MLB Picks: Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Indians

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester is 3-0 with a 3.92 ERA in seven career outings at Progressive Field, which is important to consider when making your MLB picks Thursday, as he prepares to face the Cleveland Indians for the first time in 2013.

MLB handicappers will find that the Red Sox are -135 road favorites in the MLB betting odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total stands at 7.5 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this American League matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction on the total along the way.

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox have won five games in a row—outscoring opponents by a 23-8 margin in that span.

Sports bettors will find that the Red Sox are 5-1 in Jon Lester's last six starts as a road favorite of -110 to -150.

Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians have lost three games in a row, including a 6-3 setback to the Boston Red Sox as -134 home favorites Wednesday night.

Indians starting pitcher Zach McAllister is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in two career starts versus the Red Sox.

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers play the total as one of their MLB picks Thursday night, as the OVER is 5-1 in Jon Lester's last six starts in Cleveland.

MLB Pick: Over 7.5

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