Boston Red Sox vs Cleveland Guardians

Boston ends a six-game road trip and is 13-24 after playing five or more straight road games. The Red Sox haven't made any errors in the last two games but are still the worst fielding team in the majors. Boston is 19-31 after two straight where they committed no errors. First-place Cleveland is in bounce-back mode after getting shut out yesterday. They're on an 8-2 run and play their sixth consecutive home contest. Cleveland's defense is Top 10 in fielding and ranked second in relief pitching (2.24 ERA). Triston McKenzie had one bad home start versus the Yankees, but in his other two home games, Cleveland won both as he allowed just one run in 10+ innings. Cleveland is 44-24 after playing five or more straight home games, so back home field. Take Cleveland as a Max Play. 

Cleveland has won six of the past seven meetings with Boston following Tuesday's 4-1 victory as Jose Ramirez homered in the eighth and Tyler Freeman and Bryan Rocchio had RBIs in the seventh. The bullpen came through again and allowed no runs on no hits in 2 2/3 innings. The Guardians are in first place in the AL Central with the best record in the majors. Carlos Carrasco starts tonight and he has allowed seven runs in 18 1/3 innings this season and the Guardians won his last outing 5-4 against Boston on Thursday as he gave up two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings. Cooper Criswell will make his second start for the Red Sox and he has allowed six runs (three earned) in 6 2/3 innings in two appearances in 2024. The Red Sox are 7-3 UNDER their past 10 games and Cleveland has allowed only 2.33 runs its past six games. Take the Guardians (Max Play) and the UNDER.

Tanner Houck did not give up a run his first two starts while allowing seven hits in 12 innings, but the right-hander got clobbered for seven runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Angels on Friday. Boston is hoping Houck returns to his earlier form as the Red Sox need to get their first win in this four-game set with Cleveland. Houck has started twice against the Guardians in his career and has a 2.61 ERA and a 0.77 WHIP. Ben Lively will make his first appearance for the Guardians this year after he went 4-7 with a 5.38 ERA in 2023 with Cincinnati. Lively had a .270 opponent batting average and allowed 20 homers in only 88 2/3 innings last season. Boston has gone UNDER four of five games and it is 4-1-1 UNDER its past six games after scoring at least five runs its previous game. Take the Red Sox to win, and bet this game to stay UNDER as a Max Play.