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(MLB) Boston vs. Minnesota,
Money Line: -166.00 Boston (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -166.00 Boston (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: Boston has really missed Ortiz in the early going of 2017 and after scoring just 10 runs in their previous three games, the Red Sox shuffled their lineup a bit on Saturday with excellent results. Boston manager John Farrell sat slumping Jackie Bradley Jr. in favor of Chris Young and put Andrew Benintendi in the cleanup spot for the first time in his brief career Saturday. Young sparked an eight-run second-inning uprising with his first HR of the season, Benintendi began a three-hit effort later in the frame with a two-run double and Young slugged his second solo shot in three at-bats three innings later to extend Boston's cushion. Boston's 11-1 victory represented a season-best run total.
The Twins are coming off a 103-loss season, so there are few complaints regarding the team's 15-13 start in 2017.
The pitching matchup: The rubber match of this three game series (Twins won 4-3 on Friday) will feature two of MLB's top performers in the early part of the season. Chris Sale (2-2 & 1.38 ERA) gets the nod for Boston and Ervin Santana (5-0 & 0.66 ERA) for Minnesota. Sale has worked at least seven innings and allowed two runs or less in all six of his 2017 starts but a lack of run support has led to just two wins (Boston is 4-2 in his six games, though). The five-time All-Star has struck out at least 10 in five straight outings and ranks second in the majors in WHIP (0.74) as well as being fourth in ERA. Santana worked around three walks and continued his exceptional start to the season Tuesday against Oakland, yielding only three singles and striking out seven in six scoreless innings of a 9-1 win. He has allowed a total of just three ERs and only 16 hits over 41 innings, as he leads the majors in ERA and WHIP (0.71) and is tied for the league lead in wins.
The pick: Neither pitcher has good LT records against the team they are facing (Sale's ERA is 4.58 in 16 starts against Minnesota and Santana's ERA in 5.11 against Boston in 15 starts) but that was then and this is now. I've included plenty of stats above but will add here that Sale leads the majors with 63 strikeouts while holding hitters to a .166 batting average, second only to Santana's .120 mark. Kudos to Santana but Sale's in the prime of his career while Santana's 2017 effort seems "too good to be true." Let's also note that while Boston won 93 games in 2016, Minnesota lost 103. These teams are not equals. Make Boston an 8* play.
The Twins are coming off a 103-loss season, so there are few complaints regarding the team's 15-13 start in 2017.
The pitching matchup: The rubber match of this three game series (Twins won 4-3 on Friday) will feature two of MLB's top performers in the early part of the season. Chris Sale (2-2 & 1.38 ERA) gets the nod for Boston and Ervin Santana (5-0 & 0.66 ERA) for Minnesota. Sale has worked at least seven innings and allowed two runs or less in all six of his 2017 starts but a lack of run support has led to just two wins (Boston is 4-2 in his six games, though). The five-time All-Star has struck out at least 10 in five straight outings and ranks second in the majors in WHIP (0.74) as well as being fourth in ERA. Santana worked around three walks and continued his exceptional start to the season Tuesday against Oakland, yielding only three singles and striking out seven in six scoreless innings of a 9-1 win. He has allowed a total of just three ERs and only 16 hits over 41 innings, as he leads the majors in ERA and WHIP (0.71) and is tied for the league lead in wins.
The pick: Neither pitcher has good LT records against the team they are facing (Sale's ERA is 4.58 in 16 starts against Minnesota and Santana's ERA in 5.11 against Boston in 15 starts) but that was then and this is now. I've included plenty of stats above but will add here that Sale leads the majors with 63 strikeouts while holding hitters to a .166 batting average, second only to Santana's .120 mark. Kudos to Santana but Sale's in the prime of his career while Santana's 2017 effort seems "too good to be true." Let's also note that while Boston won 93 games in 2016, Minnesota lost 103. These teams are not equals. Make Boston an 8* play.
