MLB Betting Preview: San Francisco Giants vs. Boston Red Sox Odds, Analysis

The Boston Red Sox (52-39) acquired lefty Drew Pomeranz (8-7, 2.47 ERA) hoping to put themselves over the top in the race to win the American League East.

Pomeranz was used to being an underdog with the San Diego Padres, but he is listed as a -190 betting favorite (bet $190 to win $100) Wednesday at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark for an interleague matchup with the San Francisco Giants (57-37).

Pomeranz faced the Giants three times when he was a member of the Padres, going 0-2 with a 2.60 ERA. San Diego was outscored 8-5 in those games, losing each time by only one run. He is 3-0 in his past four starts overall, allowing one run or fewer in his last three appearances, with all of them resulting in wins.

The Red Sox gave up one of their top pitching prospects in 18-year-old Anderson Espinoza, so the pressure is on them to win now, and Pomeranz will be counted on to come through in this spot.

San Francisco will counter with righty Matt Cain (1-5, 5.34 ERA), who was activated from the 15-day disabled list after dealing with a hamstring injury. Cain has not pitched since June 13, when he surrendered three runs and five hits in 3.2 innings of an 11-5 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Cain has started 11 games overall for the Giants this season, going 0-2 in four road outings with a 6.05 ERA. His lone win came versus the Chicago Cubs at home on May 21, as he gave up one run and six hits in six innings of work.

Boston has won three of the previous four meetings with San Francisco along with nine of 12 following a 4-0 victory on Tuesday, according to the Odds Shark MLB Database.

Offense has been a major problem for the Giants in the series recently, as they have scored three runs or less in each of the last eight games between the teams, with the under going 5-3-1.

The under is also 11-2 in the past 13 starts for Pomeranz, cashing in three straight. Cain has seen the over go 5-3 in his last eight starts, although the under is 5-1 in San Francisco’s past six overall.