There really isn’t much like reeling in a nice tidy under, which is exactly what we did last night. Apparently Archy’s velocity deficiencies don’t impact him as much when he faces those lowly Padres. Man their lineup is really hurting. The first place I went today was to see who gets them tonight. It says a lot about Archie Bradley‘s numbers this season that I’m not going back to that well tonight, but I think we’ve got a something just a bit better than a blind fade on San Diego. Unbeaten in three picks this month and a little cushion to work with! Oh baby, let’s start going crazy.
Free Pick
The Padres are on the board every night, but the chance to fade Clay Buchholz is a rare purchasing opportunity these days. There’s no need to risk accelerating the arthritic process even the slightest by explaining to anybody why they should bet against Clay Buchholz. There wasn’t any need a year ago when he was still looked at as a guy the Red Sox would have to lean heavily on; and I won’t now, after his demotion the bullpen and a harsh shift to absolute irrelevancy in Boston. Plus, Miggy Cabrera is back, which makes the fact that the Tigers were just swept without him almost equally irrelevant.
On the flip side, Matt Boyd has been the other half of that young starting pitcher combination in Detroit that has transcended youth and lack of experience to have the Tigs in a place I didn’t think they would be this year. Boyd has started 11 games this season and hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his last seven. He’s thrown 63 innings and has only allowed eight earned runs in the last 33. David Ortiz will get a day off from the middle of the lineup against a tricky lefty who the Sox will see for the first time. Things are finally hopping in Boston but I’m going to come out and fade the winning streak. It’s no fun, but it just makes too much sense tonight.
Gut Says: Detroit -110
YTD: 23-21-1 +0.55
2015: 31-25-5 +1.09
2014: 45-28-3 +9.02
Boston Red Sox • buchholz • detroit tigers