Red Sox vs. Dodgers Betting Pick for Friday July 19

It's a tough pill to swallow backing the Dodgers these days and going against the Red Sox ain't easy either, but tonight we do focus on LA.

Red Sox vs. Dodgers Power Rankings

MLB.com's final power rankings coming into second half of season.

Boston Red Sox

"The Red Sox were picked last in the AL East in most preseason predictions, but excellent starting pitching and excellent seasons from Rafael Devers, Jarren Duran, Tyler O’Neill and Connor Wong have put them in the thick of the playoff chase."

LA Dodgers

"Injuries to Mookie Betts and Yoshinobu Yamamoto made those hopes for a 120-win super team fall away, but the Dodgers are as well positioned as usual. They’re going to win their division, they’re getting those injured players back and they can add help wherever they need it at the Deadline. We’re going to get to watch Shohei Ohtani in a playoff game real soon."

Red Sox Pitching

Nick Pivetta (4-6, 4.18 ERA)

In 112 at bats, Pivetta has been beaten up badly by these Dodgers.  They are .321 against him. There are a grand total of seven Dodgers batters who are better than .300 versus Pivetta.  It should come as no surprise that the Dodgers are a -142 home favorite here despite their lackluster performance of late.

Pivetta will come into this one having recorded 10 strikeouts and allowing four runs over 6 2/3 innings in a loss to the Athletics his last start.  He does not have a win over his last four starts.

LA Dodgers Pitching

Gavin Stone (9-3, 3.26 ERA)

Gavin Stone struggled in a losing effort against the Phillies in is last start ahead of the All Star break, surrendering four runs on nine hits in just 4 2/3 innings of work.   He did not factor into his previous start.

The Dodgers will get a little more help as Joe Kelly is back in the Dodgers bullpen after missing 2½ months.

Going against Pivetta Friday night could make some sense or perhaps the Over as the last five in this series dating back to 2019 have gone into double digits.