Posted on
10/5/2007 4:49:48 PM
Bet On Baseball - Los Angeles Angels vs. Boston Red Sox
By Robby Maddux
The Boston Red Sox (-165) enter tonight's best-of-five ALDS up 1-0 over the Los Angeles Angels (+145), as they look to jump out two a 2-0 lead and we have the MLB betting community’s winning selection from bean town.
Daisuke Matsuzaka will toe the rubber in Game 2 for the Red Sox in his MLB postseason debut.
Matsuzaka has been a horse for Boston this year, as he racked up a team-high 204 2-3 innings of work. The massive workload, though, may be the culprit to him going 2-4 with a 7.14 ERA over his final eight outings of the regular season.
However, the Japanese right-hander gave up just two runs over eight innings in a 5-2 victory over Minnesota on Friday in his most recent appearance, and he has 22 strikeouts over his last three starts.
At home this season, he went a solid 8-4 with an ERA of 4.86. This will be his first career appearance against Los Angeles.
- Red Sox are 5-0 in Matsuzaka's last 5 starts during Game 2 of a series.
- Red Sox are 1-5 in Matsuzaka's last 6 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
- Red Sox are 1-4 in Matsuzaka's last 5 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Red Sox are 9-4 in Matsuzaka's last 13 home starts.
- Red Sox are 2-5 in Matsuzaka's last 7 starts on Grass.
Boston has played well in home postseason games where they are 5-1 in their last six playoff games at Fenway Park.
- Red Sox are 17-4 in their last 21 during Game 2 of a series.
- Red Sox are 20-8 in their last 28 games following an off day.
- Red Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. American League West.
- Red Sox are 5-2 in their last 7 home games.
- Red Sox are 5-2 in their last 7 overall.
The Angels will hand the ball to right-hander Kelvim Escobar, who will be making his first playoff start since an ugly outing in Game 3 of the 2004 ALDS on the very same hill he'll climb this evening. He allowed five runs and five hits while walking five over 3 1-3 innings in the 8-6 10-inning loss in that game.
Escobar is 18-7 with a 3.40 ERA on the year. In his last outing, he gave up just one run over six innings in a 3-2 win at Oakland on Saturday despite slight shoulder problems.
On the road, he's a strong 8-3 with a 3.72 ERA on the year. Against Boston, he's 6-7 with an ERA of 4.64 lifetime.
- Angels are 8-2 in Escobar's last 10 starts during Game 2 of a series.
- Angels are 14-2 in Escobar's last 16 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Angels are 9-2 in Escobar's last 11 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Angels are 7-2 in Escobar's last 9 road starts.
- Angels are 21-7 in Escobar's last 28 starts overall.
The Angels have struggled away from home in postseason play where they are 2-6 in their last eight playoff games on the road.
- Angels are 41-17 in their last 58 during Game 2 of a series.
- Angels are 5-2 in their last 7 games following an off day.
- Angels are 6-2 in their last 8 vs. American League East.
- Angels are 2-6 in their last 8 road games.
- Angels are 2-5 in their last 7 overall.
MLB odds display Boston (-165) the favorites to win Game 2 with a total of 9½ under -115.
- Red Sox are 61-30 in their last 91 games as a home favorite of -151 to -200.
- Red Sox are 5-2 in their last 7 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
- Angels are 2-5 in their last 7 games as a road underdog of +110 to +150.
- Angels are 1-4 in their last 5 games with the total set at 9.0-10.5.
- Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
MLB Free Picks: Boston 6 Los Angeles 4
Go to the BetUS sportsbook today and take a swing at Major League Baseball online betting. We have the most current baseball odds and lines, as well as player, game and series props throughout the MLB baseball season. To help you bet on sports, check out the Free Picks section of the Locker Room for sports betting free picks and predictions. Join BetUS to experience the best in online sports betting action!