Boston enters at 55-51 after Tuesday’s 4-3 loss ended a 10-game road winning streak. The Red Sox had won 18 of 20 before wasting several late opportunities against the Athletics. They finished 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, grounded into three double plays, and committed three defensive mistakes. Connor Wong’s ninth-inning homer still brought the tying run to the warning track before Anthony Seigler’s final out. The Athletics improved to 45-62 and ended a four-game skid behind Tommy White’s four hits. Boston has won three of five, while the Athletics have dropped five of seven. Below is my preview, prediction, and pick for today’s baseball game between the Athletics and the Boston Red Sox.
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Athletics vs. Red Sox prediction, preview
Patrick Sandoval makes his fourth major-league start since completing a long recovery from Tommy John surgery. He owns a 3.21 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts across 14 innings. Boston has limited him to 13, 15, and 14 outs, confirming another abbreviated assignment Wednesday. Sandoval threw 4.2 scoreless innings against Toronto last Friday, permitting one single, one double, and several deep counts. His slider receives 35.5% usage, while the changeup sits at 22.7%. Opponents have averaged only 85.8 mph with a 31.9% hard-hit rate and 2.1% barrels. His .297 xwOBA sits well below the .354 wOBA allowed, suggesting his contact management has deserved better results.
Jacob Lopez presents the opposite surface story. His 5-4 record comes with a 6.12 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, and 53 strikeouts. Since returning from Triple-A on July 7, however, Lopez has shown sharper secondary command and considerably softer contact. He held Minnesota scoreless across five innings Friday, allowing one hit while navigating four walks. Opponents have produced only 85.3 mph contact, a 31.1% hard-hit rate, and a .304 xwOBA against him. His .361 wOBA allowed reflects damaging sequencing, poor command, and too many innings beginning with free traffic. Lopez can quiet Boston initially, but another four-walk performance would force the Athletics into their bullpen early.
Willson Contreras anchors Boston with a .285 average, 22 homers, 66 RBI, and a .400 wOBA. His 90.6 mph EV, 46.3% hard-hit rate, 14.5% barrels, and .387 xwOBA support every ounce of that production. Wilyer Abreu owns 89.8 mph contact, 42.3% hard hits, 12.4% barrels, and a .341 xwOBA. Ceddanne Rafaela has 25 doubles, 11 homers, and 50 RBI, including Monday’s first career grand slam. Seigler recently finished a triple short of the cycle during a four-hit game against Toronto. Wong’s late homer Tuesday gives Boston another right-handed bat for Lopez. Curtis Mead’s fractured wrist hurts after Boston acquired his 17 homers and 48 RBI for precisely this matchup class.
Red Sox vs. Athletics pick, best bet
The Athletics still carry more power than their record suggests, averaging 4.4 runs with 131 homers and a .404 slugging percentage. Nick Kurtz recently returned from a thumb injury after batting .266 with 20 homers and 66 RBI. Tyler Soderstrom homered in Monday’s opener, while White’s four-hit Tuesday continued an encouraging rookie arrival. White owns a .359 xwOBA despite only 86.1 mph average contact, reflecting his disciplined at-bats and favorable launch results. The absences remain severe. Shea Langeliers underwent season-ending knee surgery after hitting .263/.332/.497 with 23 homers. Brent Rooker and Zack Gelof are also sidelined, removing 21 additional homers and considerable right-handed depth.
Boston’s 3.53 bullpen ERA ranks fifth, with Garrett Whitlock at 2.08 and Aroldis Chapman at 1.82. Jovani Morán owns a 2.66 ERA and 28.7% strikeout rate, giving Boston another late left-handed weapon. The Athletics rank last with a 5.37 relief ERA across an enormous 417 innings. Luis Medina threw 1.2 innings Tuesday, while Hogan Harris worked the final four outs and surrendered Wong’s homer. Clear skies, temperatures in the mid-80s, and a seven-mph southern wind should preserve Sutter Health Park’s generous carry. Lopez’s current form makes Boston’s −147 moneyline unusable. Sandoval’s contact suppression and the bullpen disparity create enough separation for the plus-money run line.
Best bet: Red Sox -1.5 (+105), playable through -105
Projected score: Red Sox 6, Athletics 3
Best bet: Red Sox -1.5 (-110) at Athletics.
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