The Detroit Tigers can’t buy a win at Fenway Park and Wednesday’s loss extended their losing streak at Boston to seven-straight games
Boston was swept in the season-opening series at Comerica Park and looks to return the favor tonight at Fenway
Picked by many as the most talented team in the AL Central when the season began, Detroit’s .500 record through April took a detour and today they find themselves 5.5 games back of Chicago for first. The Tigers are 12-16 in May and on the verge of being swept by the Boston Red Sox as they close out this four-game series.
Boston is 8-1 the last three seasons hosting Detroit and 22-7 since August of 2004. The Sox have climbed two games above .500 on a 14-5 run and though they are still fifth in the competitive AL East, sit just 2.5 games back of Baltimore and Tampa for first.
Baseball odds at 5 Dimes list the Sox as a -130 moneyline favorite and the total is 9 Over -110.
PITCHING MATCHUP
Right-hander Max Scherzer (4-3, 5.67 ERA) battled off some early season inconsistency and he’s had a nice month. Detroit is 4-0 in Scherzer’s past four starts and three were played on the road. His overall road record this season is 3-2 with a 5.29 ERA and 1.61 WHIP.
Scherzer is 2-1 in night starts this season with a 5.19 ERA and in four career starts against the Red Sox has an 0-2 record and 11.81 ERA.
Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett (4-4, 4.15 ERA) has found a nice groove the past two weeks, going 2-0 with a 1.25 ERA in three starts. He was roughed up for five home runs in his only start against Detroit this season (Apr. 7) but in six career starts before that he only served up two longballs in 39.2 innings.
– Prince Fielder is 3 for 6 against Beckett and all three hits have left the yard
MAN BEHIND THE MASK
Home teams are 10-1 this season with Tim Tschida and six of the last eight games stayed under the total. His overall record is 4 overs and 7 unders but five of those unders were on totals of 7 or less.
– Since April 26, 2011, the home team has a 20-7 record with Tschida behind home plate including a current run of 13-3
BOTTOM LINE
The Sox are 13-13 at Fenway and averaging 5.5 runs per game but they are also giving up 5.2 runs. Beckett’s ERA the past three years in night games was 4.06 and opponents hit .250 against him and this year in three late starts he is 1-2 with a 5.64 ERA. Four of his past five starts have stayed under the total but we still lean to this game going over the big number with an official play on the side.
Pick: Take the Red Sox
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