ALDS Game 2 Pick - Boston Red Sox - LA Angels

Going with Lackey last night led to a solid SU and O/U victory in Thursday’s Game 1 ALDS matchup between the Los Angeles Angels (98-65 SU, 91-71 RL, 83-73-6 O/U) and Boston Red Sox (95-68 SU, 83-80 RL, 76-78-9 O/U). Tonight, we’ll look for another winning wager on Game 2 matchup between the two evenly matched ballclubs when they square off at Angel Stadium at 9:30 PM ET.

John Lackey tossed 7.1 shutout innings and combined on a four-hit shutout on Thursday as the Angels spanked the Red Sox 5- 0 in Game 1 to cash in for MLB sports bettors while the final score played Under the 8.5-run O/U total.

Torii Hunter swatted a three-run homer to lead the Angels to victory while Boston lefty Jon Lester took the loss, giving up three runs off four hits in six innings.

Tonight, the Red Sox will give the ball to right-handed ace starter Josh Beckett (17-6, 3.86 ERA) while the Angels counter with right-hander Jered Weaver (16-8, 3.75 ERA).

Here is a look at tonight’s key trends and MLB Odds, followed by my in-depth analysis and expert MLB Free Picks.

• Red Sox are 6- 2 in their last 8 Divisional Playoff games.
• Red Sox are 21- 9 in their last 30 games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Red Sox are 0- 5 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
• Red Sox are 0- 4 in their last 4 road games.
• Angels are 4- 0 in their last 4 overall.
• Angels are 5- 1 in their last 6 home games.
• Angels are 4- 1 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
• Angels are 5- 1 in Weaver’s last 6 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
• Angels are 17- 8 in Weaver’s last 25 starts.
• Under is 4- 1 in the last 5 meetings.
• Over is 4-1-1 in Weaver’s last 6 starts vs. Red Sox.
• Under is 3-1-1 in Weaver’s last 5 home starts vs. Red Sox.
• Red Sox are 7- 15 in the last 22 meetings.
• Red Sox are 1- 4 in the last 5 meetings in Los Angeles.
• Red Sox are 0- 5 in Beckett’s last 5 starts vs. Angels.

MLB Odds

• Boston Red Sox +1½ -230
• Josh Beckett –R -105
• Los Angeles Angels -1½ +190
• Jered Weaver –R -115
• Over 8½ Ev
• Under 8½ -120

The Starters: Josh Beckett has gone 2-0 over his last three starts with a 4.26 ERA while Jered Weaver has gone 1-2 over his last three starts with a solid 2.65 ERA.

Analysis: I know Boston’s Josh Beckett is the better and more accomplished starter in this matchup, but the Halos’ Jered Weaver comes into this contest throwing the ball very well. He tossed five shutout innings in his last regular season start while allowing just two earned runs in his start just prior to that one while Beckett allowed four earned runs on seven hits in his final regular season start.

Not only that, but I genuinely think that this year’s Los Angeles Angels team has a totally different mentality as I witnessed in Thursday’s Game 1 win, led by the super-confident Torii Hunter.

While the Red Sox have gone a solid 6- 2 in their last eight Divisional Playoff games and an impressive 21- 9 in their last 30 games against a right-handed starter, Boston also has some factors they will need to overcome in order to even this series at one game each.