The Boston Red Sox will be taking on the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. NBC Sports – California will broadcast this AL showdown and the action gets going at 4:05 p.m. ET.
Boston Red Sox at Oakland Athletics Odds
Oakland (+120) is coming into this one as the underdog against Boston (-130) and oddsmakers have the Over/Under for this game at 9 runs (-120 for the under and +100 for the over). Runline odds stand at +115 for betting the Red Sox -1.5 runs and -135 for the Athletics +1.5 runs.
The Athletics are 10-11 SU and 8-12 ATS. They’ve lost 2.5 units for moneyline bettors and 6.0 units against the spread (ATS). The Red Sox are 17-3 SU and have gone 12-7 ATS. In total, the teams gained 14.9 units for gamblers taking the moneyline in this young season and 5.9 units ATS.
Athletics games have a 12-7-1 over/under record thus far in 2018. Boston has been a decent over bet with a total record of 12-6-1.
David Price will get the nod for Boston. The southpaw Price is 2-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 17 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Athletics this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Athletics are turning to righty Daniel Mengden (2-2, 4.50 ERA), who’s got 18 punchouts and three walks as well as a WHIP of 1.17. Mengden did not record a start against the Red Sox in 2017.
Oakland’s pitching staff has given up 5.0 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 4.88, a WHIP of 1.22 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.2. The bullpen has a 3.99 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 7.0 K/9.
The Oakland hitters have put up 5.2 runs per contest, including 6.6 per game over its last 10 games and 7.2 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .289/.387/.481 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Second baseman Jed Lowrie and third baseman Matt Chapman have paced the Athletics offense this year. Lowrie is hitting .367/.418/.633 with six home runs, 23 RBIs and 12 runs scored, and Chapman’s line sits at .295/.389/.564 with five homers, 13 RBIs and 17 runs.
Compared to his total season slash line of .234/.313/.472, Chapman appeared to enjoy hitting at home last season, producing .284/.352/.541 across 165 plate appearances.
In the other dugout, Boston’s pitchers have allowed 2.8 runs per game and its starters own a 2.28 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 10.00 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.27, along with a K/9 of 9.57.
The Red Sox offense has slashed .282/.353/.478 on its way to 6.2 runs scored per game this season, including 6.7 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 6.8 per game over the teams last five contests (4-1 SU).
Boston’s hitters have been led by Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez. Betts is slashing .366/.459/.732 with six home runs, 14 RBIs and 23 runs scored, while Martinez is hitting .324/.351/.592 with four homers, 15 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .303/.376/.690, Martinez didn’t do as well hitting against righty pitching on the road last season, putting up a slash line of just .255/.299/.588 over 177 such plate appearances.
The Red Sox have gained 12.8 units and are 11-6 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 11 of those games, compared to five that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Athletics have lost 5.4 units and are 2-5 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The overs hit in three of those games, compared to three that’ve cashed the under.
Boston Red Sox vs. Oakland Athletics Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The under has cashed in only one of Oakland’s last seven games.
- The Athletics have won five of their last six games SU.
- Oakland has posted 27.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 28.8 over its last five.
- The Red Sox have hit 18 home runs in their last 10 games, including 13 over their last five.
