Free MLB Picks Today: Boston Red Sox vs Cincinnati Reds 5/31/23

The Boston Red Sox (28-26) host the Cincinnati Reds (25-29) at Fenway Park on Wednesday. The Reds took Tuesday’s series opener 9-8, their fourth straight victory overall.

Starter Ben Lively threw 5.2 scoreless innings – striking out six – to get the win, and Alexis Diaz threw 0.2 scoreless innings to earn his 13th save. Jose Barrero was 2 for 2 with a home run and four RBIs in the win. Will Benson went 3 for 5 with a triple and three runs.

Masataka Yoshida went 3 for 4 with a double and one RBI for the Red Sox. Raimel Tapia went 3 for 5 with a triple and a double. He scored two runs and drove in two.

ON THE MOUND

Luke Weaver (1-2, 5.45 ERA) is in line to take the mound for Cincinnati. The righty threw 6.1 scoreless innings in his last start, a 2-1 road defeat against the Cardinals on Thursday. He gave up three hits while striking out six and walking one in the no-decision.

Weaver is making his first appearance against the Red Sox this season. Over two appearances (zero starts) against the Red Sox in 2022, Weaver was 0-0 with a 12.00 ERA over three innings. He had three strikeouts and one walk.

For Boston, LHP James Paxton (1-1, 5.14 ERA) gets the start. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Reds. In his last start on May 24, Paxton took the loss on the road against the Angels. He threw three innings and gave up five runs on four hits, striking out five and walking three in the 7-3 defeat.

AT THE PLATE

Over the last five games, Cincinnati has averaged 7.0 runs a game, up from their season average of 4.6, while performing better across the board (.333/.399/.510).

Against left-handed pitchers like Paxton this season, the Reds have a .771 OPS. Nick Senzel is the team’s strongest hitter against left-handers with a 1.159 OPS in 41 at-bats.

Boston is averaging only 4.4 runs per game in the last five, down slightly from 5.2 for the season. The Sox have a .765 OPS against right-handers in 2023, fifth highest in the league. With a .377 OBP over 129 at-bats, Alex Verdugo has their highest on-base percentage against right-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Cincinnati is on a four-game winning streak away from Great American Ball Park, bringing their record to 11-15 in 2023. The Reds have scored 4.6 runs per game away from home, while allowing 4.7 runs.

Boston has gone 15-12 at Fenway Park this season, averaging 6.1 runs per game while surrendering 5.6. In eight games at Fenway Park between the teams, Boston is 6-2 with an average scoreline of 5.9-2.8.

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Reds are third in the NL Central, three games behind the division-leading Brewers. The Red Sox are fifth in the AL East, nine games behind the Rays.