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Red Sox vs Phillies Odds and Picks – Eovaldi vs Howard (May 22)

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in MLB Baseball

Updated May 22, 2021 · 7:02 AM PDT

J.D. Martinez of the Boston Red Sox watching his fly ball during a game against the Blue Jays.
Boston Red Sox's J.D. Martinez watches his fly ball against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 18, 2021, in Dunedin, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
  • The Boston Red Sox are -134 road favorites over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park
  • Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 4.50 ERA) will start for the Red Sox against rookie Spencer Howard (0-0, 8.31)
  • Analysis of the Red Sox-Phillies matchup and a prediction can be found below

The Philadelphia Phillies will turn to a rookie pitcher to try to help them get back on the winning track when they host the Boston Red Sox at 7:15 p.m. ET Saturday at Citizens Bank Park.

Spencer Howard (0-0, 8.31 ERA) is scheduled to make his first start of the season after three relief appearances for the Phillies. He will oppose fellow right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 4.50).

The Phillies (22-23) have lost three games in a row and five of six, including getting drubbed by the Red Sox 11-3 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.

The Red Sox (28-18) have the best record in the American League after winning three straight games and six of eight. Their 15-6 road record is tops in the major leagues.

Red Sox vs Phillies Odds

Team Moneyline Runline Total at DraftKings
Boston Red Sox -134 -1.5 (+117) Over 9 (-106)
Philadelphia Phillies +115 +1.5 (-139) Under 9 (-115)

Odds as of May 22nd.

Eovaldi Struggling

Eovaldi has struggled lately. He has not factored in the decision in any of his last three starts while compiling a 6.46 ERA and his last win came April 30 against the Rangers at Texas.

In his last start, Eovaldi allowed four runs and six hits in five innings to the Los Angeles Angels last Sunday. He had six strikeouts and one walk.

Eovaldi has pitched at least six innings in four of his eight starts this season. He has held opponents to one or two runs five times.

One thing Eovaldi has done consistently well is keep the ball in the park. He has not allowed a home run in 50 innings this season and his last 60 innings overall, dating to 2020, for the longest active streak in MLB.

Eovaldi is 3-4 with a 3.36 ERA against the Phillies in 10 career starts. However, only one of those outings has been since 2015.

Phillies Career Stats vs Eovaldi

Player AB H HR RBI K AVG
Andrew McCutchen 10 3 0 1 2 .300
Jean Segura 12 4 0 0 0 .333
Bryce Harper 21 8 1 1 6 .381
Rhys Hoskins 3 1 0 0 0 .333
Alec Bohm 0 0 0 0 0
Odrubel Herrera 2 0 0 1 0 .000
Andrew Knapp 0 0 0 0 0
Nick Maton 0 0 0 0 0

The Phillies, who have scored a total of four runs in their last three games, placed catcher J.T. Realmuto (bone bruise in left hand) on the 10-day injured list before Friday’s game. Andrew Knapp started behind the plate and went 0 for 4.

Second baseman Jean Segura is having a fine May, hitting .321 (17 for 53) with two doubles, one triple and two home runs.

Center fielder Odubel Herrera’s nine-game hitting streak ended Friday when he went 0 for 2.

Howard Steps In

Howard will be on a 60-pitch limit as he takes the rotation spot of veteran right-hander Chase Anderson, who was demoted to the bullpen after going 2-4 with a 6.96 ERA in eight starts.

He began the season by making three relief appearances for the Phillies and gave up four runs in 4.1 innings. But he was then sent to Triple-A Lehigh Valley when the pandemic-delayed minor league season began May 4 and stretched out as a starter.

In three starts and nine innings for the Iron Pigs, Howard was 0-0 with a 1.00 ERA. He gave up one run and two hits in four innings against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in his most recent outing last Sunday, a no-decision in which he struck out eight and walked one.

Howard made six starts for the Phillies last season and had a 1-2 record and 5.92 ERA, and will be facing the Red Sox for the first time in his career.

Red Sox Career Stats vs Howard

Player AB H HR RBI K AVG
Kike Hernandez 0 0 0 0 0
Danny Santana 0 0 0 0 0
J.D. Martinez 0 0 0 0 0
Xander Bogaerts 0 0 0 0 0
Rafael Devers 0 0 0 0 0
Christian Vazquez 0 0 0 0 0
Marwin Gonzalez 0 0 0 0 0
Franchy Cordero 0 0 0 0 0

Howard will have a tough test facing the Red Sox. They have scored at least five runs in five of their last six games and totaled 26 runs in their past three contests.

The Red Sox are the only team in MLB with more than one player with at least nine home runs, 25 RBIs and a .900 OPS – Designated hitter/outfielder J.D. Martinez (12-37-1.015), shortstop Xander Bogaerts (9-28-.991) and third baseman Rafael Devers (12-37-.945).

Alex Verdugo was forced from Friday game in the sixth inning with left hamstring tightness and replaced by Kike Hernandez in center field. Hernandez was on the bench because Martinez was forced to play left field and Verdugo shifted to center field with the DH rule not in effect in a National League ballpark.

Hernandez went 0 for 2, ending his seven-game hitting streak.

Red Sox Roll in Opener

Rafael Devers and Danny Santana, who was called up from Triple-A Worcester prior to the game to make his season debut, both hit home runs to lead the Red Sox to their easy victory Friday night.

Hunter Renfroe had an RBI single in the sixth, expanding Boston’s lead to 6-2. Devers hit a two-run homer in the seventh.

Segura belted a two-run homer in the third for the Phillies.

The teams split four games each of the past three seasons. The Phillies have not won the season series since 2011.

Look for the Red Sox to keep rolling against a rookie pitcher in this one.

Pick: Red Sox (-134)

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