Los Angeles Dodgers at Boston Red Sox odds, picks and predictions
The Los Angeles Dodgers (79-48) will play the 2nd game of a 3-game series against the Boston Red Sox (68-61) on Saturday at Fenway Park. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET (MLB.TV Free Game of the Day). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Dodgers vs. Red Sox odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Dodgers lead 1-0
In Friday’s 7-4 win against the Red Sox, the Dodgers came back from being down 3-0 as 1B Freddie Freeman tallied 4 hits. Los Angeles has won 3 consecutive outings and is 12 games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks for 1st place in the NL West.
While the Red Sox fell to the Dodgers on Friday, RF Alex Verdugo, 3B Rafael Devers, 1B Triston Casas, SS Trevor Story, and C Reese McGuire all produced multi-hit outings. Boston is currently 3½ games behind the Houston Astros for the final AL Wild Card spot.
Dodgers at Red Sox projected starters
LHP Julio Urias vs. LHP James Paxton
Urias (11-6, 4.15 ERA) makes his 20th start. He has a 1.09 WHIP, 1.8 BB/9 and 8.8 K/9 in 106 1/3 innings.
- Last start: Win, 7 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 5 K in 3-1 home victory vs. Miami Marlins last Saturday
- 2023 road stats: 3-5, 6.80 ERA (43 2/3 IP, 33 ER) in 9 starts
- Career vs. Red Sox (regular season): 0-0, 0.00 ERA (2 IP, 0 ER) in 1 relief appearance
Paxton (7-4, 3.79 ERA) makes his 18th start. He has a 1.22 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9 and 9.7 K/9 in 90 1/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 4 IP, 7 R (6 ER), 9 H, 3 BB, 4 K in 9-4 loss at Astros Monday
- 2023 home stats: 3-1, 2.58 ERA (38 1/3 IP, 11 ER) in 7 starts
- Career vs. Dodgers: 1-0, 4.85 ERA (13 IP, 7 ER) in 2 starts
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Dodgers at Red Sox odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:35 a.m. ET.
Dodgers at Red Sox picks and predictions
Prediction
Dodgers 6, Red Sox 4
After a come-from-behind victory on Friday, I’ll side with the DODGERS (-135) in Saturday’s matchup. Urias has pitched better in recent starts, and Paxton is coming off a start where he surrendered 6 earned runs.
DODGERS -1.5 (+125) is worth taking in this contest as Los Angeles has been winning games by multiple runs recently. In 7 of the team’s last 8 victories, the Dodgers have won by at least 2 runs.
Even with Urias allowing 1 earned run or fewer in 3 of his last 5 starts, I’ll back the OVER 9.5 (-115) in this game. The Over hit in Friday’s showdown and the Dodgers have performed well against left-handed pitchers recently.
Since the start of July, the Dodgers boast the 8th-best ISO (.201), the 7th-best wOBA (.361), and the 6th-best wRC+ (130) against southpaws.
