Bet On MLB Baseball – Red Sox Finding Stride, Royals In Trouble?

[Shame About Ray]

Uh-oh!

The Boston Red Sox, (27-19, 19-27 RL) winners of four consecutive online betting games in the BetUS Sportsbook, are beginning to find their collective stride – and the rest of the American League could be in trouble if Monday night’s sports betting spectacular no-hitter by lovable left-hander Jon Lester is any precursor of things to come.

Lester, a cancer survivor who was diagnosed with cancer less than two years ago, but beat his personal bout with lymphoma, no-hit the Kansas City Royals, (21-22, 22-21 RL) while walking two and striking out nine batters in Boston’s emphatic 7-0 win over Kansas City making a reality out of the age-old maxim, ‘That it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.’

"He's a wonderful kid, not because he threw a no-hitter. He's a good kid because he's a good kid," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said of Lester. "We're proud of him all the time but to watch him do that tonight was beyond words. I tried to put it into words but it's hard because - what a story."

The Red Sox will send out another young hurler tonight in rookie Justin Masterson, (0-0, 1.50 ERA) who will make just his second major league start after allowing just two hits in six innings in his big league debut against the Los Angeles Angels on April 24, though the 23-year-old right-hander was denied his first major league win after Boston’s bullpen blew a 3-1 lead.

Masterson has struggled since going back to Double-A, going 0-3 with a high 7.45 ERA in four starts for Boston’s Double-A Portland affiliate.

"He's had a few games where, later in the game, he's gotten the ball up over the plate and given up some runs," Francona told his team's official Web site. "Early, he's been very good, very consistent, kind of what we've been accustomed to seeing."

A victory tonight will help Boston move 10 games above .500 for the first time this season.

The Royals will try to halt Boston’s winning ways by sending veteran right-hander Gil Meche (3-5, 5.98), who is coming off a solid outing in his last start as he limited the Detroit Tigers to three runs in seven innings. Meche has also had the Red Sox’ number recently, going 3-0 against Boston in his last five starts with a 2.80 ERA, including a opening day win in 2007 after allowing just one run in 7 1/3 innings.

Here is a look at tonight’s key trends followed by my MLB Wagering Free Picks:

The Royals are 4-1 in Meche’s last five starts as an underdog.

The Royals are 6-2 in Meche’s last eight road starts vs. a team with a winning record.

The Red Sox are 7-1 in their last eight Tuesday games.

The Red Sox are 17-5 in their last 22 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

The Under is 5-0 in Meche’s last five starts vs. a team with a winning record.

The Over is 40-17-4 in Red Sox last 61 games as a home favorite of -110 to -150.

The Over is 5-1 in the last six meetings in Boston.

The Royals are 5-13 in the last 18 meetings in Boston.

Analysis: While the Kansas City Royals have the better and more accomplished starter going in this matchup, in veteran Gil Meche, I’m going to take the streaking Red Sox to help Justin Masterson record his first big league win after a string of poor performances in the minors.

MLB Free Picks: Red Sox 5 Royals 4

07:05 PM EST Baseball Odds

Kansas City Royals
Gil Meche - R +1½ -145

Boston Red Sox
Justin Masterson - R -1½ +125

Over 9½ -115

Under 9½ -105