MLB Predictions: Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles: August 31st 2010

Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles
MLB Prediction: Baltimore Orioles (RL)
Visit Touthouse.com for more MLB predictions from Steve Merril

The Orioles return home after a 4-2 road trip thru Chicago and Anaheim. They host the Boston Red Sox who are coming off of a series loss in Tampa Bay to the Rays. Josh Beckett makes the start. He’s 4-3 with a 6.50 ERA in 15 starts this season. The righty has given up 15 runs and 21 hits in his last 17.7 innings pitched. He has faced the Orioles just once this season and gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings of work. Beckett got a no-decision in that 3-2 Orioles victory. Brian Roberts (10-36), Nick Markakis (11-35), Ty Wigginton (9-29), Luke Scott (8-18), and Matt Wieters (1-3) all hit the Boston starter well. The Orioles are 6-6 against the Red Sox this season and 4-2 at home in front of their fans. The Red Sox bullpen is 7-14 with a 5.02 ERA and 12 blown saves on the road this season.

Baltimore’s Brian Matusz has put together two straight solid efforts against two solid teams. He gave up one run and eight hits in 15 innings pitched against the White Sox and Rangers. The lefty has had success against Boston this season. He’s 1-0 with a 2.41 ERA in three starts against the Red Sox. Boston hitters are just 7 for 46 against Matusz. Only Victor Martinez (2-5) and Adrian Beltre (2-4) have had any sort of success. Boston enters this contest having scored only 10 runs in their last four games. Boston is hitting .243 in their last seven games while averaging only 3.7 runs per game. Baltimore’s bullpen is 15-6 with a 4.45 ERA at home this year. Beckett hasn’t been himself lately so we’ll recommend taking the Orioles on the run line in this game tonight.