Can the Red Sox (64-51) be stopped? The answer, for the past month-plus, is a resounding “no”.
Boston has reeled off a whopping 27 wins over its last 30 games. That includes a dominant 13-1 victory over the Athletics (45-71) on Friday night. Now, the Sox will attempt to clinch yet another series win in their quest to reach the postseason. Can the A’s put up a fight this afternoon at Fenway Park?
The Red Sox are favorites (-250) over the Athletics; the over/under is set at nine runs. Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Saturday’s showdown between the A’s and Boston on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Athletics vs. Red Sox pick, best bet today
- Athletics vs. Red Sox under nine runs (-115): Jump is better than his numbers might suggest, especially on the road. As for Bennett, he’s been one of the more consistent pitchers in the sport over the past two months. Both arms are capable of keeping these offenses in check on Saturday afternoon.
Athletics vs. Red Sox prediction, preview
There’s not much reason for optimism when it comes to the Athletics. However, Gage Jump should give fans a glimmer of hope. The highly touted prospect has been far from perfect, but it’s easy to understand the hype. Through 66.2 innings pitched (13 starts), he’s notched a 4.59 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 73 strikeouts (9.9 K/9). Those numbers are somewhat inflated, an unfortunate side effect of pitching at hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park. During five appearances on the road, Jump has notched a 2.51 ERA. Although the southpaw struggles with command (4.2 BB/9), he ranks within the 69th percentile or better in fastball velocity, strikeout rate and barrel rate.
Despite looking lost at the plate for much of the season, the Red Sox have become an offensive juggernaut. Since July 1st, they lead the American League with 182 runs scored and 56 home runs. During that stretch, six different members of the active roster have an OPS above .800. It helps that this group has done major damage against southpaws, ranking fourth in baseball this season with a .777 OPS vs. left-handed pitching. With that being said, Jump has proven himself in this matchup before. He held Boston to six scoreless innings and three hits on July 28th in Sacramento. The youngster’s favorite off-speed pitch is the slider, which he’s thrown 23% of the time this season. Red Sox hitters own a meager .219 expected batting average against that offering.
As for the home team, it’ll be fellow rookie Jake Bennett on the rubber. The 25-year-old has been a pleasant surprise, going from unknown to rotation mainstay over the past two months. Over 71.1 innings pitched (12 starts), he’s accounted for a 2.90 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 50 strikeouts (6.3 K/9). Unlike most unproven arms, the lefty possesses elite command of the strike zone. He’s delivered a minuscule 1.6 BB/9 ratio this season. Bennett has allowed no more than three earned runs in each of his previous nine outings. That includes his last two appearances, on the road against the A’s and Dodgers.
Speaking of the Athletics, this squad has looked absolutely dismal at the plate. Granted, the absence of sluggers Nick Kurtz (thumb) and Shea Langeliers (knee) has only made matters worse. To boot, it’s difficult to take their season-long numbers too seriously due to Sacramento’s advantageous dimensions. On the road, the A’s are averaging the sixth-fewest runs per game in baseball (4.02). This club has scored just 29 runs over its last ten contests, tied for third-fewest in the majors during that time.
Best Bet: Athletics vs. Red Sox under nine runs (-115)
Jump isn’t the most consistent arm, but he’s shown a capacity for pitching well on the road. It helps that he kept the Red Sox scoreless back in July. As for Bennett, his knack for limiting free passes should force a lackluster A’s lineup into swinging the bat. With both teams tired following a late affair on Friday, today’s game shouldn’t see too much scoring.
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