Diamondbacks vs Red Sox Prediction 8/18/26 MLB Picks Today
Arizona Diamondbacks (66-60) vs. Boston Red Sox (67-58)
August 18, 2026 7:10 pm EDT
The Line: Boston Red Sox -174 / Arizona Diamondbacks 143; Over/Under: 8.5
(Get latest betting odds)
In this article, we will formulate a Diamondbacks vs Red Sox Prediction for this MLB matchup on Tuesday, August 18th in the second game of this series. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
Boston Red Sox Preview
The Boston Red Sox have a 67-58 record this season and are sitting in 3rd place in the AL East. They have a 30-31 home record and are coming off an 11-1 home win against the Diamondbacks. They will face the Giants and the Marlins next.
The Boston Red Sox have a .249 batting average this season, a .321 OBP, and a .403 slugging percentage. The Red Sox’ pitching staff has a 3.50 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Ceddanne Rafaela leads the Red Sox with a .288 batting average. Willson Contreras leads the team in RBI with 73 and adds a team-high 25 home runs.
Ranger Suarez (L) is the projected starting pitcher for the Red Sox, and he has a 4-3 record, a 3.25 ERA, and a 1.19 WHIP.
Arizona Diamondbacks Preview
The Arizona Diamondbacks have a 66-60 record this season and are sitting in 3rd place in the NL West. They have a 30-33 road record and are coming off a 1-11 road loss against the Red Sox. They will face the Reds and the Cubs next.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have a .243 batting average this season, a .315 OBP, and a .397 slugging percentage. The Diamondbacks’ pitching staff has a 4.13 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Gabriel Moreno leads the Diamondbacks with a .307 batting average. Ketel Marte leads the team in RBI with 67 and adds a team-high 21 home runs.
Merrill Kelly (R) is the projected starting pitcher for the Diamondbacks, and he has an 8-10 record, a 5.11 ERA, and a 1.48 WHIP.
Arizona Diamondbacks @ Boston Red Sox Betting Trends: August 18, 2026
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Ranger Suarez Record this season: 4-3 ERA: 3.25
- Home Record: 1-2
- Last 5 against Diamondbacks: 0-2
Why the Boston Red Sox will win
- The Red Sox have won each of their last 15 night games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Diamondbacks have lost each of their last six road games against American League opponents following a loss.
- The Red Sox have covered the run line each of their last six night games against NL West opponents that held a winning record.
- The Diamondbacks have failed to cover the run line in each of their last five games against AL East opponents.
- The Diamondbacks have lost the first inning in three of their last four games against American League opponents that held a winning record.
- The Diamondbacks have trailed after 3 innings in 11 of their last 12 games as underdogs against American League opponents.
- The Diamondbacks have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last six games as underdogs against AL East opponents.
- Probable Starting Pitcher: Merrill Kelly Record this season: 8-10 ERA: 5.11
- Road Record: 4-6
- Last 5 against Red Sox: 2-1
Why the Arizona Diamondbacks will win
- The underdogs have won six of the last seven games between the Diamondbacks and Red Sox.
- The Red Sox have lost each of their last three games as favorites following a win.
- The Diamondbacks have covered the run line in each of their last eight Tuesday games against AL East opponents.
- The Red Sox have failed to cover the run line in each of their last four games as favorites against National League opponents following a win.
- The Diamondbacks have led after 3 innings in four of their last five night games.
- The Diamondbacks have led after 5 innings in four of their last five night games.
Total Runs Facts
- Eight of the Diamondbacks’ last 10 games as underdogs against American League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Four of the last five games between the Diamondbacks and Red Sox have gone OVER the total runs line.
- There has been no run scored during the first inning in each of the Red Sox’s last eight night games.
- There has been at least one run scored in the first inning in each of the Diamondbacks’ last six Tuesday games.
Boston Red Sox Player Prop Facts
- Ceddanne Rafaela has hit at least one home run in three of the Red Sox’s last four games against NL West opponents.
- Ranger Suarez has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last four home appearances against NL West opponents that held a winning record.
- Jarren Duran has recorded at least one hit in each of his 11 previous appearances in night games against NL West teams that held a winning record.
- Willson Contreras ranks 5th amongst qualified players for On Base Percentage (.391) this season.
Arizona Diamondbacks Player Prop Facts
- Merrill Kelly has recorded four or more strikeouts in each of his last five appearances with the Diamondbacks as underdogs.
- Gabriel Moreno has recorded at least one hit in each of the Diamondbacks’ last 11 games.
- Nolan Arenado has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances at Fenway Park against opponents that held a winning record.
- Gabriel Moreno ranks 6th amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.307) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Red Sox rank 1st in the league for doubles this season (231).
- The Red Sox rank 2nd in the league for home runs allowed this season (119).
- The Diamondbacks rank 1st in the league for triples this season (33).
- The Diamondbacks rank 29th in the league for strikeouts this season (852).
Diamondbacks vs Red Sox Prediction
The Dbacks are 6-2 in their last 8 meetings against the Red Sox and are 3-1 in their last 4 visits in Boston.
In this Diamondbacks vs Red Sox Prediction, the Red Sox are coming as -160 home favorites. I like the Red Sox at home in this one with Ranger Suarez on the mound, who has been the superior pitching option than Merrill Kelly and his 5.11 ERA, and a 1.48 WHIP. Kelly has given up 5+ runs in two of his last three starts and the Dbacks have been ineffective against lefties lately. On top of that, the Red Sox have the best bullpen ERA in baseball this season, so I expect them to get the job done at home in this one.