The red hot Red Sox welcome the Atlanta Braves to Bean Town tonight for the start of a three game inter-league set at Fenway Park. This evening’s series opener is scheduled for a 7:10pm ET start on the MLB Network. MLB Odds have the hosting Red Sox listed as a heavy -185 moneyline favorite; the Braves are drawing +165 odds to win their third consecutive game. Tonight’s game total is set at 10.5 runs with the Under favored at -115 odds.
The Braves began inter-league play with back-to-back wins over the Blue Jay, but little went right for the team between those two victories and its series at Yankee Stadium earlier this week. Atlanta lost its finale to Toronto, got swept at home by the Yankees, and lost two out of three to the Orioles before heading to New York late Sunday night. The Braves fell 2-6 in game one at New York, but they finished off the series with 4-3 and 10-5 wins to bring their record to 37-32 overall.
Atlanta, which is four games back of the first place Nationals in the NL East, sports a 22-15 road record. The Braves have lost just one of their last six road series.
While the Red Sox inter-league slate got off to a miserable start with the club getting swept at home by the Nationals, it has since gotten much better. Boston has won three straight inter-league sets and it comes into tonight’s game one battle with the Braves riding a five game win streak.
The Red Sox, who are averaging 7.8 runs per game over their last five games, will look to continue their run with Jon Lester on the hill. Lester brings a 4-4 record and 4.53 ERA to the mound tonight. Stunningly, his numbers at home are even worse, with the southpaw compiling a 1-2 record and 5.98 ERA in seven outings at Fenway Park (.307 batting average against).
Countering Lester is 26 year old right hander Jair Jurrjens. Jurrjens is making his first big league start since being demoted to the minors in late April. Prior to his demotion, Jurrjens pieced together a 0-2 record, 9.37 ERA, and 2.45 WHIP in four starts.
MLB Picks Betting Trend: The Under is 2-8 in Lester’s last 10 starts as a home favorite with a moneyline spread between 160 and 180.
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MLB Picks 2012 Atlanta Braves vs Boston Red Sox: Provided by TopBet.com
Atlanta Braves +1.5 (-115), Over 10.5 (-105), +165 (Moneyline)
Boston Red Sox -1.5 (-105), Under 10.5 (-115), -185 (Moneyline)
