MLB Preview

Boston Red Sox (59-39) at Cleveland Indians (58-40)

Monday, 7:05 pm Eastern

Opening Line: Cleveland -128, Total 10.5 Over (-120)

Jon Lester gets his first start of the season for the Boston Red Sox on Monday.  Lester pitches for Boston for the first time since being diagnosed with cancer last August.  Lester was 7-2 with a 4.76 ERA in 15 starts last season.  Lester started the season on the DL after undergoing cancer treatment and has pitched well in his minor league rehab starts. "I don't think it really has sunken in yet," Lester said "and I don't think it will sink in until tomorrow when I get on the mound." 
 

"It's been hard, but you have to sit back and see that they have your best interest involved," Lester said. "It's been hard getting treated like you're in a glass bottle, so it'd be nice to finally break through and get to pitch again."

The Red Sox have won three straight. Manny Ramirez went 2-for-2 with a home run and four RBIs to help Boston to an 8-5 win over Chicago on Sunday. They have scored 29 runs with 31 hits in their last three games. "It's just one of those situations where guys are having big at-bats in key situations and we're just going to try and keep it rolling," outfielder J.D. Drew said.

Cleveland is a -128 favorite with a total of 10.5 Over (-120) .

Cleveland won three of four against Texas over the weekend and is only a game back of Detroit for the AL Central lead. The Indians have baseball’s best home record at 31-14. Jake Westbrook (1-5, 6.07) will start for the Indians. He is 0-3 in six starts since beating Baltimore on April 27. Westbrook gave up four runs in six innings on Wednesday against Chicago.  He is 3-1 with a 4.23 ERA in five career starts against the Red Sox.

The Red Sox are 20-7 in their last 27 road games vs. a right-handed starter.

The Red Sox are 1-7 in their last 8 games as an underdog. The Red Sox are 0-6 in their last 6 road games. The Red Sox are 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Cleveland.

The Indians are 6-2 in their last 8 vs. the American League East. The Indians are 8-3 in their last 11 home games vs. a left-handed starter. The Indians are 12-5 in their last 17 games as a favorite. The Indians are 4-0 in Westbrook's last 4 starts vs. the American League East. The Indians are 4-1 in Westbrook's last 5 starts as a home favorite.

The Over is 5-1 in the Red Sox last 6 vs. the American League Central. The Over is 5-1 in Red Sox last 6 overall. The Over is 4-0-3 in Lester's last 7 starts overall. The Under is 4-0 in Westbrook's last 4 starts as a favorite. The Over is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings in Cleveland.