Boston Red Sox at Athletics

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BOS	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	4	5	2
ATH	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	6	0

First pitch is 6:40 PM PT, and the pitching matchup says everything about where these two clubs are right now. Payton Tolle, Boston's rookie lefty, takes the ball at 5-6 with a 3.31 ERA and has quietly become one of the more intriguing arms in the Red Sox system. Across the mound, Jack Perkins is trying to hold a rotation spot at 2-5 with a 6.75 ERA for a team that has nothing left to play for but auditions.

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FINAL

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ML

Total

Red Sox(54-50)

WLWLW

4

-1.5-125-182o9.5-106

Athletics(44-61)

LLWLL

2

+1.5+122+178u9.5+113

Best BetRed Sox -158

Pregame

We locked in the Red Sox here at -158 and the number has since steamed further to -170, which tells you the market agrees with the read: this is a hot team with a good young arm against a rebuilding club missing two of its best hitters. Boston's floor is simply higher right now, and the price move suggests sharp money isn't fading that gap.

Boston's lineup has had to get creative with Trevor Story, Marcelo Mayer and Isiah Kiner-Falefa all out with forearm and hernia issues, but the makeshift infield hasn't slowed the offense down much. Oakland's situation is heavier — Shea Langeliers just went down with a torn meniscus days after Brent Rooker was ruled out for the season with a knee injury, gutting the middle of an already thin order. That gap in talent shows up in the market too, where Boston has only gotten shorter since the line first went up.

Payton Tolle

(7-6)·3.20 ERA

Jul 20 vs Orioles

ND

5.2IP

4ER

9K

1BB

88P

07/27 Lineup

Jack Perkins

(2-8)·7.04 ERA

Jul 21 @ Diamondbacks

ND

5.0IP

3ER

4K

1BB

87P

07/27 Lineup

None of that is a surprise given the standings. The Red Sox are hanging around a playoff race at 54-50, while the Athletics sit at 44-61 and are widely expected to be sellers before the trade deadline. Every game left on Oakland's schedule matters more for evaluating who sticks around than for who wins.

Boston Red Sox

(54-50)

Jul 26Wvs Blue Jays6-1

Jul 25Lvs Blue Jays0-6

Jul 24Wvs Blue Jays6-4

Jul 22Lvs Orioles1-5

Jul 22Wvs Orioles6-3

Athletics

(44-61)

Jul 26L@ Twins8-11

Jul 25L@ Twins0-2

Jul 25W@ Twins2-0

Jul 22L@ Diamondbacks5-15

Jul 22L@ Diamondbacks5-6

The form gap here is stark. Boston has won 3 of its last 5 and, more notably, has been playing under interim manager Chad Tracy since late April — a stretch that's included a 14-game winning streak and has people around the organization talking about dropping the 'interim' tag. The Athletics, meanwhile, have lost 4 of their last 5, including a 5-15 blowout loss to Arizona, and their run differential has been among the worst in the league most of the year.

Boston Red Sox

(10)

• 10-Day-ILMarcelo Mayer (2B) — Mayer (forearm) has progressed from dry swings to hitting off a tee, MLB.com reports.07/26
• 10-Day-ILIsiah Kiner-Falefa (2B) — Kiner-Falefa (forearm) has been cleared to start his hitting progression with dry swings, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.07/20
• 60-Day-ILGarrett Crochet (SP) — Crochet (lat/shoulder) said Tuesday that he and the Red Sox training staff have no timeline in mind for when he'll be cleared to restart his throwing program, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.07/22
• 60-Day-ILZack Kelly (RP) — The Red Sox recalled Kelly (elbow) from Triple-A Worcester and placed him on the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.07/21
• 60-Day-ILTrevor Story (SS) — Story (sports hernia) told reporters Monday that "sometime in August is in play" for him to embark on a rehab assignment, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.07/20
• 60-Day-ILTanner Houck (SP) — Houck (elbow) has started throwing two bullpen sessions per week, MLB.com reports.07/17
• 60-Day-ILJohan Oviedo (SP) — Oviedo (elbow) will throw a bullpen session next week, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.07/17
• 60-Day-ILRoman Anthony (LF) — Interim manager Chad Tracy confirmed Thursday that Anthony's (finger) recent follow-up appointment with Dr. Gary Lourie revealed no new information about his injury, and the outfielder will continue to rehab at the Red Sox's complex in Florida through at least the All-Star break, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.07/13
• 60-Day-ILKutter Crawford (SP) — The Red Sox announced June 29 that Crawford (forearm) has been throwing plyometric balls during workouts at the team's spring training facility in Florida, MLB.com reports.07/06
• 60-Day-ILTriston Casas (1B) — Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Saturday that Casas (abdomen/knee) has been shut down from hitting due to a wrist issue, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.07/06

Athletics

(12)

• Day-To-DayJeffrey Springs (SP) — Springs was removed in the second inning of Sunday's 11-8 loss to the Twins due to right hip discomfort, MLB.com reports.07/27
• 10-Day-ILShea Langeliers (C) — The Athletics placed Langeliers on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to a torn meniscus in his right knee.07/26
• 10-Day-ILJoshua Kuroda-Grauer (3B) — Kuroda-Grauer was diagnosed with a testicular contusion after exiting Monday's 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.07/21
• 10-Day-ILZack Gelof (3B) — Gelof will begin baseball activities once the stitches on his right knee are removed Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.07/18
• 15-Day-ILJ.T. Ginn (SP) — The Athletics placed Ginn on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to a blister on his right middle finger.07/22
• 15-Day-ILMark Leiter Jr. (RP) — The Athletics reinstated Leiter (hip) from the 15-day injured list Friday.07/21
• 15-Day-ILJustin Sterner (RP) — Sterner earned his first save of the season in Wednesday's extra-inning win over the Cubs. He tossed a perfect inning while striking out one.07/18
• 60-Day-ILLuis Severino (SP) — Severino's (shoulder) recent MRI showed signs of healing, but manager Mark Kotsay indicated Saturday that the right-hander is several weeks away from a potential return to the rotation, Jason Burke of Roundtable.io reports.07/19
• 60-Day-ILDenzel Clarke (CF) — Manager Mark Kotsay said Saturday that Clarke (hamstring) is nearing a rehab assignment, Jason Burke of Roundtable.io reports.07/19
• 60-Day-ILBrent Rooker (DH) — Rooker will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a cartilage tear in his left knee, Jason Burke of Roundtable.io reports.07/17
• 60-Day-ILBrooks Kriske (RP) — Kriske (shoulder) began a throwing progression Thursday, MLB.com reports.06/16
• 60-Day-ILGunnar Hoglund (SP) — Hoglund (knee/back) will be sidelined for the rest of the 2026 season after undergoing surgery on his left hip Monday.05/20

Boston's absences are mostly pitching depth — Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck, Johan Oviedo and Kutter Crawford are all shelved, which is why a rookie like Tolle is getting a real look. Oakland's are more offensive: losing Rooker and now Langeliers strips out two of the lineup's few reliable bats, and it's hard to see where the pop comes from behind them. On paper and in practice, this reads like a team playing meaningful baseball hosting one that's already thinking about August.