I lost my complimentary selection Wednesday on the Twins to beat Detroit, but that will not prevent me for dishing out a winner today!

The Red Sox are backing into the playoffs, as they are on a six-game losing streak, and that's not the way they want to begin October.

Boston starter Jon Lester (14-8, 3.52 ERA) also wants to get back to his winning ways after taking a line drive off his right leg Friday against the Yankees. The left-hander's leg wasn't the only thing that was battered, as he gave up five runs and eight hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Before that outing, however, Lester was 11-2 with a 2.13 ERA over 20 starts, and he is 6-3 with a 3.07 ERA in 13 outings at Fenway Park this season.

Lester is 2-0 with a 4.76 ERA in five career outings against Cleveland, and the Red Sox are 5-0 in those games.

Indians starter Carlos Carrasco (0-3, 9.00) has had a rough beginning to his big-league career. Cleveland has lost all four of the rookie's outings, and he allowed four runs and six hits in five innings Saturday against Detroit.

The Indians went 7-21 in September, and manager Eric Wedge is on his way out the door. With a struggling rookie on the mound vs. a Boston team that wants to get back to winning quickly, things don't look good for Cleveland today. Take the Red Sox on the run line.

5♦ BOSTON -1 1/2 RUNS