Red Sox vs Guardians Picks and Prediction – 6/8/2023

The Boston Red Sox stay on the road Thursday night for the final game of their series in Cleveland against the Cleveland Guardians. Boston comes into Thursday one game above .500 after the win in game one of this series ended a three-game skid. James Paxton got the start for Boston giving up two runs on six hits across 7 innings of work leading to the win. The Boston bullpen came on to allow two runs on four hits across one inning, while Kenley Jansen finished things off giving up no runs on no hits in the 9th to get the save. 

Offensively Boston was mediocre from the plate with ten hits in 37 at bats but did just enough to score five runs in the game. Kike Hernandez was the muscle in the Boston lineup driving in two of the five Boston runs after one hit in four at bats. Pablo Reyes chipped in for Boston as well driving in one run in two at bats, while two other Red Sox drove in one run as well.

Cleveland will remain at home Thursday night looking for a spark six games under .500 after the loss in game one of this matchup. Shane Bieber got the start for Cleveland giving up one run on five hits across 5.2 innings of work resulting in a no decision. The Cleveland bullpen came on to record the next four hours and give up no runs before Enyel De Los Santos allowed four runs on two hits after recording no outs resulting in the loss. The Cleveland bullpen was much better giving up no runs on three hits over the final two innings of work. 

Offensively Cleveland had issues from the plate with only ten hits in 37 at bats, but just three with runners in scoring position to leave eight men on base. Josh Naylor and Josh Bell led the way for the Cleveland offense with two hits in four at bats apiece to drive in one run. Amed Rosario provided a spark off the bench with a pinch hit RBI late in the game.