The Boston Red Sox head out west to Oakland for a four game series with the Major League leading Oakland Athletics. These teams have played three games so far this season with the Red Sox winning two out of the three games. The Red Sox have had their troubles playing in Oakland over the past few seasons losing 15 of their last 20 games there which included a 20-2 loss back in 2012.
Red Sox vs Athletics – Head to Head Trends
Red Sox are 5-15 in their last 20 games in Oakland. Under is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings. The Oakland Athletics are 1st in the AL West 5 games up on the LA Angeles and as mentioned above they are also the top team in baseball right now with a 44-28 record. The Athletics are the most well rounded team in baseball and that’s probably why they have the best record. They have the best offense in baseball averaging 5.18 runs per game plus they actually also have the defense in all of baseball allowing just 3.35 runs per game. That’s very impressive for an American League team to have the top defense considering it’s a much more offensive league compared to the National League. Starting for the Athletics is lefty Scott Kazmir who is 8-2 with a 2.05 ERA on the season. Kasmir has been great overall this season but at home he is almost unhittable going 4-1 with a 1.45 ERA.
Oakland Athletics Trends
Athletics are 83-39 in their last 122 games as a home favorite. Athletics are 12-2 in Kazmirs last 14 starts. Athletics are 89-43 in their last 132 vs. a team with a losing record. The Boston Red Sox are 4th in the AL East and are showing signs of life as they have won 3 straight and 7 of their last 11 games. The big bats of the Red Sox that we are used to seeing just haven’t been there this season. The Red Sox are actually the 2nd lowest scoring team in the American League averaging just 3.86 runs per game. Even over this recent good stretch of ball the Sox offense has still been almost non existent averaging just 2.50 runs per game over their last 10 games. The Sox last series they actually swept the Minnesota Twins and only scored 5 runs total so I guess great pitching trumps bad hitting. Starting for the Red Sox is the veteran Jake Peavy who is 1-4 with a 4.53 ERA on the season.
Boston Red Sox Trends
Red Sox are 1-6 in Peavys last 7 starts. Red Sox are 0-4 in their last 4 games vs. a left-handed starter. Red Sox are 2-7 in their last 9 road games. I have to go with the Oakland Athletics in this one. The Athletics are the best team in baseball with their best pitcher on the mound versus a Red Sox team that is struggling to score runs. I think it’s just going to be too tuff a task for the Sox to either shut down the Athletics top offense or put up enough runs to win this game.
