Padres Prevail as Pivetta Shuts Down Red Sox in Key Wild Card Matchup

On Saturday, August 9, the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres will face off in a key matchup between two wild card contenders. The Red Sox currently hold the top spot in the American League wild card race, while the Padres are also in a wild card spot in the National League. Both teams have playoff aspirations as they enter the second half of the season. The Red Sox will start Walker Buehler, while the Padres will turn to Nick Pivetta on the mound. The game is scheduled to begin at 9:40 P.M. EST. Stay tuned for our prediction on this exciting matchup.

Betting Odds

Moneyline: Red Sox +130 | Padres -150
Spread: Red Sox +1.5 (-165) | Padres -1.5 (+141)
Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that San Diego will win straight-up is 60%.

Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox currently holds the second spot in the American League East division, trailing the Blue Jays by at least 3.5 games for the top position. They maintain a three game lead for a wild card spot in the American League. The team has won 10 of their last 13 games heading into Friday's game, where Walker Buehler is scheduled to start. Buehler, a right-handed pitcher, has a 6-6 record with a 5.74 ERA in 19 starts this season. In his last outing, he allowed three runs and nine hits in a 7-3 victory over the Astros. The Red Sox have a record of 11-8 when Buehler is on the mound this season. Buehler has a 7.44 ERA in nine road starts and a 4.85 ERA against the National League in six starts. The Red Sox have a team batting average of .254, ranking seventh best in the league. They are the fourth highest scoring offense in the league, ranking third in hits, most doubles, and ninth in home runs. When playing on the road, they have a .242 average. Since the All-Star break, they have a .243 average and a .267 average against the National League.

San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres are currently in second place in the National League West division, trailing the Dodgers by only a couple of games. They are performing well at home this season, holding a significant lead over the rest of the National League field. The team has won nine of their last 11 games and will have Nick Pivetta starting against the Red Sox on Saturday. Pivetta has an impressive 11-3 record with a 2.73 ERA this year, and the Padres have a 14-8 record in games where he has started. Pivetta has been particularly successful at home, with a 1.99 ERA in 12 starts. The Padres have a .251 team batting average, ranking 11th in the league, with the seventh fewest runs scored. They have hit the second fewest home runs but have the third fewest strikeouts. The team is hitting .277 since the All-Star break and holds a .241 batting average against the American League.

Nick Pivetta's Dominance Gives Padres Edge Over Red Sox In Pitching Matchup

The outcome of this game will largely depend on the pitching performance of Nick Pivetta, who has shown remarkable skill recently with a 1.86 ERA post All-Star break and a 1.99 ERA during home games this season. Pivetta's dominance suggests that the Padres may only need to score a limited number of runs to secure a victory. Additionally, the Padres' offense has been hitting .277 in the second half of the season, providing ample opportunities against Boston's Walker Buehler, who has struggled with a 4.85 ERA against the National League and a 7.44 ERA on the road. With these factors in mind, San Diego is poised to capitalize on their chances. In contrast, the Red Sox have only been hitting .242 on the road. Based on this analysis, it is recommended to take San Diego to cover in this game.

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