Red Sox vs Braves Baseball Picks
Boston stopped their 10 game losing streak with a series opening win at Atlanta. They are still in last place in the AL East but avoiding a franchise worst losing streak is a start, maybe, back to respectability.
Boston Red Sox (21-29) vs Atlanta Braves (28-22)
Tuesday May 27
Turner Field – Atlanta, GA
7:10PM
Probable Pitchers
BOS: Jon Lester (L)
ATL: Aaron Harang (R)
Moneyline: Boston -106, Atlanta -102
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Total: 7
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Boston
Even though they beat Atlanta they still have lots of concern, chief among them is what to do with Clay Buchholz who was shelled again and only lasted three innings.
As a result the Red Sox used 6 relievers on Monday, a workload that doesn’t bode well for a series that should be competitive.
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Buchholz is not the only one who has been getting shelled at Jon Lester gave up 7ER to Toronto in his last start. Lester’s overall numbers are not bad but he has definitely had a few clunkers.
As a lefty it is no surprise that he prefers to get away from Fenway Park, where his ERA drops a half run.
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Lester can certainly keep things rolling and will have an advantage against a lineup whose best hitters are lefthanded.
Atlanta
The Braves are in first place in the NL East, capitalizing of the fact that the rest of the division has been sputtering. Even though they are heavily invested in their young lineup this has been a pitch first team this season with the second best team ERA in the Majors.
The only hitters who have been productive at all have been Freddie Freeman and Justin Upton and the frustration is starting to show with Chris Johnson getting benched mid game after breaking his bat in the clubhouse.
A surprise contributor for the Braves has been Tuesday staters Aaron Harang. Plucked off the heap after a disaster in Seattle last year he leads the team in strikeouts and has given up only two homers in 10 starts.
He really enjoys pitching at Turner Field where his ERA is much lower than on the road. Other than one terrible outing against the Marlins he has been steady all season.
Now that Boston has put a stop to their losing streak I think they are poised for a little run here. Lester’s turn in the rotation is well timed and I am having a hard time believing that Aaron Harang is going to be able to pitch at this level indefinitely.
Atlanta may be in first place but it is kind of by default right now.
Total prediction: Over
Score prediction: Boston 6 – Atlanta 3
