Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0, 0.00 ERA) and Phil Hughes (4-4, 4.59 ERA) start in the second of a four-game series between the Boston Red Sox (23-29) and the Minnesota Twins (30-20) at Fenway Park. The Red Sox won the last game 1-0 and Boston leads the series 1-0. Action begins at 1:35 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Jun. 3 and can be seen on FSN-N and NESN.
Rodriguez pitched 7.2 innings in his most recent start, surrendering zero runs, striking out seven and walking two in a 5-1 win over the Rangers. Dustin Pedroia (.288, 19 Rs, 7 HRs, 21 RBIs, 1 SB) went 1 for 4 yesterday. Against the Red Sox, Hughes is 6-8 with a 5.14 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, and 81 strikeouts. Torii Hunter (.278, 25 Rs, 7 HRs, 32 RBIs, 1 SB) went 1 for 4 yesterday.
Boston is a -156 favorite against Minnesota and the Over/Under (O/U) for this game is sitting at nine runs. The Red Sox have an overall money line of -1,207 and a record as the favorite of 13-19. Boston’s batters do not strike out very often, with only 6.4 per game.
In the other locker room, Minnesota is coming in with an overall money line of +1,726 and an impressive record of 24-16 as the dog. They played solid baseball as the underdog over their last 10 games with an 8-1 record, and an 8-2 record SU. Offensively, they average 4.6 runs per game, which is good for third in the AL. The Twins are tough outs for opponents, ranking fifth in the AL with 8.7 hits per game. The Twins allow 4.2 runs per game, but have improved upon those numbers in the past 10 games, allowing 3.0 runs per game during that span.
The Twins lead the season series, 3-1. The Red Sox have a 15-21 record against right-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Hughes takes the mound. Rodriguez (RHP) will be on the hill against the Twins, who have a 15-13 record against right-handed starting pitchers.
Predictions: SU Winner – BOS, O/U – Over
Notes
Boston earned its fifth shutout of the season in its last game. Minnesota has been shut out four times this season.
When the Twins play into extra innings, they have a 3-1 record. The Red Sox are 2-1 when their games exceed nine innings.
Having scored zero runs in their last game, the Twins are going to have to up their game if they want to win this matchup. The Red Sox have a 5-0 record in games where opponents scored that many runs.
When they outhit their opponents, the Red Sox are 19-3. The Twins have a 20-0 record when outhitting opponents.
Ranking 23rd in runs, Boston has earned 196 this season. Minnesota ranks seventh with 225 runs.
Ranking 26th, Minnesota is near the bottom of the league in walks, notching 121 this season. Boston ranks in the top five at third with 176.
When the Red Sox hit at least one home run, they are 17-15. When the Twins hit at least one homer, they have a 24-4 record.
