Red Sox vs. Phillies Prediction, Odds & Best Bets: Can Sanchez Silence Boston?

Two World Series contenders continue a tight series after the Phillies edged out the Red Sox in extra innings last night.

Sean Tomlinson

Last Updated: July 22, 2025 4:42 PM EDT • 5 minute read

Pictured Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez delivers, and he's a key factor in our Red Sox vs. Phillies prediction. Photo by Denis Poroy / Imagn.

Could more weird baseball be in store as we make our Red Sox vs. Phillies prediction?

The two World Series odds contenders delivered a close contest last night, with the Phillies prevailing 3-2 after the winning run crossed the plate through catcher's interference, the first such walk-off since 1971.

Maybe that sort of lunacy is what's needed to slow the scorching-hot Red Sox. Or maybe there will be a much different result for our Red Sox vs. Phillies best bets when Philadelphia's Cy Young odds long shot Cristopher Sanchez takes to the mound at 6:45 p.m. ET tonight from Citizens Bank Park.

Sanchez's presence is a significant reason why the Phillies are the heavy favorites at around -200 through our best MLB betting sites.

Red Sox vs. Phillies prediction: Phillies -1.5 (+108 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best Red Sox vs. Phillies player props: Cristopher Sanchez Under 6.5 strikeouts (-134 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

⚾ Red Sox vs. Phillies prediction & odds

🔎 Our NEW MLB player prop odds tool can help you find the best MLB odds to make your best MLB picks.

📊 Live Red Sox vs. Phillies odds

💰 Red Sox vs. Phillies prediction & best bet

✅ Red Sox vs. Phillies prediction: Phillies -1.5 (+108 via FanDuel)

Exclusive: Up to $2,500 No Sweat First Bet

New customers only. Min. first deposit and wager of $500+. Standard offer (bet $5, win $150 in bonus bets) available. Can only claim 1 offer. T&Cs apply. Not valid in NY or IL.

Claim $2,500

Each product featured on our website has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.

If you're taking a side ahead of this matchup for your Red Sox vs. Phillies prediction, there isn't much appeal in the moneyline, with the Phillies listed as such overwhelming favorites.

The right approach then is to trust Sanchez to silence Boston's offense en route to the team covering the run line, and also believe in the Phillies' bats to come alive after scoring three or fewer runs in four of their past seven games. But of course, the larger sample size of the Phillies' offensive fireworks quickly quells any anxiety tied to this Red Sox vs. Phillies best bet.

A team that sits tied for sixth in the National League in runs and is fifth MLB-wide with a .732 OPS will get to spend part of its evening facing Richard Fitts. He's been able to limit the opposition through eight starts so far while impressively allowing two or fewer runs in five of those outings.

But there's been an element of dancing through rain drops, as Fitts' hard-hit and barrel rates rest in the 23rd and 15th percentile, respectively. When opposing batters do square him up, the result is loud, which is especially true for his most-used pitch, a four-seamer that's registered a .554 expected slugging percentage.

💰 Best Red Sox vs. Phillies player props

✅ Best Red Sox vs. Phillies player prop: Cristopher Sanchez Under 6.5 strikeouts (-134 via FanDuel)

Today's edition of two things can be true: Sanchez can suffocate a white-hot Red Sox offense that averaged 7.1 runs per contest during a recent run when they won 12 of 13 games, but the dominant hurler will do it while falling a little short of this strikeout line from our best sports betting sites.

Sanchez has been regularly baffling opposing lineups en route to a sparkling 2.50 ERA that sits fourth leaguewide. Part of his steamrolling though is a K/9 that's suddenly spiked from 7.6 last year to 9.5 now. Combine that swift uptick with an expected ERA that sits at 2.99, and there may be at least mild regression looming.

And yes, Boston does indeed strike out a lot as we make out best Red Sox vs. Phillies player props (third-most leaguewide), and every team is vulnerable against Sanchez's lethal changeup that's registering an opposing batting average of .146. But Boston's team OPS of .783 against lefties like Sanchez that ranks third leaguewide shows the Red Sox are capable of putting the ball in play often enough tonight.

Be sure to make this bet at FanDuel and capitalize on the -134 offering, as the prices at many of our other best sports betting apps are notably shorter. BetMGM is down at -150, with DraftKings all the way at -155.

📈 Red Sox vs. Phillies betting insights

Here are some betting insights from BetMGM in the hours before first pitch between the Red Sox and Phillies:

Overall this is the third most-bet game on the slate tonight, and the Under on 8.5 runs is the third-most bet total
The moneyline has stayed the same since the opening odds, with 53% of the bets and 66% of the handle now going toward the Phillies
A whopping 71% of the bets and 87% of the handle is going toward the Under
The Phillies are also the heavy run-line favorites while getting 79% of the bets and 83% of the handle

💡 Expert MLB predictions today

❓MLB betting FAQs

How do betting odds work?

Betting odds represent the probability of a specific outcome and determine how much money you can win on a bet. There are three main formats: American odds, Decimal odds, and Fractional odds. In the U.S., American odds are most common.

What is the run line in baseball?

The run line in baseball is a form of point spread betting unique to MLB. It typically sets a standard spread of 1.5 runs, meaning the favored team must win by at least two runs to cover the run line, while the underdog can lose by one run or win outright to cover.

What does moneyline mean in betting?

The moneyline in betting refers to a wager on which team or player will win the game outright, with no point spread involved. It’s the most straightforward type of sports bet - just pick the winner.

💵 Best MLB betting sites

Want to bet on Red Sox vs. Phillies? Check out the best MLB betting sites and best sportsbook promos for today's MLB games:

FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review
Hard Rock Bet Promo Code | Read our Hard Rock Bet Review

(21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER)
* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

Not intended for use in MA.
Each betting site featured on SBR has been meticulously researched and selected by our team of experts. If you sign up through our links, we may get a commission.

Written by:
Sean Tomlinson

Sean Tomlinson has been in the sports media wilderness since 2009, and he joined Sportsbook Review in 2021. His work has been referenced in The New York Times and Forbes. He's also made appearances on The Fan 590 and TSN 1050. Sean is a regular bettor who places bets daily while using a handful of books. Most frequently, he uses FanDuel and bet365 due to the quality experience on those apps. While he'll often take an analytical approach, Sean enjoys the fun, recreational side of betting too, and embraces alternative markets on events like the Westminster Dog Show or Eurovision, or the many novelty props tied annually to the Super Bowl, for example. Beyond sports, Sean is also interested in the betting markets tied to politics, and especially those connected to American elections. He sees betting as a way to explore and engage in a deeper way, and takes that same view to his work. He plays poker periodically too, and is an avid fantasy sports player. Sean also previously spent time with Bleacher Report and theScore, all after earning his media studies degree from the University of Guelph-Humber.