Boston Red Sox (67-59) vs Arizona Diamondbacks (71-56)
Game Info: Friday, August 23, 2024 at 7:10 pm (Fenway Park)
Brayan Bello (11-5) (4.80) vs Ryne Nelson (8-6) (4.35)
Betting Odds: Boston Red Sox -135 / Arizona Diamondbacks +115 --- Over/Under: 9.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Boston Red Sox meet Friday in MLB action from Fenway Park. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Boston Red Sox prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Arizona Diamondbacks will send out Ryne Nelson here and Nelson is 8-6 with a 4.35 ERA and 101 strikeouts this season. This will be Nelson’s first career start against the Red Sox. Boston will send out Brayan Bello here and Bello is 11-5 with a 4.80 ERA and 120 strikeouts this season. This will be Bello’s first career start against the Diamondbacks.
Arizona Diamondbacks Recap
The Arizona Diamondbacks come into this one looking to build on their sweep of the Miami Marlins thanks to a 10-8 win over the Fish on Wednesday. The sweep of Miami helped Arizona bounce back after being swept by the Tampa Bay Rays last weekend.
Diamondbacks Trying To Lock Up NL Wild Card Spot
Ketel Marte leads the Diamondbacks with 130 hits in addition to a .298 batting average and 20 doubles with 30 home runs and 81 RBIs while Lourdes Gurriel Jr. also has 15 home runs and 65 RBIs as well this season. Corbin Carroll has a team-high 21 stolen bases while Eugenio Suarez has 138 strikeouts this season. Christian Walker also has 23 home runs with 71 RBIs of his own in addition to 114 strikeouts this season.
Why the Arizona Diamondbacks will win
- The Diamondbacks have won each of their last four games as underdogs.
- The Red Sox have lost four of their last five games as favorites against NL West opponents following a win.
- The Red Sox have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven games against NL West opponents following a road win.
- The Diamondbacks have covered the run line in nine of their last 10 games as underdogs following a win.
Boston Red Sox Recap
The Boston Red Sox come into this series trying to build on their series win over the Houston Astros to start the week thanks to a 4-1 win in Wednesday’s rubber match. The win gave the Red Sox another series win after splitting with the Orioles last weekend and knocking off the Texas Rangers before that.
Red Sox Trying To Secure AL Wild Card Spot
Jarren Duran leads the Red Sox with 154 hits along with 32 stolen bases, 39 doubles, 13 triples and 128 strikeouts and also has 64 RBIs so far this season. Wilyer Abreu has 24 doubles and Ceddanne Rafaela also has 61 RBIs while Rafael Devers has 128 hits with 33 doubles, 27 home runs, 77 RBIs and a .294 batting average this season. Tyler O’Neill also has 22 home runs and 46 RBIs as well while David Hamilton has a team-high 32 stolen bases this season.
Why the Boston Red Sox will win
- The Diamondbacks have lost each of their last five games at Fenway Park.
- The Red Sox have won four of their last five games against the Diamondbacks following a win.
- The Diamondbacks have failed to cover the run line in each of their last five road games against AL East opponents following a win.
- The favorites have covered the run line in each of the Diamondbacks' last five games at Fenway Park.
Diamondbacks vs. Red Sox Prediction
I’m on the Diamondbacks here. I get why you’d look at Boston at home, as the Red Sox are coming off of the big series win over Houston, but I am just not a Brayan Bello fan whatsoever. I don’t like his numbers at hitter-friendly Fenway, and think he could struggle here against an Arizona team that’s still smacking right-handed pitching. Ryne Nelson’s been really solid for Arizona in recent starts and I think he puts together another quality outing to get Arizona a big series-opening win on Friday, so give me the Diamondbacks here.
Chris’s Pick Arizona +115
AUTHOR: Chris Ruffolo
Follow Chris Ruffolo on Twitter @ruffthepickdawg