A's vs. Red Sox Odds, Pick
| Athletics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
+190 | 9.5 -122 / +100 | +1.5 -108 |
| Red Sox Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
-230 | 9.5 -122 / +100 | -1.5 -111 |
The Boston Red Sox lost for the second time in nine games last night in a 5-2 home defeat to the Oakland A's as the two American League foes hook up for the rubber match at Fenway Park on Thursday.
Oakland bounced back after allowing 12 runs in the series opener as the A's seek their first road series win since late April, which coincidentally came at AL East-leading Baltimore.
Let's get to my A's vs. Red Sox prediction and pick for Thursday, July 11.
Oakland Athletics
The Athletics have beaten an opponent on the road in consecutive games once this season, which came in their first away series in April at Detroit.
Obviously, it feels like a long shot that Oakland can duplicate that feat since the A's are 0-7 in their last seven road games off a win against the same opponent.
The A's turn to right-hander Luis Medina in the series finale, who benefited from an obscene 19 runs of support in his last start against the Orioles. Oakland busted out to a 12-0 lead after the third inning and cruised to a 19-7 triumph as Medina allowed one run for the second consecutive start.
Medina has been the definition of hit-or-miss this season as he has given up one run in four starts but has also yielded four runs or more in three other outings.
From a totals perspective, Oakland cashed the Under in each of Medina's first six starts before the offensive explosion against Baltimore last Saturday, resulting in Medina's first Over.
The A's have not fared well in road series finales by dropping nine consecutive games, including six losses by two runs or more.
Boston Red Sox
Boston has won nine of its last 10 series finales since early June, including four of the past five at Fenway Park.
In that span, the Red Sox have averaged 5.7 runs per game, as Alex Cora's team has scored nine runs at home in three instances.
The Red Sox have fallen behind by multiple runs in each of the first two games against the A's, as Boston scored 11 unanswered runs on Tuesday after trailing, 2-0.
However, Oakland jumped out to a 3-0 advantage on Wednesday and Boston didn't score its first run until the 6th inning, marking the second time in three games the Red Sox were held scoreless through five innings.
Tanner Houck dominated the Athletics in his first start of the season by tossing six scoreless innings and striking out 10 batters in a 9-0 shutout.
Since mid-May, the Sox are 7-1 in Houck's last eight starts, but the right-hander has given up three runs or more in five consecutive outings.
Houck was racked in his most recent home outing against the Padres on June 29 by allowing eight runs in less than five innings of work in an 11-1 defeat.
Athletics vs. Red Sox
Betting Pick & Prediction
It's hard to make a convincing argument for Oakland to capture the finale tonight simply because of its poor road numbers on the season.
Also, Medina is coming off back-to-back strong appearances and his good fortune is ready to run out, especially off the blowout win over the Orioles.
Houck will be looking to get on the right track and seeing his domination of Oakland earlier this season, expect another big outing from him and a Red Sox rout at Fenway Park tonight.
