The Boston Red Sox (51-31) and Oakland Athletics (48-35) kick off a three-game series at Oakland Coliseum Friday night. First pitch will be at 9:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook‘s lines around the Red Sox vs. Athletics odds with MLB picks and predictions.
LHP Eduardo Rodriguez is the projected starting pitcher for the Red Sox. He is 6-4 with a 5.83 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 10.6 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 over 78 2/3 IP spanning 15 starts.
The Red Sox won each of Rodriguez’s last five starts despite him allowing at least 3 earned runs in four of those five games. He had a 6.23 ERA in June but did strike out 35 batters in 26 innings. In seven career starts against the Athletics, Rodriguez is 2-3 with a 4.57 ERA.
RHP Frankie Montas is the projected starting pitcher for the Athletics. He is 7-7 with a 4.72 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 9.4 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 across 87 2/3 IP over 16 starts.
Montas allowed 3 or fewer earned runs in four of his five starts in June, going 2-2 with a 5.28 ERA. He’s appeared in three games against Boston in his career (one start), allowing 1 earned run over 8 innings with 10 strikeouts.
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Red Sox at Athletics odds, lines, picks and prediction
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 11:20 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Red Sox -115 (bet $115 to win $100) | Athletics -105 (bet $105 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Red Sox -1.5 (+145) | Athletics +1.5 (-175)
- Over/Under: 8.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Prediction
Red Sox 6, Athletics 4
Money line (ML)
The Red Sox swept the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees in their last two series, and have won seven straight games. The Athletics have been inconsistent at 4-6 in their last 10 games, and haven’t won back-to-back games since a seven-game winning streak from June 11-18.
Boston is 24-14 on the road, too, so the Red Sox have played well away from Fenway Park. Rodriguez will need to get back on track against a solid A’s lineup.
Bet the RED SOX (-115) to win outright on the road.
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Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Both teams have been good against the spread this season, with Boston going 47-35 and Oakland 46-37. The A’s are a much better team than the Kansas City squad Boston just swept, but it’s still a team it can beat by at least a pair of runs.
Bet the RED SOX -1.5 (+145) to cover the spread at great value.
Over/Under (O/U)
The total has gone Over in seven of the Red Sox’s last 10 road games and seven of the Athletics’ last eight home games. Rodriguez hasn’t been sharp in his last five starts and Montas can be up-and-down, too, opening the door for a high-scoring game Friday.
Bet the OVER 8.5 (-105).
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