Baltimore Orioles vs Boston Red Sox Picks and Predictions August 18th 2024

From Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, we have the Red Sox and Orioles facing off in an AL matchup. Sunday’s forecast in Baltimore calls for scattered clouds and temperatures in the mid 80s. Kutter Crawford is starting for the Red Sox, and he is facing Albert Suarez and the Orioles. Boston is +119 on the money line, while the Orioles are the betting favorite at -143. The over/under line is currently at 9 runs.

Baltimore comes into the game on a two-game losing streak and is 72-52 overall. The Red Sox have won two straight and are 65-57 overall. MASN will be televising Sunday’s game.

Boston is sending Kutter Crawford to the mound today vs. the Orioles, and he comes in with a record of 8-9 and an ERA of 4.21. Looking at his overall numbers, Crawford has made 24 starts, and opponents are batting .224 this year. In his 24 appearances, he has turned in 11 quality starts and is averaging 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Crawford most recently faced the Orioles on August 13th, where he gave up four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings of work. He did come away with the win in that outing. Before that, he had given up at least five earned runs in three straight starts.

Coming into today’s game, the Red Sox are 4th in the league in runs scored, averaging 5 runs per game. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5.3 runs per contest. Overall, they are one of the league’s top home run-hitting teams and have the 2nd best team batting average in the MLB. Boston’s offense has also done a good job of avoiding strikeouts, as they are 27th in the league in strikeouts per game.

Rafael Devers has been a big part of the Red Sox’s strong offensive season, as he is 9th in the league with 27 home runs and is batting .297. Devers also leads the team with 77 RBIs. Over his last six games, Devers has two home runs and six RBIs but is just 6/24 in that stretch. Masataka Yoshida and Wilyer Abreu are both on five-game hitting streaks, with Yoshida hitting .455 over his last seven games.

Through 16 starts, Albert Suárez has a record of 5-4 and an ERA of 3.39. He has made 24 total appearances this season. Suárez has a WHIP of 1.29 and has allowed a total of six home runs. Looking at his numbers, Suárez has turned in three quality starts and is averaging 7.17 strikeouts per nine innings. The right-hander most recently faced the Rays, going 6 2/3 innings and not giving up a run. He finished with a no-decision in that outing. Suárez has not taken a loss since July 6th.

So far this season, the Orioles have been the best home run hitting team in the league, and they have also been one of the best offensive teams in the league in terms of runs scored, batting average, and slugging percentage. Overall, they are averaging 5 runs per game, which is 3rd in the league. At home, they are averaging 4.8 runs per game.

Gunnar Henderson and Anthony Santander are the Orioles’ top home run hitters this season, with 32 and 36 homers, respectively. Santander has struggled at the plate of late, hitting just .175 over his last 10 games. However, Henderson has batted .275 in that stretch and has driven in six runs.

Red Sox Set to Sweep the Orioles as Playoff Race Heats Up

The Boston Red Sox are on the brink of a series sweep against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, heading into the final game on Sunday afternoon. With two wins already under their belt in Baltimore, the Red Sox are gaining serious momentum at a critical point in their season as they battle to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Red Sox Surge at Camden Yards

Boston’s revival in Baltimore couldn’t have come at a better time. They’re now just 2 1/2 games behind the Kansas City Royals for the final wild card spot, and they’ve created a small cushion, sitting three games ahead of the Seattle Mariners. After a solid 5-1 victory on Saturday night, which was delayed by weather, the Red Sox are eyeing their third straight win in the series.

Saturday Night Recap: Duran Comes Through in the Clutch

The Red Sox secured Saturday’s win thanks to a clutch performance from center fielder Jarren Duran. His two-run single in the seventh inning broke a 1-1 tie and gave Boston a lead they didn’t let slip. The bullpen then took over, shutting down the Orioles by allowing just five hits the rest of the night.

Duran’s impact isn’t just limited to his hitting. Along with teammate David Hamilton, Duran has reached a milestone, with both players racking up 30 or more stolen bases this season—the first Red Sox duo to do so since 1910. This added speed has given Boston’s offense a whole new dynamic, constantly keeping the pressure on opposing defenses.

Orioles Struggling at Home, But Henderson Shines

The Orioles have been having a tough time on this homestand, going 2-3 so far with one game left. Despite the struggles, shortstop Gunnar Henderson has been a bright spot, belting three home runs in his last four games. His recent power surge has been one of the few highlights for Baltimore during this rough stretch.

However, the Orioles have been dealing with injuries that have hampered their lineup. Catcher Adley Rutschman, who’s been nursing a back injury, made a pinch-hitting appearance on Saturday and later took his usual spot behind the plate. While this shows some improvement, there’s still concern about his ongoing availability.

Red Sox Bolstered by O’Neill’s Return

The Red Sox lineup got a big boost on Saturday with the return of outfielder Tyler O’Neill from the injured list, where he had been sidelined due to a leg infection. O’Neill made an immediate impact, driving in a run in his first game back. His return couldn’t have come at a better time as Boston looks to strengthen their roster for the season’s final stretch.

To make room for O’Neill, the Red Sox sent infielder Nick Sogard down to Triple-A Worcester, a move that shows their commitment to keeping the most effective players on the roster as the playoff race intensifies.

Pitching Matchup: Crawford vs. Suarez

Sunday’s series finale will feature a pitching duel between Boston’s Kutter Crawford (8-9, 4.21 ERA) and Baltimore’s Albert Suarez (5-4, 3.39 ERA).

Kutter Crawford: Crawford has found his groove in August, winning two of his three starts this month, both against the Texas Rangers. However, he’s had a tough time historically against the Orioles, with a 0-2 record and a 6.97 ERA in five career outings against Baltimore. Despite these past struggles, Crawford will look to build on his recent success and help Boston complete the sweep.

Albert Suarez: Originally scheduled to pitch on Saturday, Suarez’s start was pushed to Sunday as the Orioles managed their pitching staff’s workload. Suarez has only faced the Red Sox twice, back in 2016, where he gave up eight runs over 9 1/3 innings. He’ll be looking to turn things around and help the Orioles salvage a win in the series finale.

Orioles’ Bullpen in Flux

Baltimore’s bullpen strategy for Sunday’s game is still up in the air. With reliever Bryan Baker sent down to Triple-A Norfolk and Burch Smith having pitched in three straight games, the Orioles will need to get creative with their bullpen combinations. This uncertainty could make it tough to manage the late innings, especially against a Red Sox team riding high on momentum.

Conclusion: Red Sox Looking to Close Out Strong

The Boston Red Sox have put themselves in a great position to sweep the Orioles and gain some valuable ground in the wild card race. With key players like Jarren Duran and Tyler O’Neill stepping up and Kutter Crawford on the mound, Boston has what it takes to secure another win. For the Orioles, finding a way to stop Boston’s momentum will be crucial as they try to wrap up their homestand on a positive note.

For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over, and for a money-line pick, we would be leaning toward the Orioles to come out on top. Baltimore starter Albert Suárez has our highest strikeout projection among today’s starters, and he also has the 5th best earned run projection. On the other side, Kutter Crawford has the 8th worst strikeout projection among today’s starters.