Arizona Diamondbacks vs Boston Red Sox Prediction, Preview and Odds - 08/23/2024

Game Time: 7:10 pm ET, Friday, August 23, 2024

Venue:  Fenway Park, Boston, MA

Where to Watch:  MLB Network

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Diamondbacks +110, Red Sox -130; Over/Under:  9.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Diamondbacks +110, Red Sox -130; Over/Under:  9.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Diamondbacks +110, Red Sox -130; Over/Under:  9.5 runs

Arizona Diamondbacks:  72-56 (2nd place, NL West)

Boston Red Sox:  67-59 (3rd place, AL East)

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Arizona Diamondbacks:  7-3 last 10

Boston Red Sox:  6-4 last 10

The Diamondbacks are entering this series off a win and completed the sweep in their 3-game series against the Miami Marlins 3-0 in their last series. They enter this game with a 72-56 record overall and have a road record of 35-30. This is the series opener of a 3-game series with the Red Sox on Friday and they have Thursday off as a day of rest. Their offense ranks 4th in the MLB with a .765 OPS. Jordan Montgomery was their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Ryne Nelson is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 8-6 with a 4.35 ERA this season. His team won 7 of their last 8 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 1 ER, 1 HR, and 0 BB with 6 Ks on 5 hits through 6.1 IP against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Red Sox are entering this series off a win and won their 3-game series against the Houston Astros 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 67-59 record overall and have a home record of 29-32. This is the 1st game of a 3-game series with the Diamondbacks on Friday and they have Thursday off as a day of rest. Their offense ranks 2nd in the MLB with a .768 OPS. Cooper Criswell was their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Brayan Bello is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 11-5 with a 4.80 ERA this season. His team won their last 5 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 1 earned run, 1 homer, and 3 BB with 6 strikeouts on 2 hits through 6 innings played against the Baltimore Orioles.

The current betting odds have the Diamondbacks listed as a slight underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Diamondbacks have looked good in their games this season with their 72-56 record overall which has them in 2nd place of the NL West and fighting for a Wild Card spot. They have looked good in their road games too with their 35-30 road record. Meanwhile, the Red Sox have also looked good in their games this season with their 67-59 record overall, but that record only has them in 3rd place of the AL East and fighting to get themselves into a Wild Card spot. They have also looked worse in their home games this year with their 29-32 home record. They have been playing well lately with their 6-4 record in their last 10 games, but the Diamondbacks are the hotter team right now with their 7-3 record in their last 10 games. They are going to have Nelson on the mound here and he hasn't been bad this season. He is 8-6 with a 4.35 ERA and hasn't been giving up many runs lately. He only gave up 1 earned run in his last start and the team has won 7 of their last 8 games with him starting. The Red Sox will also have a solid starter on the mound here with Bello going and the team has had success with him, winning 5 games in a row with him starting, but he has also been giving up a lot of runs in his starts lately. He only gave up 1 earned run in his last start but that hasn't been a common theme for him this season and he is due to give up some runs here with how well the Diamondbacks offense has been playing lately. The best way to place a bet here is on the Diamondbacks to win this game. 

Diamondbacks Red Sox Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Friday, August 23, 2024 (7:10 pm ET start time) is Diamondbacks 9 Red Sox 4.

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Arizona Diamondbacks: 47-24 (+21.75 units) on the moneyline in their last 71 games. 37-26 (+10.50 units) on the runline in their last 63 games. 47-25 to the over in their last 72 games. 

Boston Red Sox: 29-32 (-10.30 units) on the moneyline in their last 61 home games. 51-65 (-24 units) on the runline in their last 116 games. 52-31 to the over in their last 83 games. 

Arizona Diamondbacks:  K. Marte (2B) Out indefinitely - Ankle. G. Moreno (C) Out indefinitely - Groin. B. Jarvis (SP) Out indefinitely - Elbow. C. Walker (1B) Out indefinitely - Oblique. D. Jameson (RP) out for season - Elbow. K. Nelson (RP) out for season - Shoulder.

Boston Red Sox:  C. Booser (SP) Out indefinitely - Elbow. J. Paxton (SP) Out indefinitely - Calf. B. Mata (SP) Out indefinitely - Hamstring. J. Slaten (RP) Out indefinitely - Elbow. L. Hendriks (RP) Early August - Elbow. G. Whitlock (RP) Out indefinitely - Oblique. C. Murphy (RP) out for season - Elbow. L. Giolito (SP) out for season - Elbow. T. Story (2B) out for season - Shoulder.

“I was tempted a couple of times to do things during the course of the game but felt like I wanted to build an inning and have the right resources available on the bench. There were some tough calls. I took Del Castillo out of the game. I almost got booed out of the arena.” - Torey Lovullo after his team’s win against the Marlins in their game on Wednesday.

“He's been putting up good at bats for two months already. In the biggest moments he's able to slow it down. He's doing a lot of good things.” - Alex Cora on Ceddanne Rafaela after his team’s win against the Astros in their game on Wednesday.

Corbin Carroll (L) RF

Jake McCarthy (L) CF

Joc Pederson (L) DH

Josh Bell (S) 1B

Pavin Smith (L) LF

Adrian Del Castillo (L) C

Eugenio Suárez (R) 3B

Luis Guillorme (L) 2B

Geraldo Perdomo (S) SS

Jarren Duran (L) CF

Wilyer Abreu (L) RF

Triston Casas (L) 1B

Rafael Devers (L) 3B

Rob Refsnyder (R) LF

Masataka Yoshida (L) DH

Connor Wong (R) C

David Hamilton (L) 2B

Ceddanne Rafaela (R) SS

Batting Average:  Adrian Del Castillo (.361)

Hits:  Ketel Marte (130)

Home Runs:  Ketel Marte (30)

RBI:  Ketel Marte (81)

Stolen Bases:  Corbin Carroll (21)

Wins:  Zac Gallen (9)

Saves:  Paul Sewald (16)

ERA:  A.J. Puk (0.82)

Batting Average:  Masataka Yoshida (.297)

Hits:  Jarren Duran (154)

Home Runs:  Rafael Devers (27)

RBI:  Rafael Devers (77)

Stolen Bases:  Jarren Duran (32)

Wins:  Brayan Bello (11)

Saves:  Kenley Jansen (24)

ERA:  Garrett Whitlock (1.96)

Managers:

Arizona Diamondbacks: Torey Lovullo (8th season)

Boston Red Sox: Álex Cora (4th season)