Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Angels ALDS Predictions

Wednesday, 01 October 2008

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels: ALDS Predictions-The Los Angeles Angels finally get to play a series that means something. Having wrapped up the American League Western Division championship in mid-September, the Angels have been able to relax and just play baseball knowing the division was already theirs. It’s been a different story for the Boston Red Sox who have been in a battle with the Tampa Bay Rays for the AL Eastern crown. The Rays eventually prevailed in the East but fortunately for the Sox, who had the best record of a non-division winner, were able to secure the wild-card berth in the playoffs.

For game-1, the Red Sox will pin their hopes on the pitching of lefthander Jon Lester. Lester has a 16-6 record and a 3.21 ERA this season. Lester's opponent in this one will be John Lackey. The Angels ace righthander has a 3.75 ERA to go along with a 12-5 record this season.

MLB Playoffs predictions Betting Line… Oddsmakers online at Sportsbook.com have the Angels listed as slight -130 money line favorites for game-1 while the total is sitting at 8 ½. Red Sox backers are getting +120 money line odds.

Lackey, who is 3-6 with a 5.54 ERA against Boston in his career, appeared to turn it around against the Red Sox this season. He went 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA against Boston and carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning at Fenway Park on July 29. It will be interesting to see what version of Lackey shows up on Wednesday at Angel Stadium.

Lester finished the season strong, allowing two hits and a run over six innings against the Indians. In September, Lester went 4-1 with a 2.14 ERA. The lefty held opponents to a .256 average. He pitched just once against the Angels this season, giving up nine hits and four runs over five innings on April 23. But Lester had to make that start on three days rest because of injuries and illness to the rest of the rotation.

The Red Sox finished off the regular season with a 4-3 win over the Yankees in Game 2 of a doubleheader on Sunday. Boston was a -120 favorite in the game and the seven runs scored fell UNDER the posted over/under total (10.5).

Jonathan Van Every singled in the winning run in the tenth inning for Boston, while Sean Casey drove in a pair of runs in the win.

Joe Saunders pitched six shutout innings Sunday to lead the Angels past Texas 7-0 in Los Angeles' regular season finale.

The Angels were a -130 favorite and the seven runs scored fell UNDER the posted over/under total (9).

Mike Napoli was 3-3 with a home run and four RBI for the Angels, while Gary Matthew Jr. was 3-4 with three runs scored.

MLB Prediction…If there is an upset brewing in Wednesday’s post-season action we feel that this will be it. Red Sox +120 money line.

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