Baltimore Orioles vs Boston Red Sox: Preview, Prediction & Odds - Aug. 13, 2021

by Chuck Sommers

Thursday, Aug 12, 2021
Game time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Venue: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
How to watch: MASN, NESN

Season-to-date
Orioles: 38-75 (Last place, AL East)
Red Sox: 66-51 (2nd place, AL East)

Projected lineups


Orioles:
Cedric Mullins (L) CF
Austin Hays (R) LF
Trey Mancini (R) 1B
Anthony Santander (S) DH
DJ Stewart (L) RF
Maikel Franco (R) 3B
Jorge Mateo (R) 2B
Austin Wynns (R) C
Richie Martin (R) SS

Red Sox:
Enrique Hernandez (R) 2B
Jarren Duran (L) CF
Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
Rafael Devers (L) 3B
J.D. Martinez (R) DH
Hunter Renfroe (R) RF
Kevin Plawecki (R) C
Marwin Gonzalez (S) 1B
Franchy Cordero (L) LF

Probable pitchers: Spenser Watkins (BAL) vs. Nick Pivetta (BOS)

Odds at USA Sportsbooks

DraftKings: Red Sox -255, Orioles +205’ O/U 11

Recent form
Orioles: Lost eight consecutive games
Red Sox: Lost six of eight

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Orioles - Red Sox preview


It was all rose-colored glasses two days ago for the Boston Red Sox.

Things were fine. The world wasn’t crashing. After a 20-8 win against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, this was the turn-around.

So much for that. The Red Sox lost 8-1 to the first-place Rays to lose the series and fall five games back of first place in the American League East. The New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays are on their tail with no stopping in sight.

They’ll play another three-game series at Fenway Park, this time against the Baltimore Orioles starting on Friday in hopes of stringing together some hope.

It was only just over a week ago when the Red Sox where one game behind Tampa Bay for first place in the American League East, but three losses to Toronto and losing two out of three to said Rays have put some uneasy nerves in the Boston faithful. Suddenly, the Red Sox are 2-8 in their last 10 and the world may be crashing.

Meanwhile, the O’s are 31 games back of first place, so may we all have a moment of silence for the work-hard Baltimore club.

The Orioles come in having lost eight in a row, fresh off getting swept by the Detroit Tigers at Oriole Park in Camden Yards. Despite scoring 10 runs in the series, Baltimore did not have a single hit with runners in scoring position.

It’s been that kind of year for the Orioles. Fans got to remember a lot of fun from yesteryear with the news that slugger Chris Davis retired on Thursday. That was a simpler time in Baltimore. Now it’s full of dread and sadness.

Trends


Recent play wouldn’t work well in the Red Sox’s favor, but they are 6-1 this season when the total results in 11 or higher. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are 13-4 when playing on Friday.

The over is 53-46 this season when the Orioles are an underdog, so take into account how Boston’s bats can get going. Even though they quieted heavily from that 20-run outing on Wednesday.

Prediction


It’s not wise to count out the Red Sox. They hope to have Kyle Schwarber get through his rehab stint ASAP for a playoff run. This is probably a mad team and we’d expect the Red Sox to bounce back. Red Sox win, over cashes.

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Chuck Sommers

About the Author:

Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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