MLB Betting Preview - ALCS Game #1 - Cleveland Indians at Boston Red Sox Articles | Gambling

By: Richard Bleuze

MLB Betting Preview
ALCS Game #1 – Cleveland Indians at Boston Red Sox
Friday, October 12, 2007, @ 7:05 pm Eastern – FOX

SBG Global Opening Line: Red Sox -153, Total 8.5 Flat

The Boston Red Sox host the Cleveland Indians in Game #1 of the American League Championship Series on Friday.  The Red Sox are looking to make it to the World Series for the second time in four years while Cleveland has not made it in 60 years. SBG Global reports that early betting has the public taking the favored Red Sox at Home.

Boston is a playoff veteran while the Indians are in the playoffs for the first time since 2001.  The Indians did well against the Yankees in the Division series eliminating New York in four games.  Boston swept Los Angeles in three straight.  Cleveland will look to postseason veteran Kenny Lofton for leadership. "This team hasn't had a championship in Cleveland for a long time," said Lofton, "This is just an unbelievable feeling to be able just to start this process again."  Cleveland has a strong lineup led by center fielder Grady Sizemore, catcher Victor Martinez and DH Travis Hafner.  They also have two dominant starters in C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona.  The bullpen is also very solid.

Boston also has a talented team led by starting pitcher Josh Beckett who will start game #1.  Beckett won 20 games this season and was superb in the first game of the playoffs, a 4-0 victory against Los Angeles where he pitched a complete game shutout. He struck out eight and walked none to improve his career postseason record to 3-2 with a 1.74 ERA.  Beckett was great against Cleveland this season going 1-1 with a 1.80 ERA.  He will be opposed by C.C. Sabathia who pitched just five innings in the Indians win over New York in Game #1.  He pitched just once against Boston this season giving up four hits in seven innings in a 1-0 win.  He is 2-4 with a 3.91 ERA in seven career starts versus Boston.

SBG Global Current Line: Red Sox -153, Total 8.5 Under (-120)

Boston made one change in their lineup inserting Bobby Kielty in place of J.D. Drew for Friday’s game. "He was brought in here to give us some right-handed punch," manager Terry Francona said.

Here are the betting stats for Friday’s game.  The Indians are 4-0 in their last 4 Friday games. The Indians are 4-1 in their last 5 games as an underdog. The Indians are 17-5 in their last 22 vs. a team with a winning record.

The Indians are 26-10 in their last 36 games on Grass. The Indians are 5-2 in their last 7 vs. the American League East. The Indians are 19-9 in their last 28 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Indians are 35-17 in their last 52 overall. The Indians are 2-5 in their last 7 playoff road games. The Indians are 4-0 in Sabathia's last 4 starts as an underdog. The Indians are 12-4 in Sabathia's last 16 starts vs. the American League East. The Indians are 25-9 in Sabathia's last 34 Friday starts. The Indians are 1-5 in Sabathia's last 6 starts vs. the Red Sox. The Indians are 2-5 in the last 7 meetings between the two teams.

The Red Sox are 4-0 in their last 4 League Championship games. The Red Sox are 6-1 in their last 7 playoff home games. The Red Sox are 6-1 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record. The Red Sox are 5-1 in their last 6 playoff games as a favorite. The Red Sox are 5-1 in their last 6 overall. The Red Sox are 12-3 in their last 15 vs. the American League Central. The Red Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 Friday games. The Red Sox are 4-1 in their last 5 games as a favorite. The Red Sox are 11-3 in their last 14 playoff games. The Red Sox are 49-24 in their last 73 games as a home favorite. The Red Sox are 5-1 in Beckett's last 6 starts. The Red Sox are 4-1 in Beckett's last 5 Friday starts. The Red Sox are 20-7 in Beckett's last 27 starts as a favorite. The Red Sox are 5-2 in Beckett's last 7 starts vs. the American League Central.

The Under is 5-1-1 in the Indians last 7 games as a road underdog. The Under is 6-2-1 in the Indians last 9 overall. The Under is 19-7-1 in the Indians last 27 road games vs. a right-handed starter. The Under is 10-4-1 in the Indians last 15 vs. the American League East. The Under is 5-2-1 in the Indians last 8 games vs. a right-handed starter. The Under is 36-17-4 in the Indians last 57 road games. The Under is 5-0 in Sabathia's last 5 road starts. The Under is 8-2 in Sabathia's last 10 starts overall. The Over is 7-3-1 in Sabathia's last 11 starts as a road underdog. The Under is 5-1-1 in Sabathia's last 7 starts vs. the Red Sox.

The Under is 6-1 in the Red Sox last 7 League Championship home games. The Under is 5-1-1 in the Red Sox last 7 playoff home games. The Under is 5-1 in the Red Sox last 6 home games vs. a left-handed starter. The Under is 4-1-1 in the Red Sox last 6 games as a home favorite. The Under is 5-2-2 in the Red Sox last 9 playoff games. The Over is 8-0 in Beckett's last 8 Friday starts. The Under is 4-1 in Beckett's last 5 starts as a home favorite. The Under is 5-2 in Beckett's last 7 starts overall. The Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings between the two teams.

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Take Boston @ home!!