Historic franchises are set to clash in Beantown when the Red Sox host the Dodgers. In this high-profile inter-league matchup, each side has plenty to play for. Boston (55-49) remains firmly in the American League playoff picture thanks to a superb month of July. Los Angeles (60-43) has struggled mightily in recent weeks. However, the defending champs still sit atop a loaded NL West division. Which of these two postseason contenders will come out on top tonight? Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Friday’s matchup between the Dodgers and the Red Sox.
The Dodgers are favorites (-122) over the Red Sox, with the over/under set at 9.5 runs. Let’s break down which side has the edge on DraftKings Sportsbook entering tonight’s contest.
Dodgers vs. Red Sox prediction, preview
The biggest issue for Los Angeles over the past month has been on offense. Since July 1st, several Dodgers hitters have looked lost at the plate. That includes stars Mookie Betts (.185 batting average) and Freddie Freeman (.224). Even three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani is hitting just .206 this month, although he has clubbed eight home runs. With a lineup in disarray, it’s not a shock that the Dodgers have dropped 11 of their last 15 contests. LA will break out of this slump eventually, but will that be the case tonight?
Not if Boston starter Brayan Bello has his way. The right-hander has been terrific so far, enjoying a breakout 2025 campaign. Through 97.2 innings of work, he’s notched a 3.23 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. It’s fair to say that the 26-year-old has gotten somewhat lucky this season (4.36 FIP). That’s a result of his career-worst 6.8 K/9 ratio. Still, what the hurler lacks in whiffs, he’s made up for by limiting the long ball (1.0 HR/9). That should serve Bello well tonight. Despite a putrid .215 team batting average in July, the Dodgers have clubbed the fifth-most dingers in baseball over the past two weeks (15).
While Bello has his work cut out for him, the same can be said for Los Angeles’ Emmet Sheehan. The young right-hander hasn’t had much work at the major league level this season, tossing 16.1 innings. His results so far have been mixed (4.41 ERA, 1.35 WHIP). Friday presents a true challenge; Boston is averaging 5.37 runs per game at home, second-most in baseball. The hitter-friendly confines of Fenway Park don’t offer much relief for opposing pitchers. With that being said, Sheehan has only allowed one home run this season. Much like Bello, he’ll need to keep the ball in the park for LA to earn a win tonight.
Dodgers vs. Red Sox pick, best bet
Best Bet: Red Sox ML (-102)
The Red Sox, having dropped each of their last two series, aren’t on fire at the moment. However, playing the Cubs and Phillies on the road is quite the challenge. It’s a controversial take, but hosting the struggling Dodgers might prove more manageable. Sheehan has limited homers so far, but his career 1.4 HR/9 rate suggests possible regression. At Fenway Park, with an advantage on the mound, Boston makes sense at even money.
