The Red Sox make the trip to Cincinnati to face the Reds! These two teams have been having very similar seasons. However, the Red Sox are playing well, while the Reds are struggling leading into this matchup. Our MLB odds series has our Red Sox-Reds prediction, odds, and pick for Saturday.

Red Sox-Reds Projected Starters 

Nick Pivetta vs. Frankie Montas

Nick Pivetta (4-4) with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP

Last Start: Pitched seven innings and gave up three runs on nine hits with one walk and four strikeouts in a Red Sox win.

2024 Road Splits: (3-2) 3.21 ERA

Frankie Montas (3-5) with a 4.62 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP

Last Start: Pitched five innings and gave up three runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts in a Cardinals loss.

2024 Home Splits: (1-4) 4.35 ERA

Here are the MLB Odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

MLB Odds: Red Sox-Reds Odds

Boston Red Sox: -1.5 (+130)

Moneyline: -116

Cincinnati Reds: +1.5 (-156)

Moneyline: -102

Over: 9.5 (-110)

Under: 9.5 (-110)

How to Watch Red Sox vs. Rays

Time: 4:10 pm ET

TV: Bally Sports Ohio / NESN

Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why The Red Sox Will Cover The Spread/Win

The Red Sox have been average for the most part this season, but are playing much better recently. They have a 40-35 record and have won seven of their last eight games and five straight. Statistically, the Red Sox are in the top five of the MLB behind the plate and pitching. Tyler O'Neill, Triston Casas, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Rafael Devers are all talented players and have been solid to a varying degree behind the plate so far this season. Regarding their pitching, Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, Nick Pivetta, and Garrett Whitlock despite his current injury have made up a great pitching staff.

The Red Sox are starting Nick Pivetta on the mound where he has a 4-4 record, a 3.88 ERA, and a 1.13 WHIP. He has allowed 23 runs on 46 hits with 14 walks and 59 strikeouts through 53.1 total innings this season. Through the 10 games he has appeared in this year the Red Sox are 6-4. Pivetta is one of the more underrated pitchers this season, and he has been solid every time out. The Reds have struggled on offense, so this is a favorable matchup for him.

The Red Sox's offense has gotten better and is red-hot currently. They are fifth in team batting average at .254 after finishing last season at .258. The offense is led by Rafael Devers, Ceddanne Rafaela, Tyler O'Neill, and Jarren Duran in most batting categories behind the plate. Devers leads in batting average at .278 and in OBP at .367. Then, O'Neill leads in home runs at 15, Rafaela in RBI at 41, and Duran in total hits at 86. The Red Sox also get a favorable matchup against Frankie Montas on the mound for the Reds because he has struggled at times this season.

Why The Reds Will Cover The Spread/Win

The Reds have struggled to find consistency and have a 35-39. They come into this series losing four out of their last five games. Cincinnati has struggled to get going behind the plate, ranking near the bottom of the MLB. Their pitching has been much better, ranking in the top 10 of the MLB overall. Spencer Steer, Elly De La Cruz, Will Benson, Jeimer Candelario, and Jake Fraley have been standouts in a struggling offense this season. Andrew Abbott, Hunter Greene, and Nick Lodolo have all been at varying levels of good for Cincinnati on the mound. The Reds have had their fair share of struggles, and can't find any consistency.

The Reds are starting Frankie Montas on the mound where he has a 3-5 record, a 4.62 ERA, and a 1.39 WHIP. Through 60.1 innings, he has allowed 35 runs on 58 hits with 26 walks and 49 strikeouts up to this point in the season. In his 13 starts, the Reds are 4-9 this season. Montas has struggled and been a weak link in the pitching staff for the Reds. He also gets a difficult matchup against a red-hot Red Sox offense behind the plate.

The Reds have struggled behind the plate this season. They are ranked 27th in batting average at .225 after they finished with a .249 batting average just one season ago. Elly De La Cruz, Jonathan India, Jeimer Candelario, and Spencer Steer lead in most batting categories. Candelario leads in batting average at .251 and is tied for the lead in home runs at 12 with de La Cruz. Then, De La Cruz also leads in total hits at 64. Finally, Steer leads in RBI at 43 and India in OBP at .349. They get a massive challenge in this game against Nick Pivetta on the mound for the Reds.

Final Red Sox-Reds Prediction & Pick

The Red Sox are red-hot heading into this game in Cincinnati. In comparison, the Reds are struggling. The Red Sox have the better pitcher with Pivetta compared to Montas for the Reds. Then, Boston has a much better offense when compared to the struggles the Reds have had. The Red Sox are the better team and should show it by winning and covering on the road in Cincinnati.

Click here for more betting news and predictions

Final Red Sox-Reds Prediction & Pick: Red Sox -1.5 (+130)