The aces take the mound for the third game of the Red Sox vs. Mariners series on Wednesday, June 18. Garrett Crochet will continue his Cy Young campaign amid a Boston hot streak. Meanwhile, Seattle will start Luis Castillo.
The Red Sox have been in the limelight recently after trading Rafael Devers to the Giants. There was some tension between the slugger and organization, but not enough for fans to expect a trade. The team is seemingly moving forward with their young core, led by No. 1 prospect Roman Anthony.
Boston enters Wednesday’s game as -126 favorites on the moneyline, and the run total is set at over/under seven runs on DraftKings Sportsbook. Seattle is a +104 underdog.
Here’s my prediction and pick for Wednesday’s Red Sox vs. Mariners matchup.
Red Sox vs. Mariners prediction
The Red Sox lost on Tuesday, ending a six-game win streak. They have won nine of their past 12 games, but times are bound to change following the Devers trade. The offense no longer has an elite middle-of-the-order bat to rely on in key situations.
Their 2025 World Series odds did not change. It can still win games, especially when Crochet is on the mound. He has a 2.24 ERA through 15 starts and 96.1 innings this season. He also has struck out 117 batters.
Crochet is likely to have another strong performance, so it’s more about whether Boston’s offense can back him up. The ace has a 6-4 record but has allowed more than two earned runs in just one of the losses.
Boston’s offense has been slightly underwhelming throughout its recent stretch. Although the team has won six of their last seven, it hasn’t scored much. To add to this, Castillo will be on the mound for the Mariners. The 32-year-old has a 3.29 ERA through 14 starts and 79.1 innings.
The pitching duel will be fun, unless you’re looking for a ton of offense.
Red Sox vs. Mariners pick, best bet
A pitcher as good as Crochet typically dictates the pace of the game. If he’s at his best on Wednesday, that should be the case. He’s playing some of the best baseball of his career, which is needed for the Red Sox to stay above .500.
Because there are two good starters on the mound for Wednesday’s series finale, the total should go under seven runs. Between the pitching and the Red Sox’s lack of offense in recent games, this should be a good opportunity to take the under.
The over is typically more fun, but I’m showing love to the under for this matchup.