The Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals will meet up in Game 3 of the 2013 World Series Saturday night, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:07 p.m. ET on FOX.
Boston Red Sox vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Boston dropped a 4-2 decision to St. Louis in the second game of this best-of-seven series Thursday, which snapped the club’s nine-game World Series win streak. This is the 8th time in this situation that the Red Sox have split the first two decisions—posting a 4-3 record in the following game. The ball club has a 17-13 all-time record in the Fall Classic when playing on the road, but it has won its last four opportunities in that role. Boston is 38-14 in its last 52 games following a straight-up loss, while the OVER is 11-4-2 in its last 17 games overall.
Red Sox starting pitcher Jake Peavy is 0-1 with a 8.31 ERA in two postseason starts this year, including a 7-3 road defeat to the Detroit Tigers on Oct. 16, as he allowed seven runs and five hits over three frames. The right-hander went an even 5-5 with a 5.27 ERA in 14 road games during the regular season, surrendering 12 home runs in 82 combined innings of work. In nine lifetime appearances versus the Cardinals, Peavy has compiled a 3-4 record and 2.97 ERA.
St. Louis grabbed ahold of home-field advantage in this matchup after splitting the two games in Boston, which has the clubhouse energized and motivated for the next three games at Busch Stadium. “We love Cardinal country,” stated Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright. The franchise led the NL in scoring and went 54-27 at home during the regular season, while also proving victorious in five of six games in front of the fans thus far during the 2013 MLB playoffs. St. Louis is 11-1 in its last 12 home games versus a team with a winning road record.
Cardinals starting pitcher Joe Kelly is 0-1 with a 4.41 ERA in three starts during the playoffs, including a 6-4 road defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Oct. 16. The right-hander tallied a 5-4 record and 3.29 ERA in 18 home appearances (eight starts) during the regular season, issuing 21 walks and striking out 38 batters in 63 combined frames. Kelly will be making his first career appearance against the Red Sox.
Sports bettors will likely back the Cardinals in the first five innings, as they’ve won Kelly’s last five outings as a home underdog.
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