Cincinnati Reds vs
Boston Red SoxPredictions & Preview

Red Sox Look to Capitalize on Reds' Pitching Weaknesses in Matchup for Wild Card Spot

In a matchup between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, July 2, both teams are looking to improve their standings. The Reds, with a record of 44-41, are just two games back of a wild card spot in the NL and have won five of their last eight games. On the other hand, the Red Sox, with a record of 42-44, have lost seven of their last nine outings. Nick Martinez (ERA: 4.12) will be starting for the Reds, while Brayan Bello (ERA: 3.41) will be on the mound for the Red Sox. The first pitch is set for 7:10 P.M. EST, with Boston opening as the betting favorite at -130 and the current line at Boston -134.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Reds +116 | Red Sox -134
• Spread: Reds +1.5 (-175) | Red Sox -1.5 (+148)
• Total: Over/Under 9.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Boston will win straight-up is 57%.

Cincinnati vs Boston Stats

Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds are currently 44-41 this season, putting them in fourth place in the National League Central division. They are six games back of the Cubs for first place and two games back of a wild card spot. The team has a record of 20-22 when playing on the road and have won five of their last eight games. Nick Martinez will be starting for the Reds against the Red Sox, with a record of 5-8 and a 4.12 ERA. When Martinez starts, the Reds are 6-12 overall and 1-8 on the road. Offensively, the Reds are hitting .248 this season, ranking 15th in the league. They have scored the 10th most runs and have hit the 14th most home runs. The team has a power ranking of 20, ranking 10th in offense and 14th in defense.

Boston Red Sox Analysis

The Boston Red Sox currently have a record of 42-44 overall this season, placing them in fourth in the American League East division. They are 6.5 games behind the Yankees for first place. The team has a home record of 24-19 and has lost seven of their last nine games. Their last game was suspended due to a rain delay and will conclude on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. Brayan Bello will start for the Red Sox against the Reds, with a record of 3-3 and a 3.41 ERA in 13 starts. The team has a 6-7 record when Bello has started and has struggled in his last nine starts. The Red Sox rank 12th in batting average this season, hitting the most doubles and the eighth most home runs. They have a .264 batting average at home and are hitting .246 in June. Boston has a power ranking of 16 and ranks 9th in offense, scoring an average of 4.69 runs per game, and 23rd in defense, giving up an average of 4.58 points per game. Additionally, Cincinnati has won their last three matchups against Boston.

Boston Red Sox Poised to Exploit Cincinnati Reds' Pitching Weaknesses

The Cincinnati Reds have shown improvement in their recent performance, winning five of their last eight games and climbing up the wild card standings in the National League. However, the team has struggled when Nick Martinez is on the mound, losing eight of their last nine games with him as the starting pitcher. Martinez has a 4.82 ERA on the road. The Boston Red Sox, with a .268 batting average against NL teams and the sixth-highest number of runs scored this year, are poised to exploit this weakness. Additionally, the Reds' offense has been faltering, ranking sixth in strikeouts, which Boston's Brayan Bello will look to capitalize on, boasting a 3.60 ERA at home. It is recommended to consider Boston as the likely team to cover in this matchup.

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