White Sox vs Red Sox MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
The Boston Red Sox spoiled Kevin Youkilis’ return to Fenway for the first time since being traded on Monday night, as they downed the Chicago White Sox–winners of seven straight in Boston–by the score of 5-1.
CHW: Philip Humber (3-4, 6.01) v BOS: Jon Lester (5-6, 4.49)
Date/Time: Tuesday, July 17, 7:10PM EST
Venue: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Broadcast: WCIU (Chicago), NESN (Boston)
LINE: Red Sox -165
TOTAL: 10
Youkilis went 3-for-4 with two doubles in his first game back at his longtime home, but Adrian Gonzalez’s tiebreaking three-run homer in the eighth inning lifted Boston to its second straight win in as many days.
The two teams will square off in Game 2 of the four-game series on Tuesday.
After Boston decided to deal their moribund veteran third baseman, Youkilis has been very productive on Chicago’s South Side, compiling a .295 average in 16 games with his new team, with a trio of long balls and 15 RBIs.
That’s a marked improvement for the three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, after hitting .233 with four homers and 14 RBIs in 42 games with Boston earlier this season.
So far he’s has been a welcome addition to the White Sox (49-39), who are currently leading the AL Central
Meanwhile, Boston (45-44) welcomed the return of Carl Crawford to the lineup, after missing the entire season with left elbow and wrist injuries.
Crawford, however, was just 1-for-3 with a walk in Game 1, as the Red Sox out hit the White Sox 10-5. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
All in spite of a very solid performance from starting pitcher Dylan Axelrod, who matched his career-high with eight strikeouts and yielded just seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.
The White Sox will hope they can get a repeat performance from Philip Humber, who enters Tuesday’s game straight off the disabled list.
The 29-year-old righty was solid in a rehab appearance last week, allowing just a single run over six innings while fanning five. He has gone 2-4 with a 7.47 ERA in his 10 starts since pitching a perfect game, but sees some decent run support in Chicago.
Boston will counter with southpaw slinger Jon Lester, who has struggled to live up to expectations in Beantown this year, and so far owns a 5-6 record and 4.49 ERA after 18 starts.
Lester, who is under contract with the Sox through the 2014 season, has been criticized by Boston’s faithful, after his negative comments at the end of last season, but has done little to get away that spotlight with just two wins over his past nine games.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Boston- I expect a solid performance from Lester, as he begins piecing his career back together in Boston. That, along with the always raucous crowd at Fenway, I’ll take the Red Sox.
