Oakland Athletics at Boston Red Sox odds, picks and predictions
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The Boston Red Sox (45-43) welcome the Oakland Athletics (25-64) to Fenway Park Friday to open a 3-game series. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Athletics vs. Red Sox odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting of 2023.
The Athletics have won 2 straight series, beating the Chicago White Sox 2-1 at home last Friday-Sunday and the Detroit Tigers 2-1 on the road to start the week. Oakland is coming off a 9-0 loss at Detroit Thursday and despite being 5-5 over its last 10 games still has the worst win percentage in MLB.
The Red Sox took 2 of 3 games from the Texas Rangers to start the week, including a 10-6 victory in the finale Thursday. Boston entered that series off a 3-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays on the road. The Sox are 23-22 at home this season and remain 11 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East despite having a winning record.
Athletics at Red Sox projected starters
RHP Luis Medina vs. LHP Brennan Bernardino
Medina (2-7, 6.37 ERA) makes his 9th start and 12th appearance. He has a 1.64 WHIP, 5.2 BB/9 and 8.2 K/9 through 53 2/3 IP.
- Has allowed 4 or fewer earned runs in 5 straight starts, giving up 1 or 2 earned runs in 3 of those outings
- The Athletics are just 1-7 in his starts this season
Bernardino (1-0, 2.70 ERA) makes his 2nd start and 25th appearance. He has a 1.09 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9 and 8.8 K/9 through 26 2/3 IP.
- Hasn’t pitched 2 full innings in a single game since June 3 when he tossed a season-high 36 pitches
- Has allowed just 8 earned runs in 24 appearances this season
- 2023 home splits: 1-0, 2.51 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 9.4 K/9 over 14 1/3 IP across 1 start and 12 relief appearances
Athletics at Red Sox odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:05 a.m. ET.
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Athletics at Red Sox picks and predictions
Prediction
Red Sox 6, Athletics 5
PASS.
The Athletics (+185) have been playing well as of late, as has Medina, but probably not well enough to take them to win as road underdogs at Fenway Park.
Boston (-225) is a heavy favorite but will likely have to turn to its bullpen early in this game with Bernardino serving as an opener. Red Sox relievers have the 16th-best ERA in MLB (4.00). Those potential issues combined make backing Boston a hard pass.
LEAN ATHLETICS +1.5 (+105).
Oakland is 21-23 on the run line as a road underdog while Boston is 10-15 on the run line as a home favorite and 15-21 on the run line as a favorite in general. While the Red Sox have surged late, they are just 6-8 over their last 14 games and 23-22 straight up at home this season.
With Medina having allowed 3 or fewer earned runs in his last 3 starts and the Red Sox inevitably having to use their bullpen early, back the ATHLETICS +1.5 (+105).
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BET OVER 10.5 (-110).
Both Boston and Oakland are in the top 10 in MLB in hitting the Over. The Red Sox are 46-40-2 this season while Oakland is 45-38-6. Boston is 24-19-1 O/U after a win and 25-19-1 O/U at home this season.
The Red Sox have cashed the over in 3 of its last 5 while Oakland has gone north of the total in 7 of its last 8. Considering the recent trends, back the OVER 10.5 (-110).
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