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- Atlanta (20-12) returns home after going just 1-5 on their recent West Coast road trip
- Boston (19-16) snapped the Twins 12-game win streak with a 9-2 victory on Sunday
- Braves vs Red Sox will meet in Truist Park in Atlanta, GA on Wednesday, May 8 at 7:20 PM ET
After getting swept by the Dodgers, Atlanta had dropped five of its past six games heading into its mini two-game set with the Red Sox. While the Braves scored three runs or less in six of their last eight contests, Boston’s pitchers have a league-low 2.61 ERA.
Which club will prevail in game 2 of the series on Wednesday? Before we look at the latest odds, here’s where you can find our best MLB betting sites and our 2024 World Series betting guide.
Braves vs Red Sox
 | Run Line | Money Line | Total Runs |
| Boston Red Sox | +1.5 (-135) | +164 | Ov 8.5 (-112) |
| Atlanta Braves | -1.5 (+115) | -179 | Un 8.5 (-108) |
What’s ailing Atlanta?
Looking to win their seventh-consecutive division title, the Braves trail the Phillies by 3 games in the NL East after an ugly 1-5 road trip. Atlanta allowed two dingers to Shohei Ohtani in a 5-1 loss to the Dodgers on Sunday, getting swept for the first time this season.
Brian Snitker’s club scored just 14 runs in six games against Seattle and Los Angeles. Generating offense won’t be any easier against Boston’s MLB-best pitching staff.
SHOHEI OHTANI TIES THINGS UP IN LA AGAINST THE BRAVES IN EXTRAS #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/zN1bETUyjC
— Underground Sports Philadelphia (@UndergroundPHI) May 4, 2024
Boston’s starters on fire
Heading into the two-game series with the Braves, Boston’s starting rotation has a 2.10 ERA through the season’s first 36 games. However, the team is quickly losing ground to the Orioles and Yankees in the AL East.
The Red Sox dropped two games to Minnesota before ending the Twins’ 12-game winning streak with a 9-2 victory on Sunday.
Braves vs Red Sox
Atlanta is -179 on the money line while the Red Sox are +164 to pick up the road victory on Wednesday. With an 11-4 home record, the Braves are +115 to cover the 1.5 run line. Boston is a respectable 12-7 away from home this season. Alex Cora’s club is -135 to keep things close at Truist Park by covering the +1.5 spread.
The over/under has been set at 8.5 total runs. Before last week, Atlanta was the highest-scoring team in baseball, averaging 5.73 runs per game. But they dropped to No. 3 after averaging just 2.33 runs in their past six games. Meanwhile, the Sox are allowing opponents to register only 2.46 runs per game – No. 4 in all of baseball.
FINAL: Red Sox 9 Twins 2 pic.twitter.com/Ak0MM4f2c7
— Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34) May 5, 2024
Starting Pitching Matchup
Chris Sale (4-1) will draw the start against his former club on Wednesday. In his last outing, the 35-year-old lefty struck out a season-high nine batters in a 5-2 victory over the Mariners. Sale has permitted three runs or less in five of six starts in 2024.
Nick Pivetta (1-1) is expected to return from a 15-day stint on the injured list with a right elbow flexor strain. He allowed four earned runs in a recent Triple-A rehab start while walking four batters in three innings.
Best Bet
While the Braves have struggled of late, they have a big edge on the mound in this one. We like Chris Sale to pick up his fifth victory of the season and Atlanta to cover the 1.5 runs (+115) at home versus Boston.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
Sports Betting Sites 