The Red Sox are the hottest hitting team in the MLB over the last two weeks with a .309 batting average, a .915 OPS, and 24 home runs. Oakland’s batting average is 80 points less and has less than half the homeruns in the same period. With all that power, The Sox still can’t seem to win two games in a row. Friday night could be the night for the Sox, as the A’s, at 1-6, struggle to win at all, and have been limited to a single run in 4 of 10 starts.

Eovaldi starts for the Red Sox, and other than one miserable outing, he has been very solid. Eovaldi has one ugly stat this year; he has given up 16 home runs to date, accounting for almost all of his earned runs. On the plus side, Eovaldi pitched a 9 inning 2 ER complete game in his last appearance.

He faces Kaprielien, who returned from the IL on May 1, and has already pitched 5 starts. Not one of his outings has been over 5 innings, and in his last two games he has given up a run an inning. He too has been a victim of the long ball.

Boston’s bullpen has been roughed up but not nearly as badly as the A’s relievers, who are struggling along at a 6.23 ERA.

If you are going to give up the long ball, the A’s are a far saver option than the Red Sox. Not only do I think the Sox will win on Friday night, I think they will do it in style. Take Boston on the run line, at – 1 ½.