Two teams sitting in second place in their respective divisions meet for the first time this season, as the Boston Red Sox visit the Cleveland Guardians for a three-game set starting Friday.
Cleveland has been streaking, and just finished taking two of three from the Yankees, yet they are slight -105 moneyline underdogs at home to the BoSox, who just lost their last series against the Yankees.
Our Red Sox vs. Guardians predictions and MLB picks for April 25 think the team with the fewest home losses in the American League should handle business in the opener.
Red Sox vs Guardians prediction
My Red Sox vs Guardians best bet: Guardians moneyline (-105 at Caesars)
The Boston Red Sox have gone 7-4 in their last 11 to climb into second in the AL East, looking up only at the New York Yankees. They’ve been doing it with an offense that ranks inside the Top 10 at 4.59 runs per game, and they rank second in the majors in total hits.
While they sit outside the Top 10 in home runs, Boston leads the league in doubles, part of the reason they’re fourth in total extra-base hits.
They might need all that offense Friday, as Tanner Houck gets the call for the Red Sox. He’s 0-2 with a 7.66 ERA over his five starts, though he’s coming off arguably his best start of the year.
Houck pitched six inning of three-hit ball, allowing just two earned runs and striking out seven in a game Boston eventually lost to the White Sox, 8-4.
Since a 3-6 start to their season, the Cleveland Guardians have just four losses across their last 15 games, and are now just a half-game back of Detroit in the AL Central.
Offense is not their game, as Cleveland ranks 20th in scoring at 4.0 runs per game. But they’re also not a dominant pitching team, ranking middle of the pack in ERA, though they have allowed the fifth-fewest runs in the AL.
What they have been good at as of late is winning close games. During this streak, Cleveland has won nine out of 10 games decided by three runs or less.
They hope to have the pitching advantage with Ben Lively on the bump, but it’s been feast-or-famine for the righty.
His four starts in April are a yo-yo of results. He started by getting lit up by the Padres, surrendering seven hits and four earned runs and failing to get out of the fifth inning in a 5-2 loss. He followed that up with a two-hit, no-earned run gem over five innings against the White Sox, before a seven-hit, four-earned run outing over six innings in a 4-2 loss to the Royals.
Last time out, he pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings of four-hit ball in a 3-0 win over the Pirates. The Red Sox are hitting .194 against him as a team, offering hope that Lively can string two good starts together.
That, and Cleveland being 7-2 at home, makes me like them to pick up a win at this price.
Red Sox vs Guardians same-game parlay (SGP)
Guardians moneyline
Steven Kwan Over 1.5 hits
Alex Bregman Over 0.5 runs
Guardians lead-off man Steven Kwan has been getting it done this season. He’s hitting .337, powered by hits in seven straight games, and 12 of his last 13.
Of those games, Kwan has gone for multiple hits six times, and he’s getting plus odds to do it again on Friday.
Kwan has hit safely in 15 of 18 career games against the Red Sox, with five multi-hit efforts.
We’ll wrap up this SGP with BoSox third baseman Alex Bregman, who’s been on a tear of his own, picking up hits in six of his last nine games while lifting his average to .310.
He’s also been scoring runs, crossing the plate at least once in seven of those nine games.
Bregman has yet to face Lively in his career, but he’s hitting .317 against righties this year, scoring 12 runs. Look for him to stay hot in the opener of this set.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Red Sox vs Guardians odds
Red Sox vs Guardians live odds
Red Sox vs Guardians opening odds
- Moneyline: Boston -101 | Cleveland -109
- Run line: Boston +1.5 | Cleveland -1.5
- Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Red Sox vs Guardians trend
Six of Boston's last seven games as road favorites have gone Under the total. Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Guardians.
How to watch Red Sox vs Guardians and game info
| Location | Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH |
| Date | Friday, 4-25-2025 |
| First pitch | 7:10 p.m. ET |
| TV | Apple TV+ |
| Red Sox starting pitcher | Tanner Houck (0-2, 7.66 ERA) |
| Guardians starting pitcher | Ben Lively (1-2, 3.86 ERA) |
Red Sox vs Guardians latest injuries
Red Sox vs Guardians weather
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