Friday MLB Betting – Athletics vs Red Sox Preview & Pick
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MLB Betting – Athletics vs Red Sox Preview & Pick
Date: Friday, June 3, 2011
Venue: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Broadcast: CSCA, NESN
Oakland Athletics at Boston Red Sox Betting Lines from BetOnline.com
Money Line: Boston -185
Over/Under: 8.5 (-105)
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Oakland Athletics (27-30)
Josh Outman (1-0, 2.08)
The Oakland Athletics have frustrated their fans with their inconsistency this season. After winning four straight games, they got swept at home by the New York Yankees. They were outscored 19-5 over that span. Now that their stellar starting pitching has slumped ever so slightly, they’re losing, as their anemic offense can’t carry the load.
One exception has been Josh Willingham. He has 10 homers on the year, including three bombs (with nine RBI) over his last six games. The A’s will need his bat in full force Friday with the unproven Josh Outman on the hill at Fenway Park.
Outman has been very lucky so far this season. He has a 2.08 ERA but has walked eight batters in 13 innings. If he puts guys on like that against Boston, he’s toast.
Boston Red Sox (30-26)
Clay Buchholz (4-3, 3.41)
Just when it lookED as though Boston would streak right into first place in the American League East, the Red Sox lost four straight games, including three at home to the White Sox. They allowed seven-plus runs in all three of those losses.
Can Clay Buchholz stop the bleeding on the mound Friday night? After a shaky April (1-3, 5.33) the young hurler went 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA in May. He has a 7.31 career ERA against the A’s but he held them to one run and beat them the last time he faced them.
MLB Trends:
OAK are 2-6 in their last 8 road games.
Under is 7-1-1 in Outmans last 9 starts overall.
Under is 6-1-1 in Outmans last 8 on grass.
Over is 17-5-4 in BOS last 26 Fri. games.
Over is 5-2-1 in BOS last 8 overall.
Over is 5-2-1 in BOS last 8 on grass.
OAK are 4-12 in the last 16 meetings in Boston.
Over is 11-4 in the last 15 meetings.
The pick:
Josh Outman? Really? No way I pick Oakland for Friday’s game. Even though lefthanded hitters bat .151 off him in his career, Boston’s lineup isn’t all lefties. He may solve Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and David Ortiz but that still leaves Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia. Outman just puts too many guys on base not to be punished. And the improving Buchholz can handle Oakland’s popgun offense.
Athletics vs Red Sox prediction: Red Sox 6, Athletics 2
