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Atlanta Braves at Boston Red Sox Betting Preview

Wednesday features the finale of an interleague battle as the Atlanta Braves (65-46) will square off with the Boston Red Sox (54-57). The Red Sox will host this one at Fenway Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 pm ET.

Tuesday’s opener was a wild one as the Braves outlasted the Red Sox 9-7 in 11 innings. Atlanta’s starter Charlie Morton was roughed up in this one as he gave up five runs in six innings. The bullpen saved the day, giving up just two runs over the last five innings.

Offensively, Austin Riley was the star of the show going three for six with a HR, five runs batted in, and one run scored. In fact, between the top three hitters in the lineup (Ronald Acuna Jr, Dansby Swanson, and Riley), they went a combined 8 for 17 with six runs batted in and five runs scored.

Boston’s Rich Hill was also not sharp as he gave up four runs in four innings. Kaleb Ort took the loss in relief, giving up three runs (one earned) in 1.2 innings.

Boston slugged three home runs in the defeat, including homers by Christian Arroyo, Tommy Pham, and Jarron Duran. Arroyo also added three runs batted in.

The Braves are the favorite Wednesday despite playing on the road. They are -144 to win while the Red Sox moneyline sits at +122. The runline features Boston +1.5 (-134), and the over/under for total runs is 9.5.

Braves Look To Make Late Division Push

While the Braves sit comfortably in the top Wild Card spot, they would love to make a run at the division-leading New York Mets over the last third of the season. At 65-46, they sit seven games back, or the red hot Mets enter play Thursday.

Trying to deliver a series sweep for Atlanta on Wednesday will be 26-year-old righty Kyle Wright. In 21 games this season, Wright is 13-5 with a 3.22 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and he has 124 strikeouts in 128.2 innings.

Wright was roughed up in his last start as he allowed six runs on seven hits in six innings of work to the Mets. In his two starts prior to that, he allowed just four runs in 12.2 innings on his way to two wins over the Diamondbacks and Angels.

At the plate, Austin Riley has been the team’s hottest hitter. Recently signed to a massive extension, the third baseman is hitting .298/.359/.594 with 30 home runs, 74 runs batted in, and 66 runs scored. Against Pivetta, Riley is three for nine with two home runs and four runs batted in during his career.

Marcell Ozuna has taken Pivetta deep three times, while Dansby Swanson, Travis d’Arnaud, and Orlando Arcia have all homered off of him once.

Season To Forget For The Red Sox

At 54-57, the Boston Red Sox find themselves in last place in the AL East, 17.5 games behind the rival New York Yankees. While this has seemingly been a season to forget, the Red Sox only sit five games back of the third Wild Card spot, although they would have four teams to jump to get there.

Trying to get Boston back in the win column is righty Nick Pivetta. In 22 games, the 29-year-old is 8-8 with a 4.51 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and has 119 strikeouts in 123.2 innings.

In his last start against Kansas City, Pivetta took a no-decision allowing three runs on seven hits in just five innings of work. He did strike out five in the contest.

Keep an eye on Rafael Devers in this one. Albeit in just four at bats, Devers has two hits in his career against Wright, including a home run and five runs batted in.

Outside of Devers, Red Sox hitters have largely struggled against Wright. In fact, excluding Devers, they are just 4 for 32 against the righty in their careers.

Take The Braves To Sweep

Scoring runs has not been a problem for the Red Sox this season. Coming into play Wednesday, they rank 11th in the majors averaging 4.48 runs per game.

The problem for them is the ability to keep runs off the scoreboard. Boston ranks 24th in runs allowed per game at 4.75 (5.19 at home).

For Atlanta, they have been good on both sides. Offensively, they are averaging 4.75 runs per game, good for sixth in the majors. Defensively, they rank eighth, allowing just 4.01 runs per game.

With Atlanta having the better roster and the better starter on the mound, it is hard not to take them to win this one, even if they are playing on the road.

Take Atlanta to win straight up at -144.

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