After turning the MLB world upside down last night (again) with their acquisition of Tarik Skubal, the Los Angeles Dodgers end a series with the Boston Red Sox as -154 favorites on Sunday Night Baseball.
This matchup is less about raw starter quality and more about whether each offense fits the opposing pitcher’s strengths. Jake Bennett needs chase and weak contact to survive, and L.A. is one of the worst opponents in baseball for that exact plan.
Here are my Red Sox vs Dodgers predictions and MLB picks for August 2.
Who will win Red Sox vs Dodgers tonight: Dodgers -1.5 (+124)
I'm playing the Los Angeles Dodgers on the run line down to +110.
The Boston Red Sox may very well have the better pitcher, but this matchup is brutal for Jake Bennett.
Bennett’s profile is built on chase, ranking in the 97th percentile at 37.8%. The Dodgers neutralize that better than almost anyone, with the second-lowest chase rate in baseball.
If Bennett has to live in the zone, his 18.0% strikeout rate leaves little margin against arguably the best contact-quality offense in the sport. This is a direct skill mismatch, and the Dodgers have the bats to exploit it.
COVERS INTEL: Bennett is a 49% ground-ball pitcher facing a Dodgers offense with the lowest ground-ball rate in MLB at 39.6%,
Red Sox vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-106)
I’m playing the Under down to 8.
Emmet Sheehan’s best traits are chase and whiff, and Boston is more likely to cooperate than the Dodgers. Sheehan owns a 35% chase rate, while the Red Sox chase 32.4% of the time and whiff at a 25.7% clip.
There is some home-run risk with Sheehan because of his fly-ball profile and 9.8% barrel rate, but Boston is a below-average offense by most expected metrics.
I expect Los Angeles to control the game without needing a full slugfest.
- ML/RL bets: 42-37, +8.58 units
- Over/Under bets: 45-35, +10.80 units
Red Sox vs Dodgers weather
Red Sox vs Dodgers odds
- Moneyline: Red Sox +142 | Dodgers -154
- Run line: Red Sox +1.5 (-124) | Dodgers -1.5 (+124)
- Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Red Sox vs Dodgers trend
The Los Angeles Dodgers have hit the first-five innings moneyline in seven of their last 10 games (+7.15 Units / 47% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Red Sox vs Dodgers and game info
| Location | Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA |
| Date | Sunday, August 2, 2026 |
| First pitch | 7:20 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBC/Peacock |
| Red Sox starting pitcher | Jake Bennett (6-4, 2.74 ERA) |
| Dodgers starting pitcher | Emmet Sheehan (4-7, 4.95 ERA) |
Red Sox vs Dodgers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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