BOSTON RED SOX @ BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Baseball : North America : MLB
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011, 7:05PM US
(12:05AM GMT)

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PREVIEW

What a collapse by Boston. They were 9 games clear of the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Wild Card race but are now tied, having lost 17 of their last 22 games. Tampa Bay play the New York Yankees in a game I think they will win. Boston are playing too, but away from home, at Baltimore. Not the easiest place to go when you're slumping.

The Boston Red Sox have lost 7 of their last 8 road games. They will send out Erik Bedard, who is 5-9 with a 3.50ERA. His last 10 matches have seen the Red Sox win just 3, which is poor form.

Bedard has started just once in the last 4 weeks, as he has been hampered by a strained muscle in his back. That match was against Baltimore, where he pitched less than 3 innings and gave up 4 runs.

The Baltimore Orioles send out Zach Britton, who is 11-10 with a 4.44ERA, to try and add to their excellent current win-loss streak which stands at 10-4. In recent games, Baltimore have faced and defeated some very good teams, such as the LA Angels, the Detroit Tigers, and the Tampa Bay Rays. And they've beaten each of these teams at least twice!

Britton is 6-4 at home with a 2.71ERA and his good work has seen Boston win 6 of his last 7 starts. Britton has been hit for just 10 homers this season, with only 1 in his last 10 outings. The Orioles are playing without the pressure Boston seem to be crumbling under, and Britton will want revenge for the battering he received from the Red Sox in July.

TEAM STATS

Boston Red Sox
Overall 89-71, Streak L1

Baltimore Orioles
Overall 68-92, Streak W1

BETTING VERDICT

Boston are also dealing with a serious injury problem in terms of catchers. Varitek could not catch for the Red Sox last night due to a knee injury, and Saltalamacchia, who stood in for him, got his in the throat by a foul ball and had to leave too.

Huge price on a very live dog and I'll bite. If you want a safer option, feel free to go with Baltimore +1.5 on the RL.

The Pick :

Baltimore Orioles

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take the Baltimore Orioles to win @ 2.50 (Pinnacle)