MLB Baseball
2012-05-23 - Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: Major League Baseball
Wednesday 23 May 2012 - First Pitch 12:35pm ET
5:35pm (British Standard Time)
Preview
It was the Baltimore Orioles (28-16) who became the latest team to prevent the Boston Red Sox (21-22) getting to over 0.500 for the first time this season as they took game 2 of this three game set with a 4-1 win last night. That followed a come from behind win for the Red Sox in game 1 so this series is still up for grabs today.
The Orioles actually lead the Major Leagues with 67 Home Runs so far this season, and it was more of the same last night as two deep balls enabled them to score their runs. They will look to get after Daniel Bard who has been struggling on the mound for Boston in recent outings.
Bard is 3-5 with a 4.85 ERA this season, but he has being given the losing decision in 3 of his last 4 outings for the Red Sox. He pitched 5 innings against Philadelphia in his last start, but allowed 5 runs and also struggled with his command by walking another 5.
The pitcher has never started against Baltimore before, but has seen this batting line up in 20 relief appearances. He has a 0-2 record from those appearances and a 3.27 ERA, while allowing 2 Home Runs in 22 innings pitched. Bard has allowed 4 runs in just under 14 innings pitched in this ballpark.
Baltimore will look to counter with Jake Arrieta who is coming off a decent outing. Arrieta is 2-4 with a 4.72 ERA this season, but he allowed just 1 run in 7 innings pitched against the Washington Nationals in his last outing although not factoring into the decision as the Orioles won in extra innings.
They will be hoping that is a change of fortunes for Arrieta who had allowed 13 runs in his previous 10 innings pitched, while the pitcher has struggled against the Red Sox. He is 0-2 with a 5.51 ERA from three career starts against them and he allowed 9 runs in just over 11 innings pitched against them last season.
Head to Head
Baltimore now lead the season series 4-1 against the Boston Red Sox with their win last night.
They have now interchanged wins and losses in their last 8 home games against the Red Sox.
Baltimore are 10-3 in games played during the day, Boston are 6-11.
Prediction
Yesterday, I thought the Boston Red Sox were going to win the game, but I had already pencilled in the Baltimore Orioles to take this game as they have the slight pitching advantage on the mound.
Jake Arrieta has struggled against Boston, and did have a couple of rough outings recently, but Daniel Bard has also been having a really hard time and has been extending innings by giving up too many walks.
With the way Baltimore can hit the ball out of the ballpark, these extended innings may come back to haunt Bard in the game and taking the Orioles as the underdog is the pick.
The Pick :
Baltimore Orioles 7-6 Boston Red Sox
