Boston Red Sox vs Arizona Diamondbacks Picks and Predictions August 23rd 2024

From Fenway Park in Boston, we have the Diamondbacks and Red Sox facing off in an interleague matchup. First pitch for this one is set for 7:10 PM ET. MLBN is carrying this one on TV.

The forecast looks good in Boston on Friday, with temperatures in the low 80s and clear skies. The over/under line is at 9.5 runs, and the Red Sox are favored on the money line (-132). Arizona comes in with a record of 72-56, while the Red Sox are 67-59. Boston has won two straight, while the Diamondbacks are currently on a three-game winning streak. Ryne Nelson is starting for the Diamondbacks, and he will be facing off against Brayan Bello.

Ryne Nelson has made 21 starts this season and most recently faced the Rays on August 16th. In that outing, he went 6 1/3 innings and gave up just one earned run. Nelson finished with a no-decision in the game. Looking back further, he has finished with a no-decision in each of his last three outings. Nelson’s record for the season is 8-6, and his ERA is 4.36. Opponents are batting .271 this season off Nelson, and his WHIP is 1.29. The right-hander has a total of nine quality starts this season.

Arizona’s offense has been the best in the league this season, averaging 5.3 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.5 runs per game. Not only is their team batting average of .260 3rd in the league, but they also have the best on-base percentage in the league and are 5th in slugging percentage. As a team, they are also 7th in home runs.

Ketel Marte has been one of the league’s top power hitters this season, as his 30 homers are 7th in the league. He is also 12th in the league with 81 RBIs. Marte has also been hot of late, going 5/12 with two homers over his last three games. Adrian Del Castillo has also been swinging a hot bat, going 5/12 with two homers over his last three games.

Brayan Bello gets the start for the Red Sox today and will be looking to build off his last outing, where he gave up just one earned run in six innings of work. In that outing vs. the Orioles, he only gave up two hits and issued three walks. Bello has made 23 starts this season and has a record of 11-5 with a 4.80 ERA. Looking at his home/away splits, Bello has been much better on the road, going 7-2 with a 4.68 ERA compared to 4-3 with a 6.50 ERA at home. Overall, he has allowed 19 homers and is averaging 8.73 strikeouts per nine innings.

As a team, the Red Sox are one of the best offensive teams in the league, averaging 5 runs per game, which is 4th in the league. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5.2 runs per contest. The Red Sox have been one of the league’s top home run-hitting teams, and they also have the league’s best team BABIP at .32.

Rafael Devers and Tyler O’Neill have been two of the league’s best power hitters this season, with Devers leading the Red Sox with 27 homers and O’Neill at 22. Devers also comes into the game with a team-high 77 RBIs. Jarren Duran has been hot of late, batting .324 over his last eight games, and is on a three-game hitting streak.

Arizona Diamondbacks Look to Extend Hot Streak Against Boston Red Sox

The Arizona Diamondbacks have been one of MLB’s hottest teams since July, and they’re looking to keep that momentum going as they kick off a crucial three-game road series against the Boston Red Sox on Friday night. With both teams riding recent highs, this matchup is shaping up to be an exciting showdown.

Diamondbacks’ Red-Hot Form

The Diamondbacks have been on fire since the start of July, boasting a league-best 31-13 record. They’re coming off a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins and are heading into Boston with a three-game winning streak, having won nine of their last 12 games.

Arizona’s recent success has sparked a lot of optimism within the team. Merrill Kelly, a key starting pitcher, even remarked that this year’s squad is better than the one that made it to the World Series as a wild-card team last season. He pointed out that the bullpen’s significant improvement has been a game-changer.

Power Surge Leading the Way

Offensively, the Diamondbacks have been a force to be reckoned with, leading MLB with 36 home runs in August. Standout performances have come from players like Corbin Carroll, who’s smashed 12 homers since July 7, and Jake McCarthy and Geraldo Perdomo, who both went deep in their recent win over Miami.

This depth in offense has been crucial for Arizona, with different players stepping up each night. Jake McCarthy highlighted the team’s resilience, saying, “There is a belief here that if we’re out of it late, we’re not really out of it,” showcasing their never-give-up attitude.

Pitching Matchup: Nelson vs. Bello

The series opener will feature a promising pitching matchup. Arizona is sending right-hander Ryne Nelson (8-6, 4.35 ERA) to the mound. Nelson has been in strong form, with a 3-0 record and a 2.73 ERA since July, although he has yet to face the Red Sox in his career.

On the other side, Boston is countering with right-hander Brayan Bello (11-5, 4.80 ERA), who’s coming off a dominant performance against the Baltimore Orioles. Bello allowed just one run on two hits over six innings in a 5-1 victory, and like Nelson, he’ll be facing Arizona for the first time.

Red Sox Riding Recent Success

The Red Sox are also coming into this series on a high, having won back-to-back games against the Houston Astros to wrap up a seven-game road trip with a 4-3 record. Boston’s recent success has been driven by contributions from both seasoned veterans and emerging young talent.

One of the standout rookies for Boston has been Ceddanne Rafaela, who’s leading all American League rookies in hits, RBIs, and runs. In Wednesday’s 4-1 victory over Houston, Rafaela doubled twice and drove in two runs, showing maturity and effectiveness at the plate. Manager Alex Cora has noted that Rafaela will see more time at shortstop for the rest of the season, highlighting his growing role on the team.

Outlook for the Series

With both teams deep in playoff contention, this series carries a lot of weight. The Diamondbacks are trying to close the gap on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West and keep their playoff hopes alive. Their balanced offense and deep bullpen could be the keys to winning this series on the road.

For the Red Sox, keeping up their recent momentum and getting strong performances from up-and-coming stars like Rafaela will be crucial. The pitching duel in the opener, with two talented but relatively untested arms in Nelson and Bello, adds an extra layer of excitement to the series.

As Arizona aims to keep their hot streak alive and Boston looks to solidify their playoff push, this series is set to be an intense clash between two teams hitting their stride at the perfect time.

Today’s game between the Diamondbacks and Red Sox should be a low-scoring game, as we have this one as our 8th lowest-scoring game of today’s slate. For an over/under pick, we would be leaning towards the under. As for how we would play the money line in this one, we would be leaning towards the Diamondbacks to pick up the win. Comparing the two starters for this matchup, we have Brayan Bello as our 15th best strikeout pitcher in today’s games, and Ryne Nelson is 16th.