Beckett has been red hot this year and so have the Red Sox with the bats. Beckett particularly is 3-0 with a 0.90 WHIP and 1.80 ERA over his last 3 starts and he'll go in the day start on Thursday where the Red Sox are 24-8 this year and Beckett has a 2.14 ERA with 0.81 WHIP in day starts in 2011. Royals on the other hand are 14-19 and although they have hit well their pitching and the wins just have not come and that's definitely the case with their scheduled starter Luke Hochevar who can show a glimpse of his potential at home but on the road he's not the same as he has an ERA over 5 on the road this year and has not been any better during day starts. He's having a rough time this month and has an ERA over 6 in his last 3 starts and over 6 in his career during day starts and in July. Red Sox are the #1 day team in offense sporting a .883 OPS while scoring 6.66 runs per game.
More on Beckett as he's 6-2 lifetime vs. the Royals with a 2.26 ERA and in his 3 home starts he's got a 1.44 ERA vs. them. Hochevar on the other hand has 4 starts vs. the Red Sox none since 2009 but a 7.94 ERA and 1.85 WHIP does not bode well for him. Red Sox have 74 active at bats vs. him with a .378 average and 1.154 OPS. KC is 20-45 in their last 65 games as an under dog while Boston is 46-18 in their last 64 overall and 39-15 as a favorite over their last 54. Why are we telling you this? Well the Red Sox have won 78% (25 of 32) of their home games by more than 1 run. They have also won 10 of their last 12 vs. the Royals by more than 1 run as well so we think these are great odds for a team that is 23-9 in their last 32 home games vs. KC.
Scott Baker - (3-0, 17.1 IP, 0.87 WHIP, 0.00 ERA)
Matt Harrisson (3-0, 22 IP, 0.95 WHIP, 2.05 ERA)
Matt Cain (2-1, 18 IP, 1.22 WHIP, 2.00 ERA)
Jaime Garcia (2-1, 20.1 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 1.77 ERA)
Cold starter with the best chance to win well we have no choice but to give that to Joel Pineiro at +121 odds as he's got a 2.37 WHIP and 9.24 ERA over his last 3 starts. The only other cold starter is Luke Hochevar and he goes up against our free pick. Pineiro's last start at Detroit he gave up 9 ER so I think he'll have a little bit to prove on Thursday in a day game.
Luke Hochevar (3-0, 16 IP, 1.69 WHIP, 6.19 ERA)
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We will continue to add on more college football preview articles so stay tuned for more to come throughout July and August!
