Braves to Sweep Red Sox Behind Sale
The Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves will play each other four times this season in two different two-game series. This second and final game of the series has a little extra importance as Chris Sale pitches against his former team, possibly affecting MLB lines.
Sale spent six years in Boston, having two All-Star seasons in 2017 and 2018. He also won a World Series with the team as the ace in 2018. However, injuries would limit his time with the Red Sox as he only made 56 starts after 2018.
In the first of this two-game series, the Braves won 4-2. Both teams’ starting pitchers allowed two runs and the game was tied 2-2 going into the eighth inning. The Braves scored two runs in the eighth off a Marcell Ozuna single and Orlando Arcia’s groundout.
Red Sox vs Braves Game Information
- Game: Red Sox (19-17) vs Braves (21-12)
- Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
- Day/Time: Wednesday, May 8, 7:20 p.m. ET
- Red Sox vs Braves Live Stream: MLB.tv
Red Sox vs Braves Odds and Spreads
Red Sox vs Braves Betting Trends
- The Boston Red Sox have only covered the Run Line in 57 of their last 126 games (-25.50 Units / -15% ROI)
- The Boston Red Sox have only hit the Moneyline in 52 of their last 116 games (-22.35 Units / -15% ROI)
- The Atlanta Braves have hit the Game Total Over in 42 of their last 66 games (+15.35 Units / 21% ROI)
- The Atlanta Braves have hit the Team Total Over in 36 of their last 56 games at home (+12.64 Units / 19% ROI)
Pitching Matchup: Sale Is The Headliner, But Not The Only One
The headline of this game will focus on Sale pitching against his former team. However, the Red Sox will have Nick Pivetta on the mound for the first time since April 3 after a stint on the injury list.
The Braves traded for Sale, hoping he could at least get close to his former self and stay healthy. So far, it has been a mixed bag. Through Sale’s first four appearances in 2024, he would allow 12 runs in 24.2 innings, leading to a 4.38 ERA. However, in his last two starts, he has dominated, allowing two runs in 12 innings with 15 strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA.
It seems like Sale is settling into the season, which could be scary for this Red Sox lineup. Furthermore, the Braves have won in four of his six starts this season.
On the other hand, there seems to be a little more concern around Boston starter Pivetta. He has spent over a month in the IL, last pitching on April 3. Pivetta has pitched twice this season, allowing one run in 11 innings, with 13 strikeouts. However, after not pitching in the big leagues for a month, he could be on a pitch count and potentially struggle against a top lineup.
Braves Ride Sale to Betting Line Win
Given how Sale pitched in his last two outings, there is a good chance he will have another good outing against his former team. In his previous appearance, he allowed one run in five innings, striking out nine. In the outing before that, Sale pitched seven innings, allowing two hits, one run and striking out six.
In addition, Sale is one of the pitchers who often lets his emotions take over, so having a great game against a team that traded him should be extra motivation. The Red Sox lineup has been good this season, scoring the ninth-most runs over the last 15 days (60), but Sale could prove too much for them.
Conversely, the Braves lineup has struggled over the last 15 days, scoring just 34 runs, tied for the fourth-fewest. However, they are still averaging the third-most runs per game at 5.06. They will be going up against a pitcher who has not pitched since April 3, which should give the Braves an advantage for MLB odds.
Questions Of The Day
What is a solid prop bet for this game?
Given that Chris Sale is projected to have a great game, it might make sense to take him in prop bets to boost his chances against his former team.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
