**3-Dime MLB POD **3-1 THIS PLAYOFFS! ON MLB POD!

[Pick Bot]

Angels +130 (3-Dime MLB POD)
I'm going with the Angels in the sweep! I said it all along that the Red Sox are not the same now they turn to a very young and inexperienced pitcher for a Game 3 start. I'm not too confident for Bucholz and I'm not sure he's confident in himself considering he struggled down the stretch giving up 13 ER in 8 IP in his last two starts both home starts to Indians and Bluejays. I think he'll be decent, but I think the Angels will get enough as they have another quality pitcher going today in Scott Kazmir.

Kazmir who had a 3.56 ERA away from home this year and down the stretch was 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA. In fact his last 4 road starts he owns a 0.78 ERA. Pretty impressive if you ask me. Red Sox are no stranger to Kazmir as he pitched his career with the Rays before getting dumped during the season. The Red Sox have a collective .273 average off Kazmir. Nothing special or anything, in his last 6 starts @ Boston his team was 4-2 and this year he went 11 IP giving up 4 ER in the two wins when he was with the Rays. Boston @ home vs. LHP are hitting .274 (-0.14 from RHP) and scoring 5.72 runs per 9 innings (-1.05 runs per 9 than RHP) so I believe the Angels got the match up they want playing away from the Sox strengths. LA also has played better during the day scoring more runs. My only worry and the reason why it's not my usual 4-Dime play is the start time. This really is unfair for the Angels with a 12:07 start which is going to feel like a 9:07 start for most. However, I think they will be amped for this one as they do not want to lose this game by any stretch. Kazmir is used to pitching on the east coast and I believe he comes up with a gem against a Red Sox team who plays slightly better at night than it does during the day.

Angels unlike Boston are actually good on the road as they have just 1 less loss on the road than at home with a record of 48-33. They are 34-15 in Game 3's this year including 18-5 on the road. Angels 9-3 off an off day and 19-7 in their last 26 as a dog +110 to +150. I just see this as being the year for them they play with passion and they will again today. Again I mentioned the day start, well Bucholz has a 5.67 ERA during day starts with an 0-2 record compared to his 3.60 ERA at night. Red Sox are 1-4 in his last 5 vs. AL West and 4-10 in his last 14 starts vs. a team with a winning record. He also does not pitch nearly as well at Fenway as he does on the road as he's got a 4.72 ERA while on the road 3.65 ERA. Everything for me points to the Angels in this one in a game they MUST close out the series, but everyone is on the Red Sox because they are still believing in the magic this team once had, but Manny is no longer here and this team is different.