The Boston Red Sox are up against the wall. They’re down three games to one in their best-of-seven ALCS versus the Cleveland Indians, and according to oddsmakers at online sports wagering giant Bodog (bodog.com) +130 underdogs to avoid elimination in Thursday’s Game 5 at Jacobs Field in Cleveland.
The Sox have come back from worse situations, so morale is the least of their problems – especially compared to 290 pounds (allegedly) of C.C. Sabathia. The Cleveland ace is yet again matched up against Boston’s Josh Beckett in a battle of Cy Young candidates.
However, Boston might have something on the big man from Vallejo, Calif. The Sox rocked Sabathia for eight runs in 4.1 innings to win Game 1, and current Boston hitters have a lifetime OPS of .898 against him. Beckett, meanwhile, gave up just two runs in six innings in the series opener, and Cleveland’s batters have a .846 OPS when Beckett is on the mound. That’s still high, but not nearly as high as Sabathia.
Current betting trends show gamblers laying down 70 percent (ML) on the Red Sox and 82 percent on the run line while 60 percent look for the total to slip OVER the posted 8.
Beckett was pulled from Game 1 with an 8-2 lead after throwing just 80 pitches. Sox manager Terry Francona will long be second-guessed for not starting him in Game 4; regardless, after Wednesday’s extra night off, Beckett should be able to go very deep into Game 5 if necessary. First pitch is 8:00 p.m. Eastern on FOX.
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