Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the MLB match.
The Boston Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds approach this series in completely opposite moods. Over the weekend, the Red Sox suffered another defeat, while the Reds pulled off a comeback win over the San Diego Padres (3:2) — now riding that momentum, they look ready to take another series.
Boston Red Sox
A six-game losing streak has dragged the Boston Red Sox well below the .500 mark. Since trading away Rafael Devers, not even heroic efforts from their best pitcher — Garrett Crochet, who’s scheduled to start this one — have been enough. In his last outing, he threw seven flawless innings with 10 strikeouts, yet that still wasn’t enough to beat the Los Angeles Angels (2:3), as the home side’s offence continues to struggle badly.
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds have unexpectedly pushed themselves into the Wild Card race. Last night’s emotional victory over the San Diego Padres marked their sixth series win out of the last seven. They now sit four games above .500. Their June record stands at 15-10 (60%) — only three MLB teams have done better this month. The Reds also rank top-5 in batting average (25.1%), while the Red Sox sit nine places lower over the same stretch.
Boston Red Sox vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction
The Boston Red Sox seem focused on the upcoming trade deadline — there’s increasing speculation around who they will move next. The Cincinnati Reds, on the other hand, are all-in on winning now. Add to that the emotional boost from their latest comeback, and their win at these odds looks like a great value bet.
