Baseball Betting for August 7: Yankees vs. Boston

Baseball betting for August 7, 2011 had the Yankees facing the Red Sox later in the day with Boston a -156 favorite.  It’s Josh Beckett vs. Freddy Garcia of the Yankees. 

The Yankees vs. Boston games included a critical trend that has Boston 9-2 so far against New York this season. 

This trend stands out all the more when one considers how solid a performer Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett has been against the Yankees. 

Sam Dykstra of WEEI.com writes:

The assumption among many in baseball circles is that if you need a pitcher to beat the Yankees, (Josh) Beckett (9-4, 2.20 ERA) is your man, and his 2011 stats against the men in pinstripes would certainly back that up. In three starts this season, he is 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA and 0.71 WHIP. He failed to give up a run in his first two outings against the Yankees before allowing two in his last start on June 9 at Yankee Stadium. But for his career, Beckett’s numbers aren’t as nice. Although his 13 wins against New York are the most he’s had against any team, his 5.52 ERA certainly isn’t anything to brag about.

And it doesn’t help that Freddy Garcia has not fared well when pitching against the Red Sox. 

As a team, the Red Sox are hitting .312 against Garcia since his debut in 1999, led by Mike Aviles’ .636 (7-for-11) and Marco Scutaro’s .462 (6-for-13) performances at the plate.

Other stats to note: 

Red Sox are 5-0 in Becketts last 5 starts vs. American League East.

Red Sox are 7-1 in Becketts last 8 starts vs. a team with a winning record.

Red Sox are 10-2 in Becketts last 12 starts with 4 days of rest.

Red Sox are 5-1 in Becketts last 6 starts.

- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com