The Red Sox will look to build upon their lead atop the AL Wild card standings on Saturday night when Clay Buchholz takes to the starting bump to square off against Mike Trout and the going nowhere fast Los Angeles Angels.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
At 12 games under .500 and down nearly $1500 for the season, it’s safe to say the Angels won’t be doing any type of battling in the Wars of October. This franchise has taken some enormous steps back the last couple seasons due to poor free agent signings, and unfortunately, major injuries to star players. Losers in eight of their last nine, the Halos will head to Beantown looking to improve upon a road record that’s seen them win just 16 of 37 played games.
Just a couple weeks back, the BoSox were the toast of the AL East winning game after game and series after series. That hasn’t been the case of late as the team dropped back-to-back series to the White Sox and Rangers before splitting the first two with the Rays earlier in week. While the club sits five games over .500 as a host to date, it’s still dropped over $200 due to going off the board favored in a majority of their games.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Hector Santiago will get the starting nod for the seventeenth time in this one looking to bounce back from a wretched start against Oakland last time out. The A’s touched him up for seven hits (2 HR) and 6 ER through six innings of work. Prior to that, he threw quality starts against the Astros and Twins. You never know what you’re going to get with Santiago. Sometimes he’s untouchable, other times he throws batting practice. Lifetime against the Red Sox, the southpaw stands 1-3 with a 3.56 ERA and .239 batting average against through five career starts.
The enigma that is Clay Buchholz will take to the starting bump for the thirteenth time this season in hopes of finally churning out a quality start for his teammates. The righty has failed to pull off the feat in each of his last eight appearances – three of which were starts since being reinserted into the starting rotation. Since getting his starting gig back, Buchholz has combined to throw 10.1 innings of 11 hit and 7 ER ball with a sad K/BB ratio of 8:6. He clearly no longer has the stuff to be a viable starter in this league.
LIVE BETTING
I’m not expecting tonight’s starters to be successful in the least at preventing either of these offenses to hang crooked numbers on the scoreboard early. It’s been all or nothing for Santiago of late with him either getting roasted or giving up just one ER through 6 IP. I’m betting on the former occurring here with the Red Sox averaging 5.4 runs per game versus left-handed pitching to date.
I have no faith in Buchholz limiting the Angels offense either, so with that the case, A wager on the first five innings over the total looks to be a solid position to take.
QUICK PICK
Santiago has lasted four or less innings in two of his last three road starts. While he’s held up against the BoSox’ offense in his career, that hasn’t been the case when in Fenway where he owns a 6.08 ERA and 1.58 WHIP through two starts. I’m counting on another rough outing in this one.
That said, Buchholz makes me squeamish as well so instead of laying the moderately high chalk with the home team since I believe they ultimately win this ball game, I’ll instead root for both sides and hope the offenses flourish as expected.
MLB Odds: Red Sox 9, Angels 6
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