The Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox meet Sunday in MLB action from Fenway Park. Here’s a Boston Red Sox vs Chicago Cubs prediction. This will be the final installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
The Cubs took on the Houston Astros in their early-week series and did very well. Chicago posted wins 7-2, 4-3 and 3-1 for a sweep in those games. The Cubs would keep it going Friday against Boston with a 7-1 win. In game two Chicago coughed up a whopping 21 hits in a 17-0 blowout defeat. Ben Brown managed 3.2 innings in the start with three earned on seven hits.
In the starting pitcher role for the Sunday finale, the Cubs will send out Jordan Wicks. This year over five starts Wicks is 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA and 28 Ks in 23.0 innings. Wicks is 5-3 with a 4.53 ERA in 12 career starts.
Boston Red Sox Betting Preview
Over on the Red Sox’ side, they took on the Cleveland Guardians this week. Boston won just one of those games (Wednesday 8-0), otherwise falling 4-1 and 6-4 for a series loss. In the Saturday game two versus the Cubs, the Red Sox scored six runs in the fifth inning and six more in the eighth. Starter Josh Winckowski put up 3.0 clean frames with three hits, no walks and one K.
Tanner Houck will take the mound for the Red Sox on Sunday. So far this season Houck is 3-2 with a 1.65 ERA over five games. He’s got 32 Ks in 32.2 innings total. Houck is 18-21 with a 3.60 ERA over 79 career games (46 starts).
Cubs vs Red Sox Injury Notes
Cubs SP Kyle Hendricks was scheduled to throw a bullpen session over the weekend. Hendricks is on the 15-day IL with a back injury.
Red Sox SS Vaughn Grissom could be activated from the Injured List on Tuesday. As for 1B Triston Casas, he was diagnosed with torn cartilage in his left ribcage prior to the weekend.
Boston Red Sox Team Facts
- The Red Sox have won each of their last nine night games against National League opponents following a home win.
- The Red Sox have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six games as favorites following a home win.
- The Red Sox have trailed after 3 innings in three of their last four games as favorites against National League opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Red Sox’s last five games as favorites against NL Central opponents.
- The Red Sox have trailed after 5 innings in three of their last four games as favorites against National League opponents.
Chicago Cubs Team Facts
- The Cubs have won each of their last six games as underdogs against AL East opponents following a loss.
- The Cubs have covered the run line in each of their last seven games as underdogs.
- The Cubs have led after 3 innings in three of their last four games as underdogs against American League opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cubs’ last four games as underdogs.
- The Cubs have won the first inning in three of their last four games as underdogs against American League opponents.
Boston Red Sox vs Chicago Cubs Prediction
I’ll take a stab on the Sox here. We should have a pretty fun starter matchup if both guys are on point, though. Houck has been solid over his last pair, with just two earned in his last 15 combined innings on eight hits and three walks. Houck’s April 12 start against the Angels wasn’t great, however (5.2 innings; four earned). As for Wicks, he’s got four earned over his last 10.1 innings on 10 hits and one walk.
On Saturday Boston had a near-perfect day at the plate, highlighted by Ceddanne Rafaela’s 4-for-4 line with three runs, seven RBI and a homer. The pitching staff was wonderful as well however, so it was a great evening all around. I like Boston to bag another win in the finale.