The Boston Red Sox close out their trip to Los Angeles as road underdogs, but the pitching matchup gives them a real path to the upset. Boston sends left-hander Jake Bennett and his sub-3.00 ERA to the mound against a Dodgers rotation thinned by injuries. Los Angeles sits at -164 on the moneyline, with the total set at 9. The analysis below explains why the price on the road side looks generous.
Last Updated: Sunday, August 2, 2026
Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA |
| When | Sunday, August 2 — 7:20 PM ET |
| TV | NBC / Peacock |
Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Preview
The starting pitching sets the tone here, and it tilts toward Boston. Jake Bennett brings a 6-4 record, a 2.74 ERA, and a sparkling 0.97 WHIP with 46 strikeouts. That WHIP is the number that jumps out. Bennett rarely puts runners on, and traffic is what fuels big innings. Emmet Sheehan counters for the Dodgers with a 4-7 record and a 4.95 ERA. Sheehan misses bats at a high rate, with 104 strikeouts and better than 10 strikeouts per nine innings, but his 1.25 WHIP shows he also allows contact and baserunners.
Form favors the road side too. Boston enters on a four-game win streak and is 7-3 over its last 10, posting a 3.40 ERA in that stretch while outscoring opponents by seven runs. The Red Sox travel well, sitting 34-22 away from Fenway and third in the AL East. The Dodgers are the better team on paper at 69-42 and hold first place in the NL West. Their offense remains dangerous, led by Freddie Freeman (.310, 15 home runs, 54 RBIs) and a hot Teoscar Hernandez. However, the Dodgers are 6-4 in their last 10 with a 4.04 ERA, and their pitching staff has been hit hard by injuries, which is part of why Sheehan is taking this turn.
Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Odds
| Run Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Sox | +1.5 (-150) | +138 | U 9 (-120) |
| Dodgers | -1.5 (+130) | -164 | O 9 (+100) |
Odds accurate as of Sunday, August 2, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest MLB Odds – Futures – Props
Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Red Sox | 35% | 65% | Dodgers |
See the latest MLB Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Red Sox vs. Dodgers Prediction — Does the Road Dog Have the Edge?
The most load-bearing fact in this game is the gap between the starters. Bennett has been the steadier arm all season, and his 0.97 WHIP means the Dodgers will have to earn their runs rather than string together free baserunners. Sheehan can pile up strikeouts, but a 4.95 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP point to a pitcher who gives up hard contact and works from the stretch often. Against a disciplined Boston lineup that is swinging well, that combination can turn into a short outing.
The market adds to the appeal. Roughly three-quarters of moneyline tickets sit on the Dodgers, yet the number has barely budged from its open near -163. When heavy public money fails to push a favorite’s price, the underdog often stays priced better than it should. That keeps Boston at a generous +138 for a team with the superior starter and the hotter form.
The case against is straightforward. The Dodgers are well over .500, they are at home, and Freeman and Hernandez can flip the script with one swing. Still, in a game projected to stay close, the value lives on the side with the better arm and the inflated price, not on laying heavy juice with a depleted staff.
The Pick: Red Sox Moneyline (+138)
Red Sox vs. Dodgers Prediction — Will It Be a Quiet Night at Chavez Ravine?
The total picture points down. Bennett’s 0.97 WHIP suppresses the base traffic that builds crooked numbers, and Dodger Stadium has long played as a pitcher-friendly park where fly balls die in the marine air. Sheehan is a strikeout arm, so even in a shaky outing he tends to record outs in the air rather than surrender endless rallies. The market agrees with the lean. The total has held at 9 while the Under price climbed from -105 to -120, a sign that money is landing on the Under.
The other side is real. The Dodgers own one of the deepest lineups in baseball, and Sheehan’s ERA says he can be scored on. If Boston pushes a few across against him and the Dodgers get to the Red Sox bullpen, a 9 can clear in a hurry. The lean is toward run suppression, but this is a total, not a lock, and one three-run inning changes the math.
The Pick: Under 9 (-120)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
The swing moments are easy to spot. Watch how Bennett navigates the top of the Dodgers order the first two times through. If he keeps Freeman and Hernandez off the bases, Boston controls the tempo. Los Angeles pitching depth has thinned, so a Dodgers deficit could force early relief decisions that tilt the late innings.
Both plays rest largely on the same read: the Boston starter is the best pitcher on the mound tonight, and that shapes both the side and the total. That overlap is honest rather than a hedge. For the rest of the card, see our latest MLB Best Bets coverage. To recap the picks for this game: Red Sox Moneyline (+138) and Under 9 (-120).
MLB Red Sox vs. Dodgers FAQ: Sunday August 2, 2026
What time does the Red Sox vs. Dodgers game start?
First pitch is scheduled for 7:20 PM ET on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The game is the finale of a three-game series and the third meeting between the clubs this season.
What channel is the Red Sox vs. Dodgers game on?
The game airs nationally on NBC as part of Sunday Night Baseball, with streaming available on Peacock. It is the featured Sunday night broadcast, so it carries a single national telecast rather than the usual local team feeds.
Who is pitching for the Red Sox and Dodgers?
Left-hander Jake Bennett (6-4, 2.74 ERA) starts for the Red Sox, and right-hander Emmet Sheehan (4-7, 4.95 ERA) takes the ball for the Dodgers. Bennett carries a 0.97 WHIP, while Sheehan has struck out 104 batters on the season.
Where are the Red Sox and Dodgers playing today?
The game is at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, the home of the Dodgers. Boston is the road team for this Sunday night meeting, closing out its series in Southern California before heading back out on its schedule.
What is each team’s record this season?
The Dodgers enter at 69-42, first in the NL West, while the Red Sox sit at 59-51, third in the AL East. Boston is 34-22 on the road this season, and Los Angeles is 33-22 at home.