Boston Red Sox vs. Athletics prediction: Boston Red Sox -1.5

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The Pick

Boston Red Sox -1.5 (103)

Why It Works

Boston Red Sox -1.5 (103) is still the side because Payton Tolle and Willson Contreras give Boston Red Sox the cleaner path to the handful of moments that usually decide this kind of game. The supporting numbers: 845 hits vs. 878, 98 home runs vs. 128.

Willson Contreras gives Boston Red Sox a real middle-of-the-order anchor with 66 RBIs and 22 home runs. If Payton Tolle does his job, Boston Red Sox has the arm talent to keep this game on script after 103 strikeouts and 8 quality starts so far.

The season-long hit count is not lopsided enough to scare this off either (845 versus 878), especially if Boston Red Sox gets the better bullpen innings. There is enough power in the profile too, with 98 home runs on the board for Boston Red Sox.

Odds & Context

The market has Boston Red Sox -1.5 (103) pregame.

Risk to Watch

A baseball moneyline can still flip on one ugly inning, one bullpen leak, or one cluster of extra-base contact. That is the part to watch even when the matchup still points to the right side.