Tuesday, September 16, 2014

PNC Park in Pittsburgh

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Tuesday night, the Boston Red Sox will take the field behind Anthony Ranaudo (3 – 2, 5.40 ERA) as they square off against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Charlie Morton (5 – 12, 3.84 ERA).  Ranaudo will be making his 6th start as Morton makes his 26th.

Anthony Ranaudo took his 2nd straight loss in his last start.  It was a short outing for Ranaudo after he surrendered 4 runs and 6 hits (including 3 homers) in just 3.1 innings.  He walked 2 and struck out 2.  After managing to come away with wins in his first 3 starts, some of the bad habits that Ranaudo was getting away with have come back to haunt him.  He has allowed a home run each of his 5 starts and 3 or more runs in 4 of those 5 starts.  But down at Triple-A Pawtucket earlier this season, Ranaudo was an impressive 14 – 4 with a 2.61 ERA in 24 starts.

Ranaudo has never faced the Pittsburgh Pirates before but if he can shake off those 2 losses and focus on his pitches, he will have a shot at ending his losing streak.

Charlie Morton will make this start after returning from a month-long stint on the disable list due to a sports hernia.  His last start was back in mid-August and he took the loss that day after allowing 5 runs and 7 hits in just 3 innings.  The sports hernia could have been affecting his performance because he hasn’t won a game since early July.  Morton is just 1 -4 in his last 10 starts.  In 2013, Morton posted a record of 7 – 4 with a 3.26 ERA in 20 starts.

Morton didn’t face the Red Sox last season and he has only faced 5 of the Boston hitters before.  Those 5 Red Sox are batting .432 against Morton with 19 hits, a homer and 5 RBIs in 44 at-bats.            

Boston Red Sox Betting Trends

Boston Red Sox are 64-82-4 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Boston Red Sox is -0.5

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

Pittsburgh Pirates are 70-71-8 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Pittsburgh Pirates is 0.2

Injuries to Watch

Boston Red Sox

09/15/14 DH David Ortiz Personal questionable
09/13/14 CF Brock Holt Concussion out indefinitely
09/10/14 2B Dustin Pedroia Hand out for season
08/01/14 RF Shane Victorino Back 60-day DL (7/30)
05/31/14 1B Ryan Lavarnway Wrist 60-day DL (5/30)

Pittsburgh Pirates

09/10/14 3B Pedro Alvarez Foot out indefinitely
08/18/14 P Charlie Morton Hernia 15-day DL (8/16)
08/16/14 P Stolmy Pimentel Ankle 15-day DL (8/14)

Tony's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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