The Boston Red Sox will head west to play the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The opening pitch is scheduled for 10:05 p.m. ET and NBC Sports – California will televise this AL matchup.
Boston Red Sox at Oakland Athletics Odds
Vegas is listing Boston (-135) as the favorite over Oakland (+125). Gamblers can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at -120 for over 8.5 runs and +100 for under 8.5. Runline odds stand at +110 for betting the Red Sox -1.5 runs and -130 for the Athletics +1.5.
The Red Sox are 16-2 SU and are 10-7 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 12.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline in this young season and 3.4 units ATS. Boston has covered the spread six times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven. The Athletics, on the other hand, are 9-10 SU and 8-11 ATS. The team’s lost 1.6 units for moneyline bettors and 4.7 units ATS. Oakland has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone over in six of those seven.
Athletics games have had an over/under record of 11-7-1 so far in 2018. Boston has an over/under record of 10-6-1.
Southpaw Drew Pomeranz is getting the nod for the visiting Red Sox. Pomeranz is 0-0 with an ERA. 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 Kendall Graveman (0-3, 9.87 ERA), who has 10 strikeouts and seven walks to his credit as well as a 2.02 WHIP. Graveman only made one start against the Red Sox in 2017 (0-0, 3.00 ERA and five strikeouts across six innings).
As a unit, Oakland’s pitching staff has yielded 5.2 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starting pitching staff has an ERA of 5.02, a WHIP of 1.30 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 6.8. The bullpen has a 4.09 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 7.4 K/9.
The Oakland offense has put up 5.5 runs per outing, including 6.8 per game over its last 10 games and 8.0 per game over its last five. The team has hit .287/.391/.495 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Second baseman Jed Lowrie and third baseman Matt Chapman have paced the Athletics’ hitters this year. Lowrie is hitting .346/.404/.605 with six home runs, 21 RBIs and 11 runs scored, while Chapman’s line is .296/.390/.563 with five homers, 13 RBIs and 16 runs.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .234/.313/.472, Chapman performed well at home last year, producing .284/.352/.541 across 165 plate appearances.
In the other dugout, Boston’s pitching staff allowed 2.8 runs per game and its starters own a 1.98 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 9.54 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.57, along with a K/9 of 9.93.
The Red Sox offense has slashed .292/.366/.496 on its way to 6.4 runs scored per game this season, including 8.2 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 8.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (5-0 SU).
Boston’s hitters have been powered by Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez. Betts is slashing .391/.481/.797 with six home runs, 14 RBIs and 22 runs scored, while Martinez (.338/.365/.618) has produced four homers, 15 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .303/.376/.690, Martinez didn’t seem to enjoy hitting against righty pitching on the road last year, putting up a slash line of .255/.299/.588 across 177 such plate appearances.
The Red Sox have gained 10.8 units and are 9-6 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in nine of those games, compared to five that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Athletics have lost 4.4 units and are 2-4 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in two of those games, compared to three that’ve cashed the under.
Boston Red Sox vs. Oakland Athletics Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Red Sox, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The Red Sox have won 16 of their last 17 games SU.
- Oakland has recorded 26.4 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 29.6 over its last five.
- The Red Sox have hit 17 home runs in their last 10 games, including 13 over their last five.
