Boston is the superior team. The Red Sox are going against lefty Sean Manaea, who I regard as fade material. Yet the line is very competitive. The marketplace is concerned about Red Sox starter Drew Pomeranz, who hasn't been sharp his last two starts leaving his last one against Tampa Bay on Sunday after three innings due to tightness in his left triceps.

I believe Pomeranz will come in with a big game here having said he corrected a mechanical flaw in his delivery. The lefty also said he is healthy. He certainly won't lack motivation going against his former team. Pomeranz has a strong history at Oakland's Coliseum having pitched for the A's in 2014 and 2015. He made nine starts there going 7-2 with a 3.13 ERA.

Manaea doesn't have Pomeranz's talent. He's 1-3 with a 5.52 ERA. This is his second start since coming off the DL with a strained left shoulder. Manaea was smacked for four runs in five innings in a 6-5 loss to Seattle in his last start. He was wild once again with five walks. The A's are 1-5 the past six times Manaea has started.

The Red Sox saw Manaea last season and pounded him for eight runs on 10 hits in just 2 2/3 innings. The Red Sox are 18-8, too, during their last 26 games versus a lefty starter.