Game 4 is a must-win matchup for Boston after a controversial call sent Game 3 of the 2013 World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz is 0-0 with a 5.40 ERA in his three starts so far in the 2013 playoffs, with Boston going 2-1 in those games. Lance Lynn, 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three postseason outings this fall, will get the ball for the Cardinals on Sunday.
St. Louis has won just four of Lynn's past 10 starts, whereas Boston is 9-2 in Buchholz's past 11 outings. The Cards opened as small home chalk here and Boston needs to avoid going into a 3-1 series hole. Boston is just 3-6 in nine postseason road games dating back to 2009.
View Boston Red Sox vs St. Louis Cardinals Odds and Stats.
Those going with the Cardinals in this one found them listed as moneyline favorites of -110 at Sportsbook for Sunday's contest. The total was hovering near 7 at Sportsbook.
According to new MLB Power Rankings here, it's the No. 2-ranked Cardinals and the No. 4-rated Red Sox in this matchup.
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Last time out for Boston, they were a 5-4 loser as they battled the Cardinals on the road. Moneyline bettors who got the Cardinals at -104 were rewarded, while the 9 combined runs moved the game OVER for totals bettors. The Red Sox were saddled with a loss last time out in Jake Peavy's start, as they lost 5-4 against St. Louis on Saturday at Busch Stadium.
How They Match Up:
On offense, it's a battle between St. Louis and its No. 3-rated batting order, averaging 4.74 runs per nine innings, against the No. 1 lineup of the Red Sox at 5.21 runs per outing.
Defensively, Boston features the No. 14-rated defense on the road, allowing 4.1 runs per game. St. Louis, meanwhile, comes in at No. 6 at home, scoring 4.68 runs per game.
A few Red Sox at Cardinals trends to consider:
Boston is 2-3-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing St. Louis
St. Louis is 14-5-1 SU in its last 20 games
St. Louis is 12-1-1 SU in its last 14 games at home
St. Louis is 2-3-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Boston
Next up:
Boston at St. Louis, Monday, October 28th
