Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Dodgers Prediction, Preview and Odds - 07/31/2026

Game Time: 10:10 pm ET, Friday, July 31, 2026

Venue:  Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

Where to Watch:  ESPN Unlimited, MLB TV

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Red Sox +145, Dodgers -175; Over/Under:  7.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Red Sox +145, Dodgers -175; Over/Under:  7.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Red Sox +145, Dodgers -175; Over/Under:  7.5 runs

Boston Red Sox:  56-51 (3rd place, AL East)

Los Angeles Dodgers:  68-40 (1st place, NL West)

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Boston Red Sox:  7-3 last 10

Los Angeles Dodgers:  6-4 last 10

The Red Sox won their 3-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1. They enter this game with a 56-51 record overall and have a road record of 31-22. This is the series opener of a 3-game series with the Dodgers on Friday with the series finale of their series against the Athletics still to be played on Thursday. The Red Sox won the series opener on Monday, lost the 2nd game on Tuesday, and won the 3rd game on Wednesday. Their offense ranks 20th in the MLB with a .708 OPS. Sonny Gray is their starting pitcher on Thursday while Ranger Suarez is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 4-3 with a 3.02 ERA this season. His team won their last 3 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 0 ER, 0 HR, and 0 BB with 6 SO on 4 hits through 4 IP against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Dodgers won their 3-game series against the New York Mets 2-1. They enter this game with a 68-40 record overall and have a home record of 32-20. This is the 1st game of a 3-game series with the Red Sox on Friday with the series finale of their series against the Seattle Mariners still to be played on Thursday. The Dodgers lost the 1st game of that series on Tuesday and won the 2nd game on Wednesday. Their offense ranks 1st in the MLB with a .774 OPS. Roki Sasaki is their starting pitcher on Thursday while Yoshinobu Yamamoto is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 11-6 with a 2.72 ERA this season. His team won their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 1 earned run, 0 homers, and 3 walks with 5 strikeouts on 5 hits through 6 innings pitched against the New York Mets.

The current betting odds have the Dodgers listed as a favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Dodgers have looked great in their games this season with their 68-40 record overall which has them right at the top of the NL West with one of the best records in MLB. They have looked great in their own ballpark too with their 32-20 home record this season. Meanwhile, the Red Sox have looked good in their games this season with their 56-51 record overall which has them right in the middle of the AL East. They have been a great road team too with their 31-22 road record this year. The Red Sox have been rolling lately, now 7-3 in their last 10 games, but they don't have the edge offensively. The Dodgers have one of the best offenses in the league and they have also looked good lately. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games and they are going to have the slightly better pitching matchup in this one too. The Dodgers are going with Yamamoto in this one and he has looked great this season. He is 11-6 with a 2.72 ERA and he has been one of their best starters by far. He gave up 1 earned run in his last start which has been a common theme for him all season and the team has won 2 games in a row now with him starting too. The Red Sox are going with Suarez in this one and he has looked good this season too. He is 4-3 with a 3.02 ERA, but he has also missed some time due to an injury. He is coming off a great start in which he gave up no runs and the team has won 3 games in a row now with him starting, but the Dodgers still have the more reliable starter to lean on along with the much stronger offense. Look for the Dodgers to take advantage of this pitching matchup with the stronger offense to give them the edge at home. The best way to place a bet here is on the Dodgers to win this game. 

Red Sox Dodgers Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Friday, July 31, 2026 (10:10 pm ET start time) is Dodgers 3 Red Sox 1.

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Boston Red Sox: 14-22 (-12 units) on the moneyline against NL West opponents. 61-64 (-11.8 units) on the moneyline in an inter-league game. 19-27 (-8.7 units) on the moneyline when playing against a top-level team (Win Pct. > 62%). 43-33 UNDER against right-handed starters.

Los Angeles Dodgers: 35-19 (+5.9 units) on the moneyline against AL East opponents. 48-26 (+7.8 units) on the moneyline vs. an AL starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.300 or better. 135-94 (+4.7 units) on the moneyline when playing against a team with a winning record. 17-8 UNDER vs. a starting pitcher who gives up 0.5 or less HR's/start.

Boston Red Sox:  C. Mead (3B) Ten Day IL - Hand. Z. Kelly (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. R. Anthony (LF) Sixty Day IL - Wrist. M. Mayer (2B) Ten Day IL - Forearm. I. Kiner-Falefa (2B) Ten Day IL - Forearm. G. Crochet (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. T. Story (SS) Sixty Day IL - Abdomen. K. Crawford (SP) Sixty Day IL - Wrist. T. Casas (1B) Sixty Day IL - Knee. J. Oviedo (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. T. Houck (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

Los Angeles Dodgers:  W. Smith (C) Sixty Day IL - Neck. B. Treinen (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Elbow. B. Graterol (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. B. Snell (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. B. Casparius (RP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. T. Glasnow (SP) Sixty Day IL - Back. J. Cousins (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. G. Stone (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder. B. Miller (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder.

“He's been great, really, since the road trip before the All-Star break. We gave him some run there, he started playing more and he started playing very good defensively. He's taken some good swings against both left and right. He's hit some home runs, a lot of doubles, but he's been huge for us.” - Chad Tracy after his team’s win against the A’s in their game on Wednesday.

"It was great. I know Eddie was excited. It was good to hear the trumpets and the velocity of the stuff was really good. Obviously he gave up a run, but again, just kind of getting our bullpen back to being whole, closer to being whole, it was great. I don't think anyone expected him to be lights out. But I think that the pain-free part of it, the velocity, the slider was really good. So all those things, those are things that you can bet on." - Dave Roberts after his team’s win against the Mariners in their game on Wednesday.

Jahmai Jones (R) LF

Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF

Wilyer Abreu (L) RF

Willson Contreras (R) 1B

Caleb Durbin (R) 3B

Romy Gonzalez (R) DH

Andruw Monasterio (R) SS

Nick Sogard (S) 2B

Connor Wong (R) C

Shohei Ohtani (L) DH

Andy Pages (R) CF

Freddie Freeman (L) 1B

Max Muncy (L) 3B

Tommy Edman (S) 2B

Mookie Betts (R) SS

Kyle Tucker (L) RF

Teoscar Hernández (R) LF

Dalton Rushing (L) C

Batting Average:  Jahmai Jones (.385)

Hits:  Ceddanne Rafaela (111)

Home Runs:  Willson Contreras (22)

RBI:  Willson Contreras (66)

Stolen Bases:  Jarren Duran (15)

Wins:  Sonny Gray (12)

Saves:  Aroldis Chapman (25)

ERA:  Aroldis Chapman (1.77)

Batting Average:  Enrique Hernández (1.000)

Hits:  Freddie Freeman (120)

Home Runs:  Shohei Ohtani (23)

RBI:  Andy Pages (71)

Stolen Bases:  Andy Pages (10)

Wins:  Justin Wrobleski (11)

Saves:  Tanner Scott (16)

ERA:  Shohei Ohtani (1.79)

Managers:

Boston Red Sox: Chad Tracy (Interim)

Los Angeles Dodgers: Dave Roberts (11th season)