The Baltimore Orioles will do their best to play spoiler on Wednesday evening as the Boston Red Sox scramble to hold off the Tampa Bay Rays over the American League Wildcard lead.<\/p>\n
MLB Betting \u2013 Orioles vs Red Sox Preview & Pick<\/strong> Baltimore Orioles (63-90 through September 19)<\/strong> The Baltimore Orioles will do their best to play spoiler on Wednesday evening as the Boston Red Sox scramble to hold off the Tampa Bay Rays over the American League Wildcard lead. Through Monday, they\u2019d won five of seven, all against the Rays, Angels and Red Sox, so they\u2019ve been pesky for the contenders.<\/p>\n Tommy Hunter starts Wednesday. His skills are quite ordinary and it\u2019s shown in his numbers since he arrived from the Texas Rangers earlier this season. Hunter has a 5.31 ERA and .300 opponents\u2019 batting average since he became an Oriole. He\u2019s allowed two or more homers in three of his last five starts, though he did throw seven shutout innings against the Angels his last time out.<\/p>\n Boston Red Sox (88-66 through September 19)<\/strong> The Red Sox have to take advantage with the easy matchup against Baltimore this week since Tampa gets the Yankees. Through Monday, they\u2019d lost seven of 10 and split the doubleheader to open the Baltimore series. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]<\/p>\n Josh Beckett returned last week after missing a start with an ankle injury and was fairly sharp against Tampa, allowing two earned runs and striking out seven over six innings. He\u2019s slowed ever so slightly since the All-Star break but he\u2019s still been very effective, going 5-2 with a 2.88 ERA in the second half. Boston needs him now more than ever with so many of its other pitchers injured and\/or struggling.<\/p>\n The pick:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Red Sox have had plenty of scares lately but nothing about Wednesday\u2019s matchup looks scary. Beckett is comfy at home this season, going 6-1 with a 2.30 ERA over 13 starts. Also, Hunter has an awful track record against Boston. The Red Sox have smoked him for 16 runs and seven homers in just 17.1 innings over his four starts against them. Watch out for David Ortiz, who has tagged him for two homers in 10 career at-bats.<\/p>\n The Red Sox have a tough road ahead but they should hit a smooth patch on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\nDate: <\/strong>Wednesday, September 21, 2011
\nVenue: <\/strong>Fenway Park, Boston, MA
\nBroadcast: <\/strong>MASN, NESN
\nBaltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox Betting Lines from Sportsbook.com<\/strong>
\nMoney Line: <\/strong>OFF
\nOver\/Under: <\/strong>OFF<\/p>\n
\nTommy Hunter (4-4, 4.81)<\/p>\n
\nJosh Beckett (12-5, 2.50)<\/p>\n