ODDS ANALYSIS
The Angels visit Boston on the final leg of a three city, 10-game road trip looking to continue the mastery they’ve had over the Red Sox in recent years. The Angels won 16 of the last 21, including 10 of 12 in Boston before this series, and swept the four-game set in Fenway Park last season. The Halos won four of seven to start the trip after splitting four games with Toronto following an 8-4 loss Thursday. The Angels are up 1.08 units on the trip while playing in the red 0.89 units for the year. The under is 5-2 on LA’s current trip and 11-3 over the last 14 games while going 22-17-2 for the year.
A recent offensive slumber has the Red Sox a strong play on the under. Boston scored one run for the second straight outing in a loss to the Rangers on Thursday, cashing the under for the eighth straight game. The under is 8-2 in Boston’s last 10 home games and 12-7 for the season. The Sox have been a disappointment at the betting window as well, down 7.98 units on the moneyline in their last nine home games and 6.71 units for the season.
PITCHING MATCHUP
LA’s CJ Wilson (2-2, 3.06 ERA) gave up four runs in the second inning Monday but still recovered to complete five frames. He allowed 10 hits and two walks throwing 98 pitches in his shortest outing of the season losing to Toronto. He had been on a roll compiling a 2.10 ERA going at least seven innings in his last three turns.
Wilson has 10 starts in his 22 lifetime appearances against the Red Sox posting a 6-3 record and 2.63 ERA with 67 strikeouts and just one home run allowed in 72 innings. He got the win going 5.1 innings with five hits and a run in his last start at Fenway Park on Aug. 18, 2014.
Steven Wright (1-1, 4.02 ERA) gets his second start filling in for the injured Justin Masterson. The knuckleballer allowed two earned runs on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts taking the loss at Seattle on Sunday in his first start. He pitched 10.2 innings giving up 12 hits and five runs in two relief appearances.
Wright will make his fourth career start in his first outing against the Angels.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“I’ll be ready. I threw about 85 pitches and I’m just ready for whatever [manager John Farrell] wants me to do, whether it’s another start, going to the ‘pen. For me it doesn’t matter. I just have to go throw good knuckleballs over the plate and just hope for the best.” – Red Sox pitcher Steven Wright after his first start of the season Sunday at Seattle
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
It’s been a tremendous struggle for the Sox to score runs recently. Boston lost 2-1 Thursday, its fourth loss in the last six games, going six for 38 with runners in scoring position and scoring no more than one run in each loss. “No answers. We just ain’t hitting. Period,” David Ortiz said after the Red Sox fell to the Texas Rangers. Boston came in with the AL’s second-worst batting average, ranked 12th in runs scored and hasn’t scored more than four runs in nine straight games. They’ve made average pitchers look great and CJ Wilson is an above average hurler. We don’t expect the Red Sox will awaken from their slumber tonight.
PROP TALK
Dustin Pedroia is doing what he can to help the Red Sox during its offensive funk, unfortunately it hasn’t been enough. The scrappy second baseman has the highest average on the team among regulars but its well below his career number, which is a big reason why the Red Sox have struggled. A visit from the Angels and CJ Wilson might just change that. Pedroia hits nearly 30 points higher at Fenway Park than he does on the road and he owns a .417 lifetime average against Wilson with 10 hits in 24 at-bats, including a home run and six RBIs. Watch for Pedroia to do some damage with a few hits off the Halos’ southpaw.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Angels have enjoyed success against the Sox and at Fenway Park recently and have a glorious opportunity to jump on a team that’s down. But the Halos haven’t been knocking the ball around themselves. CJ Wilson has been phenomenal this season and the Sox have made nearly every pitcher look like Cy Young recently. The Halos might get Albert Pujols back in the lineup which will boost a staggering offense.
Boston’s recent struggles have many scratching their head. The team has talent, too much to be floundering at the plate the way they are. David Ortiz’s frustration over the recent woes boiled over Thursday, cutting off an interview with a reporter and walking away. Now if Ortiz and the rest of the Sox can channel that emotion to the field they’ll right the ship. They must deal with CJ Wilson, who has terrific numbers against them, on Saturday and the coming out party might take a bit longer. They will snap out of their funk, it’s just not happening today.
Los Angeles 7, Boston 2
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