The Boston Red Sox are one of those teams that won’t shake MLB Betting Odds one way or another. They were so good last year, yet fell flat at the end that bettors are weary in 2012. But when they fall flat to start 2012, oddsmakers didn’t pull the floor out and make them huge dogs for the World Series. Too much potential.

The past two weeks have shown why. Despite starting the year in forgettable fashion, the Red Sox seem to be pulling things back together in May, winning nine of their last 11 to get back to .500.

Winning back-to-back games against division leading Baltimore on Tuesday will put them over the midway mark for the first time all year.

“It’s definitely not a goal, but it’s better than being under .500,” manager Bobby Valentine told the Associated Press.

Boston is favored by 1 1/2 runs in the second game of the series, according to Bovada’s Red Sox vs. Orioles Betting Lines.

Baltimore, meanwhile, is hoping to avoid it’s second three-game skid this season. It was let down by it’s bullpen on Monday, a unit that leads the league in innings pitched.

They could really use a long outing from tonight’s starter Brian Matusz, who has been pitching well of late. He’s won his last two starts, averaging just under five innings per. He is a lifetime 2-1 against the Red Sox with a 4.02 ERA.

He’s had success against Boston’s best hitter, too, holding David Ortiz to just one hit in 10 at-bats.

Ortiz swatted his 10th homer in the 8-6 win Monday night, and is batting .333 on the year.

Going deep into games has been Boston starter Felix Dubront’s biggest issue, failing to go longer than 6 2/3s innings at any point this year. He’s managed to scrape by, winning each of his last three starts, though, and will face Baltimore as a starter for the first time this season.