Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Indians 9/21/18, Prediction & Odds

Red Sox vs. Indians Prediction

The Boston Red Sox will open a high-profile American League series at the Cleveland Indians tonight as both teams will turn to pitchers upping their pitch counts in shortened starts. Which of the two playoff-bound teams will earn a victory in tonight's series opener?

Game Snapshot

969 Boston Red Sox at 970 Cleveland Indians

Friday, September 21, 2018

Progressive Field at 7:10PM ET

TV: ESPN2

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Public Betting Information

According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, the Indians are a -130 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Red Sox are a +120 underdog, while the total is set at 7.5 runs. As of Friday morning, 61 percent of public bets are coming in on host Cleveland. Check out our MLB Public Betting Page for the latest updates.

Red Sox avoid sweep at Yanks

Boston earned an 11-6 victory Thursday at New York to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of their rivals. Mookie Betts had a huge night from the leadoff spot as he was 4-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, three runs and five RBIs. Andrew Benintendi finished 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run. J.D. Martinez went 1-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and an RBI. Brock Holt was 1-for-4 with a solo home run plus a walk. Rafael Devers ended the night 2-for-5 with two runs. Jackie Bradley Jr. was 1-for-3 with a solo homer, a walk and two runs. Steven Wright earned the win in relief as he allowed one hit with two strikeouts and no walks over three scoreless frames.

Indians drop finale versus White Sox

Cleveland fell by a 5-4 score Thursday at home against Chicago as it could not finish the sweep of the three-game series. Francisco Lindor was 2-for-5 with a solo home run, a triple, a walk and two runs. It was his 36th home run of the season. Michael Brantley finished 3-for-6 with a solo homer and two runs. Edwin Encarnacion was 1-for-1 with a double plus two walks. Yonder Alonso went 1-for-2 with a walk. Melky Cabrera finished the contest 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Adam Cimber took the loss in relief as he gave up one earned run on two hits with two strikeouts and a walk over two innings.

Chris Sale (12-4, 1.92 ERA) will start today for Boston, while Cleveland counters with Trevor Bauer ( 12-6, 2.22) as he will make his first start off the DL. 

MLB Betting Trends

Boston

The Red Sox are 46-16 in their last 62 games on grass. Boston is 4-11 in its last 15 meetings in Cleveland.

Cleveland

The under is 10-4-4 in the last 18 Indians home games. The under is 11-3 in the last 14 Bauer starts overall.

Prediction: 

I actually like the over here more than anything. Because of the starting pitchers, we get a low total but Sale is scheduled to throw only around 65 pitches and Bauer will go a couple innings. Then we get into the shaky bullpens against two dynamite offenses. Expect runs to be scored and it will be even better if Sale and/or Bauer give up a run or two early.

 

MLB DAILY PREDICTION: RED SOX/INDIANS OVER 7.5