Split Decision on Tap for Red Sox-Braves Interleague Series

On the other hand, the Braves have hit a slump. They have lost their last two series and were dominated in getting swept by one of the other top teams in the NL, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Braves’ high-powered offense was held to just six runs during the series while allowing 20.

Red Sox vs Braves Game Information

• Game: Red Sox vs Braves
• Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
• Day/Time: Tuesday, May 7 (7:20 p.m. ET), Wednesday, May 8 (7:20 p.m. ET)
• Red Sox vs Braves Live Stream: MLB.tv

Game 1: Makings Of A Pitching Duel

Neither team’s lineup is hitting well coming into this series. In Boston’s loss to the Twins, the Red Sox had only scored three runs before the series finale. They did knock in nine runs to avoid the sweep, scoring six in the final two innings.

There was no such redemption for the Braves. They scored only six runs in their three games against the Dodgers, but are still averaging the third-most runs per game (5.09) in the NL. It is not likely that the Braves will stay in this slump for too long, but given the pitching on the mound for Boston, they could struggle again in the first of this two-game set.

Kutter Crawford will pitch for the Red Sox. Through seven starts this season, he has a 1.56 ERA, the second-lowest in the league. Crawford has been dominant this season, having only allowed two or more runs twice. In his last game, he pitched seven innings, allowing two runs off four hits and a home run while finishing with six strikeouts.

The Braves also have their standout pitcher on the mound for this matchup. Reynaldo Lopez has a lower ERA than Crawford at 1.50 ERA through five starts, but he hasn’t yet met the number of innings to qualify. Through Lopez’s first four starts, he pitched 25 innings, allowing just two runs. However, in his last outing, he showed his first glimpse of slowing down, allowing season-highs in hits (six) and runs (three) through five innings.

Game 2: Chris Sale Faces Former Team

The headlining storyline of this series’s second and final game is Chris Sale pitching against his former team. Sale joined the Red Sox in 2017 and dominated his first two seasons. He made the All-Star game in those first two seasons with the Red Sox and helped them win the World Series in 2018. However, due to injuries, Sale only pitched 56 more games for the Red Sox after 2018.

The Braves traded for Sale before the 2024 season, hoping that he could stay healthy for the season, and so far, he has. Furthermore, Sale has also started to settle into the season. He struggled in his first four starts, allowing 12 runs in 24.2 innings pitched, but did have 27 strikeouts. Sale has looked much better in his last two appearances, allowing just one run in each start over 12 innings and adding 15 strikeouts.

Sale is starting to get into a groove and will pitch against a team that just traded him. That alone should be a good reason to back the Braves when betting. Another reason to side with the Braves is that Josh Winckowski will be on the mound for the Red Sox.

This is not to say Winckowski is not a capable pitcher, but he has yet to find a fixed role in the Red Sox pitching staff. He has made 11 appearances this season, three of those being starts. Winckowski has pitched better as a starter, with a 1.69 ERA through 10.2 innings, but this is still a talented Braves lineup that should be able to back up Sale.

Series Prediction: 1-1 Series Split

This two-game series seems perfectly in line for a split, mainly due to pitching advantages. The Red Sox have the better starter in the first game while the Braves have the advantage in the second. That second game is especially a chance for the Braves lineup to get hot for future MLB lines after struggling recently.

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