Red Sox vs A’s MLB Game & predictions

It’s a potential AL Division Series preview on Friday night when the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox open a series at the AL West-contending Oakland A’s. It starts a West Coast trip for Boston. The game opened as a pick’em on the MLB odds.

How to Bet Red Sox at A’s MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Friday, 9:40 PM ET
Where: Oakland Coliseum
Probable pitchers (away/home): Eduardo Rodriguez/Frankie Montas
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/

Why Bet on Boston?

The Red Sox are closing out the season’s first half by playing 19 games in 20 days. They are in a stretch of 16 consecutive days with a game.

Third baseman Christian Arroyo began begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Thursday. Arroyo was at DH in his rehab debut and will play some infield over the weekend. He figures to return to the Red Sox sometime early next week. The 26-year-old has been out since June 21 due to a right knee contusion.

First baseman Bobby Dalbec is day-to-day with right hamstring tightness. Dalbec made an early exit from Tuesday night’s win over the Royals after tweaking his hamstring. He didn’t play Wednesday or Thursday, but with the couple of days off could be in there for this one.

It’s lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (6-4) on the mound here. Rodriguez was charged with two runs over six innings last Sunday in a win over the Yankees. Rodriguez racked up eight strikeouts and didn’t walk anyone. A two-run homer off the bat of Aaron Judge in the sixth inning accounted for all of the damage against him.

Rodriguez’s uneven season began with a 3.52 ERA through his first four starts followed by a 7.25 ERA over his next 10.

“Hopefully, this is the beginning of something good,” manager Alex Cora said. “He’s done it before. In 2019, I know he struggled for 10 (starts) and then he took off so, hopefully, he’ll take off after this one.”

Rodriguez has thrown 6.0 innings in each of his last 2 starts, allowing five earned runs over 12.0 innings (3.75 ERA) with 15 SO and 1 BB. It is Rodriguez’s 2nd time throwing at least 6.0 innings in consecutive starts this season, also doing so on 4/20 vs. Toronto and 4/25 vs. Seattle. He ranks 10th in the AL and 5th among MLB left-handers in SO/9.0 IP (10.64; min. 70.0 IP).

“Location-wise and mixing more of my pitches is what I think has been working over the last couple of starts,” Rodriguez said. “It’s just about location, man. Even the homer by Judge, I don’t feel like I missed that pitch. It was a pretty good pitch inside, he made a pretty good swing on it.”

The Red Sox have won 5 straight starts of his starts and are 55-17 (.764) in his starts since the beginning of 2018. Overall, Rodriguez has 5.83 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 93/19 K/BB ratio across 78 2/3 innings (15 starts) this year.

Why Bet on Oakland?

Oakland has six walk-off wins, which is tied for the most in the AL and tied for second most in the majors (Rockies, 7). The A’s are 9-5 in games decided in the last at bat and 2-2 in extra-inning games – the games are second fewest in the AL to the Royals (2).

The A’s are without underrated outfielder Mark Canha. He’s on the injured list with a right hip strain and this week received PRP injections in both hips. Manager Bob Melvin said there is no structural damage to the surgically repaired part of Canha’s hip and that he should return to the team within the next several days. Canha had done a nice job atop the A’s lineup this season, slashing .255/.375/.450 with 11 homers, 33 RBI and seven steals.

It’s Frankie Montas (7-7) on the mound for Oakland. Montas yielded two runs on two hits over five innings while taking a no-decision in last Saturday’s 10-inning loss to the Giants. Montas walked three and struck out five with only Donovan Solano and LaMonte Wade collecting hits against him. Solano’s was a mere early single that led to no further trouble. Wade hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning. The five total baserunners were the second fewest in any of Montas’ 16 starts.

Through 87 2/3 innings this season, Montas owns a 4.72 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 92/24 K/BB ratio. Montas says he just feels himself getting better and better as his outings go on.

“Every time I got out there, I’m feeling better,” Montas said. “I’ve been working hard to try to get better. Just to be able to see results, I’m just grateful.”

Montas is 0-1 with a 1.13 ERA in three career appearances, including one start against the Red Sox. That start came in April 2019 at Fenway Park.