Barstool Bush
Predictions

Boston Red Sox at Athletics

By Bush StaffUpdated 24d ago·2 min read
Boston Red SoxBOS(55-51)
AthleticsATH(45-62)
4—2
FINAL
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BOS
00001100024122
ATH
0100100000281

Patrick Sandoval (3.21 ERA) gets the ball for Boston against Jacob Lopez (5-4, 6.12) in the rubber match of this set, first pitch 6:40 PM PT at Sutter Health Park. Sandoval's still building himself back up after missing over two years to elbow surgery, so his pitch count and 4.2-inning night in his last outing are worth watching early.

Show fees
FINAL
Spread
ML
Total
Red Sox(55-51)
LWWLW
4
Athletics(45-62)
WLLLW
2
Best BetRed Sox -155
Pregame

Boston's the play here even coming off a loss to this same team — the run-prevention numbers all season point to a deeper, better team than a 45-62 A's club that's mostly playing out a rebuild. Sandoval's still finding his footing off a long layoff, which is the one wrinkle, but the price still reflects the gap between these two rosters.

Boston's rotation depth is the real story of its season, and it's why the Red Sox are favorites here even after dropping the last meeting 3-4. Lopez, meanwhile, has been a different pitcher since Oakland optioned him to Triple-A and brought him back — he's allowed 2 runs or fewer in 3 of his last 4 starts, including a 1-hit, 5-inning outing against Minnesota his last time out.

Boston Red Sox
Patrick Sandoval
(1-1)·3.30 ERA
Jul 24 vs Blue Jays
ND
4.2IP
0ER
3K
2BB
84P
07/29 Lineup
Athletics
Jacob Lopez
(5-4)·5.38 ERA
Jul 24 @ Twins
W
5.0IP
0ER
4K
4BB
91P
07/29 Lineup

Boston's lineup is banged up in the middle infield and at third, with Curtis Mead, Marcelo Mayer, Trevor Story and Isiah Kiner-Falefa all sidelined, so whoever's filling those gaps has to hold up against an A's staff that's found something in Lopez. The price still says Boston's the play, even with the injury list this long.

Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
(55-51)
Jul 29L@ Athletics3-4
Jul 28W@ Athletics4-2
Jul 26Wvs Blue Jays6-1
Jul 25Lvs Blue Jays0-6
Jul 24Wvs Blue Jays6-4
Athletics
Athletics
(45-62)
Jul 29Wvs Red Sox4-3
Jul 28Lvs Red Sox2-4
Jul 26L@ Twins8-11
Jul 25L@ Twins0-2
Jul 25W@ Twins2-0

It's easy to forget the Red Sox opened this season 10-17 and cost Alex Cora his job. Interim manager Chad Tracy has since overseen a 20-2 stretch that included a 15-game winning streak, tying the franchise record set 80 years ago, and Boston's pitching-first offseason plan — headlined by adding arms like Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez — has the club allowing fewer runs than anyone else in the league. Preseason MVP pick Roman Anthony never got going before a finger injury shelved him, but Ceddanne Rafaela has filled the void, hitting a grand slam in Boston's 4-2 win over Oakland two nights ago.

Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
(11)
  • 10-Day-ILCurtis Mead (3B) — The Red Sox placed Mead on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a fractured left wrist, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.07/28
  • 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
Athletics
(12)
  • Day-To-DayJeffrey Springs (SP) — Springs (hip) is expected to be available the next time his turn in the rotation comes up Friday versus the Tigers in Sacramento, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.07/27
  • 10-Day-ILShea Langeliers (C) — The Athletics announced that Langeliers underwent a successful medial meniscectomy Tuesday in Los Angeles and also received a platelet-rich plasma injection for his right knee, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.07/28
  • 10-Day-ILZack Gelof (3B) — Gelof (knee) is continuing a running progression and participating in baseball activities, per MLB.com.07/28
  • 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
  • 15-Day-ILJ.T. Ginn (SP) — Ginn (finger) threw a bullpen Monday and is scheduled to throw another one Wednesday, per MLB.com.07/28
  • 15-Day-ILMark Leiter Jr. (RP) — Leiter will undergo surgery Tuesday to address a right hip impingement and is expected to miss the remainder of the season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.07/27
  • 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 (shoulder) began a throwing progression Saturday, per MLB.com.07/28
  • 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

The Athletics are what they've been most of the year: a young, developing roster playing out the string in a minor-league-sized ballpark while the Vegas move looms. Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson and Tyler Soderstrom, who just signed a 7-year extension, are the pieces worth building around, but Brent Rooker is done for the year after knee surgery, and the bullpen is thin with Mark Leiter Jr. also out for the season. Beating Boston Tuesday night was a nice moment. Doing it again with a diminished pen is another matter.

Sources

MLBBoston Red SoxAthleticsPolymarketKalshiPatrick SandovalJacob Lopez