Published Apr 10, 9:49pm ET by
Paul Lebowitz - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Apr 10, 9:49pm ET
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Updated Apr 10, 9:50pm ET
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| St. Louis Cardinals | +118 |
| Boston Red Sox | -130 |
Ranger Suarez signed a 5-year, $140 million contract this past offseason, heading to Boston from Philadelphia. His first two starts have been poor, allowing 4 earned runs in 4 innings in each. Overall, he's tossed 8.1 innings, allowed 8 hits, 8 earned runs, and 2 homers. He's walked 3 and struck out 5.
Boston has started cold at the plate. Roman Anthony, Marclo Mayer, Trevor Story, Jarren Duran, and Caleb Durbin are hovering around .200 or less. Wilyer Abreu is batting over .400. Cedanne Rafaela is above .300.
Against Kyle Leahy, Durbin is 2 for 3 with a double. Andrew Monasterio is 1 for 1 with a single. Trevor Story and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are each 0 for 1.
The Red Sox need to start winning some games. The fans are getting restless, the media is slaughtering them, and it stands to reason that owner John Henry is getting frustrated.
Kyle Leahy has had one passable start and one reasonably good start so far. In 10 innings, he's allowed 13 hits and 6 earned runs, walking 5 and striking out 5. It sounds worse than it is. He has the stuff to be a solid starter.
Leahy had better strikeout rates as a reliever, but he needs to adapt to full-time starting. By the warmer months, it will be easier to get a gauge on his future in the rotation.
Former Cardinals top prospect Jordan Walker is maturing into his talent with an OPS above 1.000 and fighting for the league lead in home runs. Ramon Urias has an OPS above 1.000.
Nathan Church, Pedro Pages, and Maysn Winn are all struggling at the plate.
Winn, Walker, and Urias are each 1 for 3 with singles against Suarez.
Boston needs a solid start from Suarez to quiet the masses who are wondering exactly what they paid all that money for. Obviously, it's very early. But he's facing a National League team and that could bring him some familiarity.
St. Louis is trying to win and develop at the same time. It's difficult, but Leahy has shown some potential as a starter, though he's a work in progress.
For this interleague battle, the Cardinals will come out on top as the Red Sox' woes continue.
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St. Louis Cardinals +118
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