Red Sox Prepare For Big Stretch Against Yankees, AL East Opponents
The Boston Red Sox lived up to their current position as the American League’s World Series favorite in their season opener, handing the Philadelphia Phillies an 8-0 beating on Monday.
The Red Sox, who sit alongside the Seattle Mariners at 6-1 odds to win the World Series at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com, open their campaign amid high expectations after ending 2014 in the AL East basement — 25 games back of the division-winning Baltimore Orioles.
Boston topped a Phillies squad that opened the season as a 150-1 longshot in World Series betting at the sportsbooks. However, the competition will get decidedly tougher in a big hurry for the Sox, who play a whopping 25 games against American League East rivals over the next five weeks, a run that will shape the division’s standings.
Following the conclusion of the Red Sox vs. Phillies betting series at Citizens Bank Park, the club travels to New York for a weekend set with the archrival New York Yankees, whom they struggled against last season, going 7-12 in 19 meetings and winning just twice in six matchups in September.
The Yankees opened their 2015 MLB season at home against the Toronto Blue Jays, who handed the Bronx Bombers a decisive 6-1 defeat on Monday, marking the first time the Blue Jays have beaten New York on opening day.
The Blue Jays, along with the Orioles, represent Boston’s closest competition on the baseball betting futures. The Red Sox ended spring training as 2-1 favorites to win the AL East division title, while the Blue Jays were deadlocked with Baltimore at 3-1.
After next week’s home-opening set against the Washington Nationals, who are perched as 13-2 World Series betting favorites, the Red Sox face the Orioles seven times over the following 10 days. Boston also struggled against the O’s last season, going 4-8 in 12 games after capturing four of six early in the season.
The Orioles have looked solid this week in a pair of wins over Tampa Bay. Baltimore plays host to the Jays this weekend, and will host the Yankees for three nights next week before renewing hostilities with the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
The Blue Jays fly north on Monday for their home opener against Tampa Bay, which kicks off an important 10-game homestand which also includes dates with the Atlanta Braves and a return engagement with the Orioles.
Thumbnail image via Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports Images
