Chowder and Champions’ Best Boston Bets for 8/9 (Durran to Go Yard vs. Royals?)

Tuesday brought a disappointing showing from the Red Sox after a walk-off win. However, we’re looking at the team to bounce back today, and taking a peak at another AL East tilt as well.

Here are our editors’ best Boston betting picks for Aug. 9

Best Boston Betting Picks: August 9

Tyler Maher: Red Sox Runline vs. Royals

Whatever “momentum” the Red Sox supposedly had from their walk-off win on Monday failed to carry over on Tuesday. Despite finally getting Trevor Story back from injury, Boston got crushed by Kansas City 9-3. The team’s August swoon that we predicted is fully underway, as the slumping Sox have now lost five of their last six and eight of their last 10,

That said, the Red Sox are still a much better team than the Royals and are in a great spot to bounce back at home tonight. Boston will have Nick Pivetta on the mound, who’s been nothing short of incredible since late May. Over his last 47 innings, he owns a 2.30 ERA with a 3.08 FIP, 64 strikeouts and a .499 opponent OPS.

Kansas City, meanwhile, is going with Jordan Lyles, who’s been one of the worst pitchers in baseball this year. He checks in at 3-12 with a 6.24 ERA in 21 starts this season, including a 7.47 ERA over his last three outings.

Forget what happened yesterday. Look for the Red Sox bats to break out of their recent funk against Lyles and for Pivetta to keep the Royals’ hitters at bay, resulting in an easy win for Boston.

Jason Schandl: Jarren Duran to Hit HR

For as much frustration as Red Sox fans are feeling right now, a matchup with Jordan Lyles should be cathartic. His 6.24 ERA is egregiously bad, and it’s not often you see an xFIP as high as 5.42, which is his MLB-worst mark in 2023. He’s right up there in home runs per nine allowed (1.75, 7th most among qualifying pitchers), so this should be a great spot for the Sox to take out their frustrations by swinging as hard as they can.

And Jarren Duran is a guy who can swing with some serious force. Just shy of 50% of his batted-balls have come off the bat at 95+ miles per hour this season, and he ranks in the top third of qualifying hitters in average exit velocity.

He’s also a guy who has some wild platoon splits, so getting a few cracks at Lyles as the starter is exactly the opportunity you want to see for him.

Isaiah De Los Santos: Blue Jays-Guardians UNDER

Elsewhere in the AL East today, I’m targeting the under in the Blue Jays-Guardians game.

Runs have been hard to come by for both sides’ struggling offenses in this series. Just five total runs have crossed the plate in two contests so far, and Tuesday’s 1-0 matchup was the complete opposite of a barnburner.

Cleveland’s bats are in an incredibly dire spot right now. This club hasn’t scored more than four runs in a game since the end of July as they’re plagued by a cold stretch. Fighting in the clubhouse certainly hasn’t helped turn things around, either.

It often takes two to tango when it comes to the run total, and the Guardians just don’t have the rhythm right now. I expect them to remain quiet with Kevin Gasuman on the bump tonight, which makes the under an attractive play.

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