Coming off a nice win to open this series Friday night, the Braves look to continue their recent good play when the teams meet again Saturday night at Fenway Park.
Lucas Giolito looks to get Boston on the board here, while Atlanta will go with reliever-turned-starter Grant Holmes.
How are we playing this game with our free baseball betting pick?
MLB Betting Odds
Saturday’s baseball betting market opened Boston and Giolito at around -120 over Atlanta and Holmes, with an O/U of 9. Both figures were holding steady in early betting action.
Braves-Red Sox Betting Preview
Atlanta grabbed the opener of this series Friday night, 4-2. The Braves led that game 2-0 early, 2-1 late, then tacked on a couple runs in the top of the ninth to secure victory.
Atlanta, with Chris Sale, won Friday as a +100 “dog” against Garrett Crochet, which is hard to do. Also, Friday’s game played under a total of 8, even with the wind blowing out at Fenway.
With Friday’s win, the Braves are 4-1 over their last five games. At 23-22 overall, Atlanta trails the Cubs and Giants by three games in the battle for the No. 6 spot in the National League playoff standings.
With Friday’s loss Boston now owns a four-game losing skid. At 22-24 overall the Sox now trail Kansas City by three games in the battle for the No. 6 spot in the American League.
Last year, Boston took three of four games from the Braves.
Saturday’s Pitching Match-Up
Giolito, who missed all of last season due to elbow surgery, is 1/3 on quality starts this season. Two weeks ago, he gave up three runs in six innings in a 7-6 Boston loss at Toronto. Then he gave up six runs in less than four innings in a 6-1 Red Sox loss to Texas. But last Sunday, he held Kansas City to one run and two hits through 6 2/3 innings of a 3-1 Sox victory.
So Boston is 1-2 with Giolito this season, the unders 2-1.
In his most recent outing against Atlanta, two season ago while with the Angels, Giolito got bombed for nine runs and three home runs – Riley, Olson – in less than four innings of a 12-5 Angels defeat.
Holmes is two for his last three on quality starts. Monday, he held Washington to one run and four hits through 6 1/3 innings of a 4-3 Braves victory. And over his last three starts, he’s allowed seven runs and 15 hits through 17 2/3 innings, with four walks against 18 strikeouts.
Atlanta is 4-4 with Holmes as a starter this year, and the Under is 5-2-1.
This will be Holmes’ first career action against the Red Sox.
Splits With the Sticks
Atlanta is batting .250 against right-handed pitching this season, with a .322 team OBP and a .389 team slugging percentage.
Boston is slashing .248/.318/.421 against RH pitching.
The Bullpens
The Red Sox bullpen owns a 3.78 ERA this season, along with a 1.23 WHIP and a 2.91 K/BB ratio.
The Braves pen owns a 3.62 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and a 2.22 K/BB ratio.
MLB Betting Trends
Atlanta is 8-15 on the road this season and 17-19 against RH starters.
Boston is 11-10 at home and 18-18 against RH starters.
Totals Report
- The Under is 3-1 in Braves-Red Sox games last season.
- The Under is 7-0-1 over Atlanta’s last eight games, mainly thanks to some good Braves pitching.
- The Over is 3-1 over Boston’s last four games.
- The Under is 12-8 at Fenway Park this season.
Prop Bets
Atlanta 1B Matt Olson, who hit a homer Friday night, is catching +105 to hit over 1.5 total bases.
