leaders New York and Tampa Bay. Over the last nine games, Boston has scored 54 runs while batting a collective .304.
However, the team has not had much recent success here in Cleveland, where they have lost five straight, including a three-game sweep earlier in the year. In those games, Boston was favored by -160, -160 and -175 on the respective money lines.
So clearly the oddsmakers have adjusted as the Indians continue to shock baseball bettors. Cleveland is off to the best home start in franchise history and the team ranks 1st in the American League in batting average (.266) and second in runs scored (228). Their run differential of +66 is 16 runs better than any other team in baseball right now. During their five-game home winning streak over Boston, they have outscored the Red Sox 31-12.
Perhaps Clay Buchholz can turn Boston’s fortunes around. The Red Sox have won each of his previous three starts as the righty has posted a 0.95 ERA in those outings. He has traditionally been outstanding in the month of May with an 8-1 record and 2.40 ERA dating back to last season. Buchholz did not pitch in the earlier series against the Indians, but was on the wrong end of an 11-0 loss in his lone start against them last year.
Cleveland counters with their own hot arm, Justin Masterson, who has allowed only one run in five of nine starts this season and was for 2 for 2 against Boston last season, beating Buchholz in that 11-0 win and then again 9-1 towards the end of the season. Those wins returned heavy profits for Indians bettors as Masterson was a dog of +160 and +225 respectively.
Despite a 2.52 ERA in nine starts, Masterson has watched the team lose each of his previous three starts.
Totals players may want to take note of Cleveland’s 10-2 mark Over the total in home night games this season.
