Guardians vs. Red Sox Prediction, Odds & Props for Sept. 23: Boston Ends Skid

Written By Jason Green | Published at September 23, 2026

Guardians vs. Red Sox prediction for second game of AL series. The Guardians have won six in a row and won Game 1 of this series. — Sep 11, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Sonny Gray (54) pitching during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Natalie Reid-Imagn Images

The Red Sox dropped the first game of this series at home to a Cleveland Guardians team that is fighting to win the AL Central crown. Let’s get straight into this Guardians vs. Red Sox prediction for game info, the starting-pitching matchup, the latest odds, and some value prop bets.

The Guardians (82-75) are hot at the right time, with six straight wins, and are clinging to a one-game lead over the Chicago White Sox atop the AL Central. Five games remain in the regular season, and Cleveland wants to win the division and avoid the Wild Card, where the White Sox hold the third slot three games up on the Texas Rangers.

The Red Sox (84-73) have lost three in a row, and they are in the second AL Wild Card spot, three games up on the White Sox.

Guardians vs. Red Sox Odds

For the second game of this AL series, DraftKings Sportsbook has the Red Sox as the favorite at -130, with the Guardians at +110 and a total of 7 runs.

Lowe Gets it Done in Ninth for Guardians

In the opener of this series, Cleveland beat Boston 3-2, with Nathaniel Lowe hitting a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning. Angel Martinez went 3-for-4 with an RBI, and while the Guardians won, they stranded 15 batters, their season-high in a 9-inning game.

On the season, Cleveland ranks a solid eighth in team ERA but only 26th in runs scored.

Martinez (.259, 17 home runs, 57 RBIs) leads the club in RBIs, is batting over .300 this month, and has two home runs, seven hits, and five RBIs over the last three games. Brayan Rocchio (.250, 13 home runs, 70 RBIs) leads the team in RBIs and has five in the last five games.

Boston is in the playoffs with Cleveland likely end and the top sportsbooks have the latest World Series odds.

Cleveland Starting Pitcher for Second Game of Series

Foster Griffin (15-5, 3.67 ERA, 1.19 WHIP) goes for Cleveland, who have won two of his last three starts. In his last one, he gave up two runs in only four innings in a win, after his second-worst start of the season, when he was lit up for eight runs in just 2 1/3 innings. He was an All-Star this season, and the Guardians have won five of his eight starts since coming over in a trade with the Washington Nationals. This season, Griffin has 151 strikeouts and 45 walks in 166 2/3 innings.

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Red Sox Have Issues at the Dish Lately

The Red Sox have totaled only four runs in their three-game losing streak, and they have not scored over four runs in any of their last eight games.

Like Cleveland, Boston has been led by their pitching this season, ranking third in team ERA and only 20th in runs.

Willson Contreras (.276, 27 home runs, 81 RBIs) leads the team in home runs and RBIs, has missed the last four games with a hand injury, and is listed as day-to-day. Ceddanne Rafaela (.282, 16 home runs, 70 RBIs), who leads the club in batting average, is expected to be activated from the IL today and may be in the lineup.

Wilyer Abreu (.251, 24 home runs, 74 RBIs) is slumping, batting .220 this month, and in the last six games has only two hits to go with nine strikeouts.

Boston Starter for Second Game of Series

The Red Sox send Ace Sonny Gray (17-5, 2.82 ERA, 1.16 WHIP) to the hill for Game 2, and they have won two of his last three starts. He has allowed three runs in each of his last two starts and was solid in his lone start against Cleveland this season, allowing one run in six innings in a win.

Gray has not benefited from much run support from the lineup in the last several weeks; in his last 10 starts, Boston averaged only 3.2 runs per game. This season, he ranks second in wins, eighth in ERA, and, in 163 innings, has 146 strikeouts and 45 walks.

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Guardians vs. Red Sox Prediction

Red Sox ML (-130, DraftKings)

The Guardians took the opener of this series and have won six in a row while the Red Sox have lost their last three games. This game has a pitcher’s duel written all over it, with two solid starters and two less-than-potent lineups. Still, stay away from the Under at 7 runs, where 96% of the public has bet the Over early. Leaning toward the Sox at home, and while their lineup has been slumping, Gray will have another good outing, and Boston will turn the tide from the series opener, winning a close, low-scoring affair.

Guardians vs. Red Sox Prop Bets

Here are some good value prop bets via Bet365:

Sonny Gray Over 4.5 strikeouts: (-121, DraftKings) - Gray has over 4.5 strikeouts in each of his last seven starts.
Foster Griffin to give up over 5.5 hits: (+115, DraftKings) - While the Boston lineup is struggling, Griffin has given up 20 hits over his last three starts.
Angel Martinez 1+ RBI: (+240, DraftKings) - Good odds for Martinez, who has five RBIs over the last three games.