MLB Betting – Crafty Right-Handers Lead Angels, Red Sox

Two teams used to being near the top of the American League will square off tonight in a game that could have a big effect on which team ends up staying within striking distance of the playoffs when it’s all said and done.

Both the MLB betting favorite Red Sox, who are expected to win according to the baseball betting odds, and MLB betting underdog Angels, the baseball odds betting underdog, have had disappointing seasons so far, but each has the talent to rise up and steal a playoff spot again if things fall their way.

Tonight, both teams will throw out right-handed pitchers with solid track records in a game that could be big for the confidence and psyches of both teams going forward in the 2010 MLB season.

Los Angeles Angels (Joe Pineiro, R) at Boston Red Sox (John Lackey, R)
7:10 pm ET, Fenway Park

MLB betting line: Red Sox favored at -1 ½

For the Red Sox to win tonight, it’s no secret that John Lackey has to lead the way at home at the legendary Fenway Park.

The Red Sox have no enjoyed the kind of home field advantage they have in most previous years because of the struggles of sluggers like David Ortiz whose games are tailor made for the stadium with its unique dimensions, including the short right field and the Monster wall in left field.

Lackey needs to figure out how to pitch a little better at home, but he is a smart pitcher with a strong history as one of the most underrated AL pitchers in recent memory and he has experience as a World Series winning pitcher as well.

His ERA is just 4.5 on the year so far for the Sox but he has plenty of talent and is starting to turn it around.

Meanwhile, Pineiro got tore up by the Detroit Tigers in his last start.

The Angels’ offense is familiar with Lackey as he used to pitch for them but it has also been struggling as they only scored one run against the Sox in their last meeting yesterday.

The Angels put up 883 runs last year, their highest total of the past decade, but so far they haven’t done nearly as well in 2010 without Chone Figgins and Vladimir Guerrero in the lineup.

The Angels are the MLB betting underdog against the baseball betting odds for that reason tonight, and with the way the Red Sox offense has been playing lately, Boston should be able to win and cover the baseball betting odds with a big day at the plate.

MLB betting pick: Boston Red Sox (1 ½).