MLB Betting Previews- Boston Red Sox at Philadelphia Phillies
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 at 7:05 PM EST on ESPN2
Boston +112
Philadelphia -132
9.5 o -115
The Boston Red Sox will try and even the score tonight in Game 2 of their three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Back Park in what could easily be a preview of this year’s World Series. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. (ET) and the game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
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Cliff Lee had his way with Boston last night as it was shutout 5-0 as a 129 road underdog. The loss dropped the Red Sox to 45-33 overall and left them a game and a half behind New York in the AL East. They are 22-16 at home and 23-17 on the road.
The most productive lineup in the Majors has struggled as of late with just 14 runs in its last six games, but Adrian Gonzalez has remained on a torrid pace with a league-high 71 RBI. John Lackey will get the start tonight for Boston. He is has not been at his best this season with a 5-6 record and 7.36 ERA in his first 11 starts. He is 2-1 lifetime against the Phillies with an ERA of 3.44.
Tuesday night’s win moved Philadelphia to 5-2 in its last seven games and maintained its 4.5 game lead over Atlanta in the NL East. It was also the Phillies 50th victory on the year against 30 losses which is the best win total in the league. They are 19-17 on the road and an impressive 31-13 at home.
Run support for Philadelphia’s dominant starting rotation has been less than stellar this year with an average of 4.1 runs per game, which ranks the team eighth in the NL. Fortunately, Ryan Howard has remained hot with a team-high 62 RBI and 16 home runs.
Vance Worley continues to fill-in for an injured Roy Oswalt tonight. He has done a great job so far with a 2-1 record and a 2.83 ERA in his previous six outings. Worley has given up just one earned run in his last 11 innings pitched.
Head-to-head, the Red Sox won four of six games last season overall and went 2-1 on the road. The total was evenly split 3-3 but stayed ‘under’ in two of the three games in Philly.
Prediction: The play is on Boston tonight as its lineup takes out its frustration of last night’s two-hit performance against Lee with a big night against Worley.
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