Boston Red Sox at Philadelphia Phillies odds, picks and predictions

The Boston Red Sox (19-14) begin a 3-game set with the Philadelphia Phillies (15-17) on Friday at Citizens Bank Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Red Sox vs. Phillies odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: First meeting. Boston and Philadelphia split 6 games when they last met in 2021.

The Red Sox completed a 4-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays 11-5 Thursday. Boston enters on a 6-game win streak and is only 3 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for 2nd place in the AL East.

The Phillies wrapped up a 3-game set with the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 10-6 loss Wednesday; they were outscored 36-11 over the series.  Philadelphia has lost 4 games in a row following a 4-game winning streak and is 5-5 in its last 10 contests.

Red Sox at Phillies projected starters

LHP Chris Sale vs. RHP Zack Wheeler

Sale (2-2, 6.75 ERA) makes his 7th start. He has a 1.47 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9 and 10.7 K/9 through 29 1/3 IP.

• Hasn’t given up an HR in his last 3 starts after allowing 5 HRs in his first 3 turns
• Owns a 0-2 record with a 5.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 11.3 K/9 in 2 career starts against the Phillies.

Wheeler (3-1, 3.86 ERA) makes his 7th start. He has a 1.22 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9 and 11.3 K/9 through 32 2/3 IP.

• Has been credited with a win in each of his last 3 starts.
• He is currently sporting career-best marks in HR/9 (0.28), strikeout rate (29.3%) and barrel rate (2.4%) through 6 starts.

Red Sox at Phillies odds

BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:24 a.m. ET.

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Red Sox at Phillies picks and predictions

Prediction

Phillies 4, Red Sox 3

PASS.

Even though the Phillies (-165) are favored with Wheeler on the mound, I wouldn’t take their moneyline unless you can get them at -160 odds or better.

RED SOX +1.5 (-150) is how I’d wager on the run line with how well Boston has been performing recently. Despite Wheeler looking fantastic to begin the season, the Red Sox should be able to keep this game within a run.

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UNDER 8 (-115) is the lean in this interleague matchup with Wheeler limiting hard contact and striking out batters at such a high rate. Sale has looked a little better in recent starts and the Phillies could run out a lineup that has 3 or 4 lefty bats.

The Phillies are 4-0 to the Under in their last 4 interleague games.

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