Baltimore Orioles vs Boston Red Sox Picks and Predictions August 17th 2024

There does appear to be a chance of rain in Baltimore on Saturday, as the forecasted temperature is 73 degrees. Brayan Bello will go for the Red Sox, and they are 64-57, which has them 3rd in the AL East. The Orioles are 72-51 and Cade Povich.

Baltimore is currently favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -124 compared to the Red Sox at +103. The over/under line is at 9 runs, and MASN will be televising this AL East matchup.

Boston vs. Baltimore Key Information

Right-hander Brayan Bello gets the start for the Red Sox today as he faces the Orioles on the road. Bello has made 22 starts this season and has a record of 10-5 with an ERA of 4.97. So far, he has turned in eight quality starts and is coming off an outing in which he gave up just one earned run in six innings of work. In that outing, he finished with a no-decision. Bello has finished with a no-decision in each of his last four outings. Opponents are batting .264 off Bello this season, and he has a BB/9 figure of 3.37 compared to 8.72 strikeouts per nine innings.

The Red Sox offense has been one of the best in the league this season, as they are 4th in runs per game (5) and 2nd in team batting average at .262. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5.3 runs per contest. Boston has been hitting for power this season, as they are 6th in home runs and have the league’s best isolated power figure at .180. The Red Sox are also one of the best teams in terms of getting on base, with a collective OBP of .329.

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Rafael Devers has been a force in the middle of the Red Sox lineup this season, as he is hitting .298 with a team-high 26 homers and 75 RBIs. Devers’ 75 RBIs are 13th best in the league. Jarren Duran is also having a good season, with a batting average of .291 and 15 homers. In his last six games, Masataka Yoshida is hitting .429, while Wilyer Abreu has two homers in this stretch and is on a five-game hitting streak.

Left-hander Cade Povich gets the start for the Orioles today as he faces the Red Sox at home. Povich has made eight starts this year and has a record of 1-5 with a 6.27 ERA. His WHIP for the season is 1.69. Povich has had a rough time at home, coming in with an ERA of 3.93 compared to 28.02 on the road. In his last outing, he gave up three earned runs in 4 1/3 innings of work, taking the loss. Povich has given up at least one homer in each of his last three outings.

So far this season, the Orioles have been the best home run hitting team in the league, and they are also 3rd in the league in runs per game at 5.1. Overall, they are batting .257, which is 5th in the league, and they have the top slugging percentage in the league. Collectively, the Orioles have the best isolated power mark in the league.

Anthony Santander has been the Orioles’ top power threat this season, as his 36 homers are 3rd in the league. However, he is batting just .242 for the season and has gone just 4/19 in his last five games. Gunnar Henderson has gone 6/20 in his last five games, which includes two homers. For the year, he is batting .287 with 31 homers.

For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over, as this is projected to be the 2nd highest-scoring game of the day, and for a money line pick, we are leaning toward the Orioles to come out on top. The Red Sox’s offense is our 5th highest projected strikeout total, and between the two starters, we have Cade Povich finishing with more strikeouts than Brayan Bello for the Red Sox.

Orioles Aim to Stabilize Pitching Against Red Sox

The Baltimore Orioles end up at a critical crossroads as they proceed with their series against the Boston Red Sox. With pitching battles turning into a worry, the Orioles are anxious to refocus in the wake of surrendering 21 runs in their last two games. As they get ready for Saturday’s challenge, they desire to cement their contributing and recover energy this four-game series, which is at present tied at one game each.

Late Battles on the Hill

The Orioles’ pitching staff has been under huge tension in ongoing games. Friday night’s 12-10 misfortune to the Red Sox featured a portion of the difficulties they are confronting, with pro Corbin Burnes battling fundamentally. Burnes, who has been a foundation of Baltimore’s turn, was labeled for eight sudden spikes in demand for 10 hits in only four innings.

“They were aggressive with him,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde noted, reflecting on how the Red Sox lineup approached Burnes. The Orioles’ inability to contain Boston’s offense has raised concerns as they look to avoid a repeat performance in the upcoming games.

Boston’s Offensive Power

While the Orioles grapple with their pitching woes, the Red Sox have been riding high on their offensive success. Friday’s game saw Boston hammer out four home runs, which played a key role in their victory.

“Our lineup is a good one,” Boston manager Alex Cora remarked. “The offense was locked in.” The Red Sox have shown a consistent ability to put up runs, which will be a significant challenge for the Orioles as the series progresses.

Orioles’ Pitching Plans in Flux

The Orioles’ pitching situation remains uncertain heading into Saturday’s game. Initially, right-hander Albert Suarez was expected to start, but manager Brandon Hyde announced a change of plans due to concerns about Suarez’s fatigue.

“If we can give everybody an extra day, I think that’s important right now,” Hyde explained, underscoring the need to manage his pitchers’ workloads carefully. As a result, left-hander Cade Povich will take the mound instead. Povich, a rookie with a 1-5 record and a 6.27 ERA, has had a tough introduction to the big leagues, particularly during a challenging July in which he allowed 17 runs over 10 2/3 innings.

Health Concerns for Rutschman

In addition to their pitching challenges, the Orioles are also dealing with an injury concern surrounding catcher Adley Rutschman. Rutschman was scratched from Friday’s lineup due to lower-back discomfort, and his availability for the rest of the series is uncertain.

“He’s day-to-day right now,” Hyde said, adding that the team will monitor Rutschman closely. Rutschman has been struggling at the plate recently, going 3-for-12 in his last four games without an extra-base hit and managing just two RBIs over his last eight games. Despite his current slump, Hyde expressed confidence in Rutschman’s ability to bounce back, saying, “He’s so good, expect him to come out of it anytime soon.”

Offensive Highlights for the Orioles

Despite the loss on Friday, the Orioles did have some bright spots, particularly from rookie infielder Jackson Holliday. Holliday recorded his first four-hit game in the majors during the high-scoring affair, showcasing his potential as a key contributor to Baltimore’s lineup.

Red Sox Turn to Bello

On the Red Sox side, right-hander Brayan Bello will begin Saturday’s down. Bello has been reliable on the off chance that not terrific, holding a 10-5 record with a 4.97 ERA. He has gone five continuous trips without a choice, yet the Red Sox have dominated the last four matches in which he has pitched.

Bello’s past experiences with the Orioles have been a blend of results. Recently, he secured a triumph at Baltimore, going five innings and permitting three runs with seven strikeouts. Be that as it may, his profession record against the Orioles remains at 2-2 with a 4.35 ERA in four beginnings, making Saturday’s down one more trial of his capacity to deal with the Baltimore setup.

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Red Sox Roster Moves

The Red Sox made a roster adjustment on Friday by activating first baseman Triston Casas, who made an immediate impact by going 1-for-5 and scoring a run in the game. This move led to the designation of first baseman Dominic Smith for assignment, a decision that manager Alex Cora acknowledged as difficult.

“It’s not easy, but he was a pro about it,” Cora said, reflecting on the tough roster choices that teams often face during the season.

Orioles Look to Bounce Back

As the series proceeds, the Orioles are centered around settling their pitching and resolving their new issues on the hill. With the Red Sox offense terminating on all chambers, Baltimore will require areas of strength for a from Povich and the remainder of the pitching staff to keep the game close and allow their setup an opportunity to outduel Boston in what has proactively been a high-scoring series.