Oakland AthleticsOakland Athletics vs. Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox Pick Center

Bet Now
Red Sox hope to regroup against Athletics After a humbling two-game sweep at Yankee Stadium to the rival New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox showed signs of coming out of their early malaise.Two losses against the Tampa Bay Rays sent the Red Sox searching for some answers, and they hope to start finding some Monday night when they host the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a three-game series.At 11-17, the Red Sox are off to their worst 28-game start since opening 1996 at 9-19. Boston seemed to get it going with a three-game sweep at Tampa Bay last weekend and a four-game split with the Detroit Tigers last week but then mustered three runs in a two-game sweep at the hands of the Rays at home.Boston was held to two runs or less for the eighth time this year Sunday when its offense consisted of a sacrifice fly by Mitch Moreland and a homer by Michael Chavis. The Red Sox struck out 21 times and went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position against Tampa Bay."I mean, it's obvious, we haven't been consistent," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "If we pitch, we don't hit, if we don't hit -- you know the phrase, whatever -- one thing is going, the other one is not. Defensively we show flashes, then we don't. We haven't been able to put everything together." The Red Sox played their last two games without designated hitter J. D. Martinez due to back spasms. Martinez leads the Red Sox with a .340 average and although he was available to pinch hit Sunday, it is possible he could miss Monday's game.While the Red Sox hope to get going, Oakland is eager to visit Boston and leave the Toronto Blue Jays behind. After getting swept last weekend at home by Toronto, the Athletics were the opponent for prized prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s debut in Toronto.They also dropped three games, including two in walk-off fashion. On Sunday, the Athletics blew a three-run lead when Blake Treinen by allowing a game-tying three-run homer to Brandon Drury and a game-winning single to Justin Smoak in the 11th inning."To be quite honest with you, our energy the whole series was kind of bad," A's starting pitcher Chris Bassitt told reporters. "I'm not saying we were negative, we were all kind of sleepwalking a little bit. It happens, everyone goes through this time, but we obviously have to snap out of it. We just need to pick up the energy a little bit and get back to normal things." Khris Davis had two hits, including an RBI double, but went homerless for a 12th straight game. Since hitting his 10th homer on April 12 against Texas, he is batting (.167) 7-for-42.Oakland also lost Mark Canha to a sprained right wrist on Sunday and he could be placed on the injured list Monday.Oakland's Frankie Montas is 3-0 with a 3.50 ERA in his last three outings and will start the opener in his first appearance in Boston.Montas last pitched Tuesday in an 11-5 win over the Texas Rangers when he allowed three runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings and did not allow a home run for the second straight start.Eduardo Rodriguez starts for Boston and is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his last three starts after getting tagged for 11 earned runs and 14 hits in eight innings over his first two starts.Rodriguez last pitched in an 11-4 win over Detroit on Wednesday when he allowed one run on two hits in six innings. He has lowered his ERA from 12.38 to 5.88 in his last three outings.The left-hander is 2-2 with a 3.82 ERA in five career starts against the A's. He last faced them April 4 in Oakland when he allowed six runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 7-3 loss.--Field Level Media

Looking for More Picks?

You can browse all the individual handicapper picks below.

Latest MLB News

TKWins.com
TKWins.com