The Boston Red Sox (12-7) will have their hands full trying to avoid the home upset against the Seattle Mariners (11-7) at Fenway Park on Thursday night.
Boston has won six of 10 and sits atop the AL East standings by two games over defending champion Tampa Bay. Still, the Red Sox are 6-6 at Fenway Park.
Seattle has won seven of 10 to move into second place in the AL West, just a half-game behind incendiary Oakland. On Thursday, the Mariners will look to improve on their impressive 5-2 road mark on the year.
Boston is the slight home favorite in this meeting of overachieving playoff hopefuls. The value-packed MLB Odds for this contest are live in the BetUS online sportsbook right now.
Seattle Mariners @ Boston Red Sox
When: Thursday, April 22, 2021, at 7:10 p.m. ET
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
TV: ROOTNW, NESN, MLBN
Starting Pitchers
Seattle – Justin Dunn – RHP – (1-0, 3.72 ERA, 9 SO)
Boston – Nick Pivetta – RHP – (2-0, 3.68 ERA, 14 SO)
MLB Odds
Seattle +145
Boston -165
Total: 9½
Run Line
Seattle +1½ -130
Boston -1½ +110
Mariners Look Daunting Behind Dunn
The Mariners had their two-game winning streak snapped by losing to the LA Dodgers 1-0 on Tuesday. Seattle was limited to one hit against Julio Urias and wasted a fine out from starter Marco Gonzales, who limited Boston to two hits in seven innings.
“You love the tempo back and forth,” Gonzales said. “Julio was throwing the ball great, and, you know, just trying to go out there and match him every inning.”
The Mariners are averaging 4.28 runs per game (18th) while batting a collective .215 (25th). Defensively, Seattle allows 4.45 runs per game (12th) while limiting their opponents to a .218 batting average (6th).
Seattle hands the ball to gifted right-hander Justin Dunn, who limited Baltimore to one run on two hits in five innings in his last start.
Red Sox Need Pivetta to Bounce Back
Boston Red Sox had its two-game winning streak snapped by falling against Toronto 6-3 on Wednesday. Marwin Gonzalez and Bobby Dalbec both went 2-for-4 while Xander Bogaerts hit a solo home run. Boston couldn’t capitalize after pulling within one run in the eighth inning.
Right-hander Nick Pivetta gets the start, but the red Sox will need for him to be better than he has been in his last two starts. Pivetta allowed two runs on four hits against the White Sox the last time out but failed to get out of the fourth inning. Pivetta has an American League-high 11 walks through three starts.
Boston averages 5.57 runs per game (2) while batting an MLB-best .285. Defensively, the Red Sox allow 4.11 runs per game (9th) with their opponents batting .239 (18th).
Seattle Gets It Dunn On The Road
I like Dunn and expect the 25-year-old hurler to lead Seattle to the narrow road win. In two starts spanning 9.2 innings, the Freeport, N.Y, native has allowed a grand total of three hits.
Dunn was good in his first start but looked dominant against Baltimore the last time out. Seattle is 4-0 in its last four games following a loss, 5-1 in its last six road games and 7-3 in its last 10 games as an underdog.
Boston is 6-2 in its last eight home games and 5-0 in their last five series-opening games, but I’ve got the BoSox coming up just short as Dunn out-duels Nick Pavetta. Seattle is the straight-up pick in a matchup that looks like a one-run affair just waiting to happen.
