Outlook Bleak for the Red Sox
Sports betting fans will remember that the Boston Red Sox were considered one of the American League’s big-spending powerhouses and were coming off a trip to the ALCS, a six-game loss to the Houston Astros just two years ago.
Last season, MLB betting fans will recall that little went right for Boston, especially in terms of injuries to the pitching staff. The Red Sox cratered to a 78-84 record and last in the AL East Division.
Unlike past seasons, ownership wasn’t quite as aggressive financially in this past offseason for an immediate fix. Fan favorite All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts wanted to finish his career in Boston, but the Red Sox weren’t up to matching the money the San Diego Padres offered, so Bogaerts walked.
The Red Sox’s biggest splash of free agency was a five-year contract worth reportedly $90 million for Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida. The 29-year-old won the Nippon Professional Baseball batting title last year, but he’s still a major question mark making the transition to the US big leagues.
The Sox did very little to address the rotation. The team is hoping that perennial Cy Young candidate Chris Sale can stay healthy, but he hasn’t been able to for a few years.
The latest sports betting odds have Boston as a +1600 long shot to win the AL East this season. That it finishes fifth again is the +125 leader on exact position. The Red Sox have an over-under of 77.5 wins. If they finish under that, the jobs of Manager Alex Cora and front office boss Chaim Bloom will be in major jeopardy.
