Red Sox vs. Angels prediction and odds for Wednesday, May 24 (Sox should crush Tyler Anderson)

The Boston Red Sox are in the midst of a three-game losing streak heading into Wednesday’s matchup with the Los Angeles Angels. 

This game is going to be a battle of lefties, as Boston sends James Paxton (1-0, 2.45 ERA) to the mound for his third start of the 2023 season. He will be opposed by Tyler Anderson (1-0, 5.27 ERA) who has shockingly factored into just one decision in his eight starts this season. 

Anderson has not pitched as well as the Angels would have liked after signing him this offseason, but can he turn things around against the slumping Red Sox?

Here are the odds and my best bet for this contest: 

I think Boston is going to jump all over Anderson in this matchup. The Red Sox rank 11th in MLB in OPS against left-handed pitching this season, and Anderson has been awful, allowing a ton of baserunners. 

Through 42.2 innings, Anderson has given up 21 walks and 48 hits for a WHIP of 1.617. That’s a major reason why he’s allowed at least three runs in six of his last seven starts. 

Meanwhile, Paxton has been great since returning from injury, giving up just three total runs and nine hits in 11.0 innings of work. 

The Red Sox did blow one of his starts against the St. Louis Cardinals, but the team has a solid bullpen (13th in bullpen ERA) this season. 

I don’t trust Anderson against this Boston offense, especially since he struggles to get strikeouts, ranking in the sixth percentile in strikeout percentage this season. 

The Angels have the bullpen advantage, but I’ll ride Paxton to keep his solid 2023 going. 

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.