No question that the marquee series to kick off the post-All-Star break portion of MLB’s schedule this weekend is a 2018 World Series rematch between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox. Of course, the Sox won the Fall Classic in five games but opened as slight underdogs at home on Friday’s MLB odds.
How to Bet Dodgers vs Red Sox MLB Lines & Game Info
- When: Friday, 7:10 PM ET
- Where: Fenway Park
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Kenta Maeda/Eduardo Rodriguez
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: 104.5 The Team
- Opening MLB Lines: Boston Red Sox -115 (Total 11)
Twins vs Indians MLB Odds, Preview & Expert Pick
Why Bet on LA Dodgers?
The Dodgers (60-31) reached the All-Star break with the best record in baseball and a massive lead in the National League West (13½ games). Led by MVP candidate Cody Bellinger, their hitters lead the National League in OPS (.808). Led by three All-Stars (Hyun-Jin Ryu, Walker Buehler, and Clayton Kershaw), their starting rotation has the lowest ERA in the NL (3.06) and the lowest WHIP in the majors (1.04). The bullpen has turned it around in the last month or so and now has the eighth-lowest ERA in the majors.
As good as the Dodgers have been, and they have the best record in baseball, they entered the break having lost three straight games to the division rival San Diego Padres, marking the first time they dropped three games in a row at Dodger Stadium this year.
The Dodgers open the second half with two starts, shortstop Corey Seager (the former NL Rookie of the Year) and outfielder AJ Pollock, returning from long injury absences. Seager missed nearly four weeks of action with a left hamstring strain. The 25-year-old had registered a .828 OPS with eight home runs, 38 RBI, and 40 runs scored in 66 games before the injury. Pollock has been out since late April due to an infection in his right elbow. He was batting just .223/.287/.330 with two home runs and zero stolen bases through his first 28 games for Los Angeles after inking a four-year, $55 million contract over the offseason.
Not clear as of this writing who will start Friday considering the Dodgers did have three pitchers in Cleveland on Tuesday and all three took the mound so they are out. Thus, it seems likely to be Kenta Maeda.
Maeda (7-5, 3.76) took the loss last Saturday, giving up three runs on four hits and a walk over 7.2 innings while striking out six as the Dodgers were downed 3-1 by the Padres. The right-hander was locked in a scoreless pitcher’s duel with rookie Chris Paddack through six innings, but Maeda then served up homers to Hunter Renfroe in the seventh and Manuel Margot in the eighth. Maeda has now lost three straight decisions, with his last win coming May 31.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.22
- Hits: 8.91
- Walks: 3.77
- Strike Outs: 7.89
- Runs: 3.82
- Hits: 7.47
- Walks: 2.17
- Strike Outs: 8.95
Why Bet on Boston?
This starts a grueling schedule for the Red Sox. They will play 34 games in 34 days from Friday through Aug. 14. They have an off day in that stretch (Mon., 7/29) but will play a day-night doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, 8/3. A total of 17 of the Sox’s first 24 games out of the break will be against teams that would make the postseason based on today’s standings.
The Red Sox are the only AL team with 3 qualifying players with an OPS of at least .900 in Rafael Devers at .936, Xander Bogaerts at .920 and JD Martinez at .909. The Sox feature 3 players with 60+ runs scored; the rest of the AL has a combined 5 players with 60+ runs. The Sox have 7 players with at least 13 homers, 2nd-most in the majors to the Twins’ eight guys. This year marks the first time the Sox ever had that many players with 13+ HR before the All-Star break. It was also the first time they have had 4 players with 15+ HR before the break since 1984.
With runners in scoring position in their last 14 games, the Red Sox are batting .354 with a .957 OPS. Overall, they rank 4th in the majors in AVG with RISP (.278). With 2 outs, the Sox lead the majors in AVG (.272), SLG (.492), OPS (.845), hits (279), and RBI (202).
It’s lefty Eduardo Rodriguez on the bump. Rodriguez (9-4) got the win last Friday against the Tigers, allowing one run on four hits in five innings of work. He struck out four batters while walking just one. Rodriguez was potentially in line for his first quality start since June 14, but a rain delay of over two hours cut him short after just five innings and 76 pitches. It was a strong outing, though, as the Tigers only once strung together multiple baserunners in an inning. Rodriguez has 4.65 ERA, though his 4.10 FIP suggests that at least some positive regression could be coming.
Red Sox pitchers lead MLB in strikeouts and SO/9.0 IP (10.04). The Sox have recorded 10+ SO in an MLB-high 51 games, 4 more than any other team.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.66
- Hits: 9.71
- Walks: 3.82
- Strike Outs: 8.34
- Runs: 5.01
- Hits: 8.73
- Walks: 3.41
- Strike Outs: 10.16
Blue Jays vs Yankees MLB Odds & Expert Pick for Friday Night
Dodgers vs Red Sox MLB Betting Trends
- Dodgers are 0-4 in their last 4 interleague games vs. a left-handed starter
- Red Sox are 13-3 in Rodriguez’s last 16 starts during game 1 of a series
- Dodgers are 0-6 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Boston
- The total has gone UNDER in 9 of LA Dodgers’ last 11 games played in July
- Red Sox are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games this season
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Boston’s last 5 games at home
Expert Final Score Prediction for Dodgers vs Red Sox
Los Angeles Dodgers 6 – Boston Red Sox 7
