The Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox meet Saturday in MLB action from Fenway Park. This will be the second installment in a three-game weekend series. In the Friday opener, the Red Sox pulled off a big victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Baltimore played the Yankees this week, losing 7-2 Tuesday and 4-3 Wednesday before a 3-2 win to stop the sweep on Thursday. In the Friday game versus Boston, the O’s had just four hits in a 7-1 defeat. Keegan Akin lasted 4.0 innings with four earned on six hits and three walks.
Starting pitcher for Boston on Saturday will be Zac Lowther. Across his 16.1 innings this year Lowther has 20 hits, 18 earned runs, five homers allowed, nine walks, 17 Ks and a 9.92 ERA.
Over on the Red Sox’ side, they played the Mariners this week, losing Monday but otherwise snagging wins 8-4 and 9-4. In the Friday matchup, Boston put up 11 team hits on the way to the win. Chris Sale put up 5.0 innings with one earned on two hits.
For the starter gig in the Saturday game the Red Sox will send out Nick Pivetta. In 140.1 innings of work this year Pivetta has 123 hits, 73 runs (71 earned), 21 homers allowed, 62 walks, 156 Ks and a 4.55 ERA.
The Orioles are 31-70 in their last 101 Saturday games and 30-72 in their last 102 on grass. Baltimore is also 16-43 in their last 59 in game two of a series.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox are 25-12 in their last 37 at home and 5-1 in their last six on Saturday. The over is 4-1 in Boston’s last five in game two of a series as well.
PICK: I’m going to stick with Boston. Pivetta had a spotty run going in August, with 12 earned runs on 16 hits and 10 walks over a span of 10.2 innings. Pivetta did bounce back in his last outing against the White Sox however; one earned in 5.1 innings on four hits. As for Lowther, he had a bad game his last time up but prior to that had a string of three good appearances. I like Lowther to pitch reasonably well here but this is probably Boston’s win to take. That said, with the big number here you wouldn’t be crazy to try the O’s on a value play.