Red-Hot Red Sox Looking to Extend Dominance Over Detroit, End Streaking Tigers’ Winning Ways

After putting up five runs in the eighth inning to take a commanding 14-1 lead, the Boston Red Sox were just an inning away from completing an emphatic road win over the Detroit Tigers when rain struck on Thursday afternoon.

Nevertheless, the red-hot BoSox look like they’ll have a solid chance to really cool off the Tigers when the two teams resume their four-game set on Friday.

Thanks to my always in-depth research and expert MLB betting analysis, baseball diamond bettors everywhere will get the insight they’ll need in order to make a trio of wise wagers over the final three games of their AL showdown.  

Let’s start with Friday’s matchup between the two teams, who are both currently in second place in their respective divisions.

Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers

Friday, May 27, 2011
On Friday, the Red Sox will hand the ball to veteran knuckle-baller Tim Wakefield (1-1, 4.50 ERA) while the Tigers counter with underrated right-hander Rick Porcello (4-2, 3.08 ERA).

Boston’s ageless 44-yeard-old right-hander came through for the BoSox in a big way the last time he took the mound. Wakefield was called on to make just his third start of the season on Sunday and looked downright fantastic in limiting the Chicago Cubs to one earned run on just fur hits in 6.2 strong innings.

Beating Porcello however, won’t be any small task as the 22-year-old has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his last half-dozen starts while tossing at least five innings each time out. This will be Porcello’s first start against Boston since his mound fracas with Kevin Youkilis two years ago at Fenway Park.
Edge: Detroit

Saturday, May 28, 2011
The Red Sox will turn to right-hander Clay Buchholz and they’ll be looking for another strong outing after the 26-year-old tossed 7.1 solid innings against the impressive Cleveland Indians on Monday while giving up just two earned runs in a no-decision.

The good news for BoSox betting backers is the fact that Buchholz has allowed an identical two runs in three of his last five starts while not giving up a single run in the other two starts.

The Tigers will call up Andrew Oliver (0-0, 0.00 ERA) from Triple-A Toledo for his highly-anticipated return to the Tigers after showing some signs he could succeed late last summer. The hard-throwing southpaw went 4-3 with a 3.31 ERA at Toledo.
Edge: Boston

Sunday, May 29, 2011
BetOnline baseball fanatics will be treated to the best pitching matchup of the series on Sunday when Boston’s Josh Beckett (4-1, 1.69 ERA) looks to outdo counterpart Justin Verlander (4-3, 3.42 ERA).

Beckett has pitched as well as any pitcher in the AL this season and limited Cleveland to one run on five hits in 6.2 innings of a 4-2 win over the Indians on Tuesday. Beckett has gone 2-0 in two career starts at Comerica Park – with an unbelievable 0.61 ERA.

Justin Verlander gets another shot at Beckett and the Red Sox after allowing three earned runs on six hits in eight strong innings of what turned out to be a narrow 4-3 loss to Boston on May, 19.

The edge in this contest clearly goes to Beckett and Boston.
Edge: Boston