Red Sox / Cleveland Game 5

Red Sox -1.5 +135
Red Sox -120

Before getting to my usual stats, trends, and quotes I wanted to highlight two things that really make me like this game tonight.

1) Beckett is an obvious one as he has placed himself in elite status when it comes to being a clutch pitcher in the playoffs. Time after time he not only performs well but dominates the other team. On the other side of the coin you have C.C. Sabathia who has done the opposite. He has failed in the spotlight and not yet performed on a national stage.

2) Manny being Manny is just what the Boston Red Sox need right now. From celebrating a home run that he should not have to saying that if they lose tonight it is not the end of the world he has helped his team in the last two days. The focus should be on the red Sox with the back against the wall and how they are going to win instead Manny focused it on him and that will help his teammates. H has also forced the Indians to think about him and have to answer questions about him and whether or not they plunk him after his showboating the other night. This is genius if you ask me.

The Red Sox are 83-43 against the ML as a favorite of -110 or higher this season. A large portion of those wins came with Beckett on the mound, as the Red Sox have been unbeatable 10-0 as road favorites with the former Marlin on the hill.

Trends:

BOSTON at CLEVELAND
Play Against - Home teams (CLEVELAND) with a starting pitcher whose ERA is 4.20 or better on the season (AL) against opponent with a starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.100 or better on the season-AL164-107 since 1997. ( 60.5% 58.9 units )17-16 this year. ( 51.5% 3.3 units )

C SABATHIA is 22-35 (-19.1 Units) against the money line in Home games vs. teams outscoring opp by 0.5 or more runs/game on the season since 1997.
The average score was: C SABATHIA (4.3) , OPPONENT (4.8)

When BOSTON team played as a Road team - During a night game - Total is between 8.5 to 9.0 - Coming off a night game - Coming off a Loss vs. AL CENTRAL opponent they are 8-2 When BOSTON team Played as Road team as a Favorite - Vs Conference Opponent - Coming off vs. American League opponent - Coming off a Road loss - Coming off a night game they are 53-29