The Boston Red Sox take on the Chicago Cubs. Check out our MLB odds series for our Red Sox Cubs prediction and pick.

Josh Winckowski gets the ball for the Red Sox, while Alec Mills will take the hill for the Cubs.

Josh Winckowski has made only four starts this season, pitching 20 innings. It's a very small sample size to use for any pick. He has given up eight runs in those 20 innings, which means he averages five innings and two runs allowed per start. Winckowski is a back-end starter in the Boston rotation, so if those are the numbers he can consistently replicate, the Red Sox and manager Alex Cora will take them in a heartbeat. It remains to be seen, though, if Winckowski can live up to that standard on a continuous, extended basis.

Alec Mills has a 9.87 ERA in six appearances this season. His last three starts have been especially ugly. He has allowed five runs in each of those three starts. He hasn't gotten more than 13 outs (4 1/3 innings) in any of those starts. He has surrendered 15 runs in his last 8 1/3 innings pitched. It has been a complete bloodbath for a pitcher who now has to face a formidable and potent Red Sox lineup.

Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Red Sox-Cubs MLB odds.

MLB Odds: Red Sox-Cubs Odds

Boston Red Sox: -1.5 (+106)

Chicago Cubs: +1.5 (-128)

Over: 9.5 (-104)

Under: 9.5 (-118)

*Watch MLB Games LIVE with fuboTV (click for free trial)

Why The Red Sox Could Cover the Spread

The Red Sox lost a series in Toronto earlier this week, and they blew Friday's game, but this team had a great month of June to soar into second place for a brief while in the American League East. The Sox are still in a very strong wild card position and have made up a lot of ground in the standings after their unfathomably bad month of April. The talent of this team and the potency of its batting order have emerged in full force. Even in defeat on Friday, the Sox scored five runs. Against Alec Mills, they should be able to score at least seven runs and batter the Cubs' pitching staff into submission.

Why The Cubs Could Cover the Spread

After winning on Friday and erasing a 4-0 deficit, the Cubs will come to the ballyard confident they can beat the Red Sox again. The Cubs have hit really well in recent days, but what's even better about their week is that they carried the momentum from their series against the Reds into this weekender against the Red Sox. The Red Sox represent a huge step up in weight class, but the Cubs were ready. One other great sign for the Cubs: They took a lot of walks on Friday against the Boston bullpen. If the Red Sox don't land an early knockout punch, the discipline of Chicago's hitters combined with the leaky Sox pen gives the Cubs a formula for victory.

Final Red Sox-Cubs Prediction & Pick

The Red Sox are a good play to bounce back after Friday's loss, but an even better play is the over, given the pitching matchup here. Boston should score at least six runs if not eight, and Chicago should manage at least four runs in this game on Saturday evening.

Final Red Sox-Cubs Prediction & Pick: Over 9.5