For those considering hari kari over the Red Sox terrible start this 2011 MLB season might want to hold off for now. It's true, the Sox couldn't have played any worse losing their first six and 10 of their first 12 games. Oddsmakers lined the club as favorites to win the American League and were World Series Predictions darlings on most offshore betting boards. The Sox are currently residing in the AL East cellar but hold on, don't do anything drastic if you're a fan. Boston's showing some life having won four of their last five games including Wednesday's 5-3 get-away victory at Oakland. It will be interesting to see how the Sox perform as they arrive in Anaheim to play AL West leaders Los Angeles Angels.
In spite of being polar opposites in their respective divisional standings, the Red Sox are installed as -140 MLB Lines favorites to win the series over the Angels who are lined at -110. To win the series Boston must win three of the four games.
Defeating the Angels in three of four tries will not be an easy task for the Red Sox. The Halos are returning home after taking two of three games from Texas at Rangers Park and have won seven of their last eight games. On their road trip, LA won five of six including a sweep of the White Sox in Chicago.
For tonight's game, the Red Sox pin their hopes on veteran right-hander Josh Beckett who comes into the game with a 2-1 record and a solid 1.80 ERA. Countering for the Angels is right-hander Tyler Chatwood, who's 1-1 on the season with a respectable 3.75 ERA.
Beckett was dominating in his previous start at Toronto getting credit for the teams 4-1 win allowing just one run on three hits and two walks while striking out nine over seven innings. The rookie Chatwood earned his first major league win on Saturday by giving up only one run in seven innings allowing five hits and two walks while fanning three over the White Sox.
The Red Sox are coming into tonight's game as -152 moneyline favorites with posted 8-run total. Angels backers are getting +142 odds as home underdogs. The Red Sox are my MLB Picks favorite in this one. It's the veteran versus the rookie and I'll take the veteran almost every time. MLB BEST BET – Red Sox -152.
