Detroit Tigers vs. Boston Red Sox Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 6/20/2022

Time: 7:10 p.m. ET

Venue: Fenway Park, Boston, MA

Where to watch: Bally Sports Detroit, NESN

DraftKings: Red Sox -190, Tigers +160

BetMGM: Red Sox -185, Tigers +150

Caesars: Red Sox -185, Tigers +165

Tigers: 26-40

Red Sox: 36-31

The recent run of winning from the Boston Red Sox hasn't resulted in a long winning streak or something that is newsworthy. But they've won five consecutive series and have gone from a 23-27 team to a 36-31 ball club after taking two of three over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. That's more than what can be said from the Detroit Tigers, even though they salvaged a four-game split against the Texas Rangers this weekend.

But as the two begin a three-game series in Fenway, this is a big close to the nine-game homestand for Boston with another nine-game road trip on the horizon, including a three-game series in Toronto that could alter the course of the AL East standings as we know it. But before we get there, the Red Sox have to feel good after taking two of three against the first-place Cardinals. Boston took the finale 6-4 on Sunday.

Nick Pivetta had one of the better starts of his career by going seven innings and striking out 10, even with walking four. Christian Vasquez hit a three-run homer to pace the offense, and Trevor Story also went yard in what was a good, all-around day for the home team.

"I was really happy with the way it finished," said Pivetta, who struck out the side in his final inning and overcame all three walks that came in the first inning. "I was really focused on putting a zero up on the board. It was still a 2-1 game."

"We had to get back to the normal Pivetta we know," said catcher Vázquez. "When he attacks the zone with the fastball no matter who's hitting, he doesn't care who's hitting. He attacks everybody."

An argument can be made that if the Red Sox want to get to a point of competing for a playoff spot, that they need to start putting some streaks together in order to at least catch a wild-card spot. No one's catching the New York Yankees any time soon. But one way to at least ensure they can keep this going is beating teams they're supposed to beat, and that includes the Tigers.

Detroit, after getting embarrassed in the first two games of the series against Texas, came back with two dominant outings and silenced the Rangers' rotation and bats. Robbie Grossman drove in four runs in Detroit's 7-3 win, getting to Texas starter Dane Dunning in just 4.2 innings and tagging him for five runs.

"Any time you hit, it brings a lot of energy to the ball club," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said a day after his club erupted for 14 runs and held off the Rangers. "This is the brand of exceptional baseball that everyone has expected from us for a long time."

Whether or not that can be sustained is another matter entirely. The Tigers still don't have that impact ready in the lineup, or even in the rotation, to make some noise. But at the very least, they had a good weekend. If they can have another one in Boston, that'll make for something.

With Boston still at home, I think this is a good time for them to take advantage of this series and put a stamp on it early. The Boston bats will take over early and put this game out of reach. Red Sox win 9-3

Tigers are 55-83 on the road the past three seasons.

Tigers are 7-11 against AL East opponents this season.

Red Sox are 30-14 in June the past three seasons.

Red Sox are 15-21 the past three seasons when a home favorite between -150 and -200.

Tigers:
Victor Reyes (S) RF
Harold Castro (L) 3B
Robbie Grossman (S) LF
Javier Baez (R) SS
Riley Greene (L) CF
Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B
Eric Haase (R) DH
Jonathan Schoop (R) 2B
Tucker Barnhart (S) C
SP - Josh Winckowski

Red Sox:
Rob Refsnyder (R) RF
Rafael Devers (L) 3B
J.D. Martinez (R) DH
Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
Alex Verdugo (L) LF
Trevor Story (R) 2B
Christian Vazquez (R) C
Jackie Bradley Jr. (L) CF
Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B
SP - Alex Faedo

Batting average: Miguel Cabrera -- .297

Home runs: Jonathan Schoop -- 5

RBI: Miguel Cabrera -- 22

Wins: Tarik Skubal -- 5

ERA: Tarik Skubal -- 3.13

Batting average: Xander Bogaerts -- .337

Home runs: Rafael Devers -- 16

RBI: Trevor Story -- 45

Wins: Nick Pivetta -- 7

ERA: Nathan Eovaldi -- 3.16