The Oakland Athletics are traveling east to play the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET and NBC Sports – California will broadcast this AL matchup.
Oakland Athletics at Boston Red Sox Odds
Oakland (+135) is the underdog against Boston (-145) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this night game at nine runs (-110 for the over and -110 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the games spread with the current runline odds standing at -160 for the Athletics +1.5 runs and +140 for the Red Sox -1.5.
The Red Sox are 28-12 SU and 19-20 ATS. The teams gained 9.3 units for moneyline bettors while earning 2.1 units against the spread (ATS). Boston has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Athletics have gone 19-21 SU this year and are 18-21 ATS. Overall, the teams gained 0.8 units for gamblers taking the moneyline in this young season, but have lost 6.0 units ATS. Oakland is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Red Sox games have a 19-19-1 over/under record thus far in 2018. Athletics games have gone over 20 times, gone under 17 times and pushed on two occasions.
Southpaw Sean Manaea is getting the nod for the visiting Athletics. Manaea is 4-4 with a 2.11 ERA and 45 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with 10 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA against Boston this year (two starts).
The Red Sox are putting the ball in the hands of righty Rick Porcello (5-0, 2.79 ERA), who has 49 strikeouts and eight walks, as well as a WHIP of 0.95. Porcello hasn’t faced the Athletics yet this year and did not record a start against them in 2017.
Oakland’s pitching staff allowed 4.9 runs per game and its starters own a 4.65 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 7.78 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 3.93, along with a K-per-9 of 7.61.
Athletics hitters have slashed .248/.323/.417 on their way to 4.5 runs scored per game this year, including 3.4 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 4.2 per game over the teams last five contests (1-4 SU).
Jed Lowrie and Mark Canha have led Oakland’s hitters. Lowrie is slashing .340/.394/.579 with nine home runs, 36 RBIs and 17 runs scored, while Canha is hitting .283 with six homers, 16 RBIs and 17 runs scored.
For the home team, Boston’s pitchers have given up 3.8 runs per game overall in 2018. Its starters have a 3.55 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.62 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 10.2 K/9.
Boston’s offense has produced 5.5 runs per contest, including 4.8 per game over its last 10 games and 4.8 per game over its last five. The team has hit .258/.320/.441 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez have paced the Red Sox hitters so far. Betts is slashing .360/.440/.772 with 13 home runs, 27 RBIs, 42 runs and seven stolen bases, while Martinez’s line is .342/.394/.624 with 10 homers, 33 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .264/.344/.459, Betts seemed to enjoy hitting lefties at home last year, slashing .358/.421/.567 over 76 such plate appearances.
The Athletics have gained 0.6 units and are 10-14 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 15 of those games, compared to nine that’ve hit the under against righty starters. On the other hand, the Red Sox have lost 0.3 units and are 3-6 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in three of those games, compared to six which went under the total.
Oakland Athletics at Boston Red Sox Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Red Sox, ATS Winner – Athletics, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The Athletics have lost five of their last six games SU.
- Oakland fielders have three errors over the last 10 games, compared to eight errors for Boston over its last 10.
- The Athletics have hit 10 home runs in their last 10 games, including six over their last five.
