Boston Red Sox vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction, Odds and Picks for Tomorrow, 03/26/26

The Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds are set to begin their 2026 campaign Thursday afternoon, and this article’s purpose is to set the stage for that matchup. Boston made the playoffs in 2025 by securing the 2nd AL wild card spot. They did lose in the postseason to their rivals in the New York Yankees, but 2025 was a step in the right direction for Boston as an organization. During the offseason they spent money on Ranger Suarez as a free agent acquisition to bolster their rotation. They also acquired Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo via trade for that same purpose, and their starting unit is now one of the deeper units in MLB. Willson Contreras was acquired to play first base for the club and with their young talent gaining more experience this is becoming a dangerous Red Sox team.

Garrett Crochet had his training wheels taken off in his first season with Boston in 2025, and the results were remarkable. Crochet posted a career-best 205.1 innings of work while earning a 2.59 ERA and similar underlying metrics. His command was elite, as was his strikeout production, and if health remains with the southpaw he is set for Cy Young votes again in 2026. Crochet does face a Reds lineup that improved during the offseason with the signing of Eugenio Suarez. Sal Stewart will look to make a name for himself in 2026, and Elly De La Cruz is one of the more entertaining players the sport has to offer.

Hunter Greene is beginning the season on the 60-day IL for the Reds, and Nick Lodolo is also beginning his 2026 on the injured list. Andrew Abbott will make the opening day start for Cincinnati as a result. Abbott was once again very solid in 2025, posting a 2.87 ERA across 166.1 innings of work. It will be crucial that he stays healthy and replicates or surpasses those 29 starts again this season, as Cincinnati will need stability in their starting rotation. Abbott does have some underlying metrics that are more worrisome than his surface level numbers would suggest. While I am higher on Abbott than some, I do prefer Boston from both a starting pitching and a lineup perspective. With a rested bullpen and Crochet on the mound I find pricing on Boston to be fair, and I lean that way on opening day.

Red Sox vs Reds prediction: Boston ML (-155) available at time of publishing. Playable to -160 odds.