Boston Red Sox (73-56) vs. Cleveland Indians (63-62)
August 28, 2021 4:05 pm EDT
The Line: Cleveland Indians +130 / Boston Red Sox -175; Over/Under: -8.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians meet Saturday in MLB action from Progressive Field. This will be the second installment in a three-game series between these teams over the weekend. In the Friday opener, the Sox eked out a one-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Boston played the Twins this week, falling Wednesday but taking the other pair of games for a series win. On Friday versus the Indians, the Sox posted three runs in the eighth on the way to a 4-3 win. Starter Eduardo Rodriguez put up 7.0 frames with three earned on eight hits.
For the starter job in the Saturday game two, the Red Sox will send out Nathan Eovaldi. This year Eovaldi has 145.0 innings with 144 hits, 64 runs (60 earned), 11 homers allowed, 26 walks, 147 Ks and a 3.72 ERA.
Over on the Indians’ side, they played the Rangers in their last set, bagging wins on Wednesday and Thursday. In the Friday matchup, Cleveland out-hit Boston 8-3 but still let a late lead slip away. Logan Allen lasted 6.0 innings with one earned, one walk and one hit.
Starting pitcher for the Indians on Saturday will be Cal Quantrill. In his 109.2 innings this year Quantrill has put up 97 hits, 40 runs (37 earned), nine homers allowed, 36 walks, 89 Ks and a 3.04 ERA.
The Red Sox are 2-7 in their last nine Saturday games and 7-3 in the last 10 versus the AL Central. The under is 8-3 in Boston’s last 11 road games and the over is 4-1 in the last five in game two of a series.
Meanwhile, the Indians are 2-9 in their last 11 versus the AL East and 4-10 in their last 14 at home versus a team with a winning record. The under is 4-1-2 in Cleveland’s last seven in game two of a series and 4-1-1 in their last six versus the AL East.
PICK: I’m going to try the Indians here. It’s looking like we’ll have a pretty good starter matchup regardless, though. Quantrill has put up five earned on 13 hits and six walks over his last 18.0 innings of work in three starts. As for Eovaldi, he’s managed three earned on 14 hits and two walks over his last 19.0 innings in three starts. I like both guys to at least flirt with quality starts here, with Cleveland powering out a tight win in the late innings.
