As the sun sets on Sunday afternoon, the Arizona Diamondbacks (73-56, 67-62 RL, 71-52-6 O/U) will face off against the Boston Red Sox (67-60, 59-68 RL, 67-53-7 O/U) to finalize their three-game series. The Diamondbacks are set to start Merrill Kelly, while the Red Sox will counter with Tanner Houck. The Diamondbacks dominated the series opener with a commanding 12-2 victory.
Struggling with handicapping? Try our MLB Predictions!
Arizona’s Road Adventure Reaches Final Stop
Merrill Kelly takes the mound on Sunday, hoping to bounce back after a shaky outing where he allowed six runs in five innings against the Rays, ultimately earning a no-decision. Despite his injury struggles this season, Kelly has managed to keep opponents to two or fewer runs in five of his six starts, boasting a solid 3.63 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. In his past matchups against the Red Sox, he has limited them to just two runs over 14.2 innings.
This matchup marks the end of Arizona’s road trip. After a sweep at the hands of the Rays, the Diamondbacks regained momentum by sweeping the Marlins. Currently, they are four games behind the Dodgers but comfortably positioned in the wildcard race, holding a six-game lead over .500 on the road.
Eugenio Suarez is a standout player for Arizona, showcasing a hot bat with 15 RBIs and a .762 OPS this month. His performance is vital, especially with the recent injuries to Christian Walker and Ketel Marte. With 74 RBIs and a .731 OPS for the season, Suarez has proven to be a critical asset, having recorded a remarkable 1.2 OPS against the Red Sox last year, including five RBIs in the series opener.
Offensively, Arizona leads the league with an average of 5.35 runs per game, while their pitching staff holds a 4.45 ERA, placing them 25th overall.
Boston’s Quest for Wildcard Continues
Tanner Houck is ready to take the mound for the Red Sox on Sunday. In his last appearance, he allowed three runs (two earned) over six innings against the Astros, ending up with a no-decision. Houck is enjoying a standout season with a 3.01 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP, supported by an 8-8 record across 152.2 innings. However, he faced challenges against the Diamondbacks previously, giving up four runs in just four innings.
The Red Sox are in dire need of victories, currently trailing by 3.5 games for a wildcard spot. Last week, they managed to win two of four matchups against the Orioles and secured a series win in Houston, scoring a total of 15 runs while yielding 11. Despite this, they struggle at home, posting a record four games below .500.
Ceddanne Rafaela has emerged as a critical player in this crucial month. Although he has cooled off recently, he still boasts six RBIs and a .721 OPS this month. Over the season, the 23-year-old shortstop has 61 RBIs with a respectable .702 OPS. However, he has yet to find success in this series, going 0 for 3.
Boston’s offense averages 4.93 runs per game, placing them fifth overall, while their pitching staff has a 4.18 ERA, ranking 21st in the league.
Best Bets for Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Boston Red Sox
The Arizona Diamondbacks are on a roll, having won four of their last five series, including a sweep of the Miami Marlins just before this series. In contrast, the Boston Red Sox find themselves struggling at home, with a record four games below .500. They have lost four of their last six games at Fenway Park and now sit 3.5 games out of a wildcard spot.
Additionally, Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly has shown resilience, allowing two or fewer runs in four of his last five outings. His historical performance against the Red Sox has been impressive, conceding only two runs in 14.2 innings. On the other hand, Tanner Houck’s performance has been inconsistent, with a 4.18 ERA this month, and the Red Sox have lost all six of his most recent appearances.
