The Boston Red Sox host the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday in the third game of a three-game set at Fenway Park. The Cubs can do little but accept their spot as the bottom-dwellers of the N.L. Central, whereas the Red Sox continue to scrape together solid outings in hopes of gaining ground in the competitive A.L. East. <\/p>\n
Chicago Cubs (36-46) at Boston Red Sox (38-46)<\/strong>
\nDate: Wednesday, July 2, 2014<\/strong>
\nTime: 7:00 p.m. ET<\/strong>
\nVenue: Fenway Park<\/strong>
\nCity: Boston, Massachusetts<\/strong>
\nO\/U Odds: 9<\/strong>
\nMoney Line: Boston -150, Chicago +140<\/strong>
\nPitching Matchup: LH Travis Wood (7-6, 4.52 ERA) at RH Brandon Workman (1-1, 3.27 ERA)<\/strong>
\n [dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]<\/strong><\/p>\nMLB Matchup Stats<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0MLB ATS Insider Preview<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Brandon Workman gets the nod for the Red Sox in this one. He\u2019s quietly been very strong for the team since moving into the team\u2019s starting rotation, posting a 3.60 ERA and 1.11 WHIP while limiting opposing hitters to a .206 batting average.<\/p>\n
\nBuy Razor Ray’s MLB Picks in 2014. You won’t regret it!! \u2014\u2013><\/a><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n
That comes despite facing a relatively difficult slate of opponents, squaring off against the Cleveland Indians twice, the Baltimore Orioles, and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. He should be able to continue his strong play against a lousy Chicago Cubs lineup.<\/p>\n
The Cubs entered play on Tuesday with the second-lowest batting average in baseball in batting average (.231), and OPS (.661). Over their previous 10 games, the Cubs scored just 29 runs while slashing .203\/.246\/.307 in those contest.
\n[dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
\nAs good as he\u2019s been, Workman\u2019s last start was a forgettable one. He allowed four runs in seven innings of work against the Yankees, surrendering seven hits and walking two while striking out five. That game did come at Yankee Stadium though, always a tough place to play for young pitchers.<\/p>\nWorkman has been much better at Fenway Park, even though it is a hitter-friendly venue. There, Workman has posted a 2.65 ERA and 1.00 WHIP while limiting opposing hitters to a .200 batting average.<\/p>\n
The Cubs counter with Travis Wood. He hit a bump in the road in the month of May but has really settled down in the month of June. In June, Wood posted a 3.19 ERA, and looks to continue his strong play into July.<\/p>\n
In his last start, Wood allowed three runs over 6 2\/\/3 innings of work in a 5-3 win over the Washington Nationals. He has a 2.79 ERA over his last three starts.<\/p>\n
The under is an attractive proposition in this contest with a pair of underrated pitchers facing off against a pair of lineups that aren\u2019t in the greatest forms. Workman and Wood should engage in a nice little pitching battle as this game stays comfortably under a number that the general public has been nice enough to inflate for us.<\/p>\n
The under is 22-5 in the last 27 games at Fenway Park, and it is 16-6 in the Red Sox last 22 games overall.<\/p>\n
The under is also 3-0-1 in Workman\u2019s last four home starts, and it is 19-7-3 in Wood\u2019s last 29 starts following a quality start in his last outing.<\/p>\n