Someone is walking out of this game at .500. So that’s fun, right?
As has been the case all season for the Red Sox, it’s one step forward and one step back. A week ago, it seemed like the team might finally be finding its stride in the AL East, yet a shocking trade of Rafael Devers appears to have halted the squad’s momentum. Coming into Wednesday, Boston has dropped four games in a row — including two against Devers and the Giants. How fitting.
On the other side of the spectrum, we find the Angels, who are somewhat overachieving with their 39-40 record. It’s been forever since Los Angeles had a competitive AL team, and while it’s unclear just how good the Angels could be, they’re certainly had the Red Sox’s number in 2025. Los Angeles has won four of the five contests these two organizations have played this season.
Let’s preview this afternoon matinee with the help of some odds and lines on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Red Sox vs. Angels prediction, preview
Ignore Yusei Kikuchi’s 2-6 record. The left-hander has truly been one of the better free agent acquisitions of the winter. Across 89.2 innings and 16 starts in 2025, Kikuchi has posted a 3.01 ERA. Are there some red flags? Sure. Kikuchi’s 11.2% walk rate is chief among them, and it’s a flaw that makes his 82.7% strand rate look even more perilous, but at the end of the day, Kikuchi’s only conceded more than two earned runs in eight of his last 10 outings. It’s a span of time where the veteran is also in possession of a 2.31 ERA and a 24.1% strikeout rate. Not too shabby at all.
Still, Wednesday will not be an easy matchup for the southpaw — not with how well the Red Sox have fared against LHPs this season. Boston currently owns the highest OBP of any team within the split (.354), while also sitting inside the top five in batting average (.272), wOBA (.345) and wRC+ (117). Heck, one of Kikuchi’s few poor starts since the beginning of May has comes versus these same Red Sox. That was back on June 3, when Kikuchi allowed three earned runs and an ugly five walks over five innings. Boston will be looking for a similar offensive performance this afternoon in hopes of avoiding a sweep.
Richard Fitts will take the mound for the Red Sox with the same goal in mind. However, Fitts has not started a game at the MLB level since back on June 2. Ironically enough, that was against Los Angeles, on a night when Fitts surrendered three home runs and six total runs in only a single inning of work. Still, it’s not like Boston has a lot of rotation options at the moment, with Hunter Dobbins (elbow) on the IL and Tanner Houck (forearm) rehabbing in the minor leagues. In 21.0 innings with the big club in 2025, Fitts sports an underwhelming 5.61 xERA and a 5.89 FIP. In nine career starts at the MLB level, Fitts has managed just a 13.6% strikeout rate. In short, he’s a difficult archetype to trust.
Red Sox vs. Angels pick, best bet
Best Bet: Over 8.5 (-122)
Kikuchi’s due for some regression and Fitts is a Quad-A starter at best. Doesn’t hurt that the Angels sits third in the league in home runs (116), either.
Strong Lean: Red Sox ML (+108)
It’s difficult to back Fitts, but the Red Sox have been so good against LHPs this season that they are live as a plus-money underdog.
