Boston Red Sox vs Oakland Athletics Picks and Predictions July 9th 2024

Red Sox Hope to Keep Momentum Going Against Improving A’s

With triumphs in six of their past seven games, the Boston Red Sox are riding a wave of momentum. Their recent success includes taking a second three- game series from the New York Yankees, which adds an extra layer of satisfaction. The Red Sox now sit just41/2 games behind their archrivals for the top American League wild- card spot.

Upcoming Series Against the Athletics

Boston will look to maintain their momentum as they begin a three- game home series against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday. Manager Alex Cora emphasized the importance of continuing their winning ways, stating,” Understanding where we’re in the standings, we’ve to just keep getting greedy.”

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Key Performances

The Red Sox showcased their determination in the Bronx on Sunday. Kutter Crawford threw six scoreless innings, supported by three solo home runs, two by Rafael Devers who was named a third- time All- Star prior to the game — and one by Ceddanne Rafaela. Devers’ two homers bring his total to 16 at Yankee Stadium, with his first breaking a scoreless tie in the seventh inning.

“ You just always want to be on the top step when( Devers is) in the box because you never know what can happen, ” Crawford said. “ That last at- bat( on Sunday night), that ball was in the other batter’s box, and he was able to take it 420 to right- center. He is really talented, and I am glad he is on our team. ”

Devers has logged multiple hits in seven of his last 11 games, providing a pivotal boost to the Red Sox’s offense.

Brayan Bello Takes the Mound

Brayan Bello( 8- 5,5.19 ERA) will take the mound for Boston in their return home. Bello last pitched on Wednesday, striking out seven in62/3 innings of one- run ball against Miami. Tuesday will mark Bello’s third career start against Oakland. He has struggled in his previous outings against the A’s, allowing 10 runs on 10 hits over nine innings.

Athletics’ Recent Performance

Despite dropping two of three games in Baltimore over the weekend, the Athletics showed resilience by scoring 19 runs in a Saturday win and keeping the series competitive with close losses of 3-2 and 6-3. The A’s come to Boston with wins in four of their last six games.

“I think (playing the close games) continues to show our young team that everybody in this league is really good, but the margins aren’t that far off. We’re really close,” A’s outfielder Brent Rooker said. “When we play well, we can play with anybody in the league, and I think we proved that to ourselves this week.”

Joey Estes’ Debut Against Red Sox

The Athletics will send 22-year-old Joey Estes (3-3, 4.39 ERA) to the mound to face Boston for the first time in his career. Estes is coming off a stellar performance last Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels, where he threw a complete game on just 92 pitches. This was the fewest pitches required by an A’s pitcher in a complete game since 2005, and he became the first Oakland rookie to toss a shutout since 2009.

“He’s showing everybody what he’s capable of,” catcher Shea Langeliers said. “The sky’s the limit. We all love catching him. … He fills up the strike zone and is aggressive. He’s not afraid of anybody.”

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Estes has made 10 starts since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas in May. Prior to Saturday, Oakland pitching had gone six straight games without allowing a home run. The A’s then allowed four total over the final two games of the set with Baltimore.

Conclusion

The Red Sox will rely on strong performances from key players like Rafael Devers and Brayan Bello to continue their winning streak and close the gap in the wild-card race. In the mean time, the Games will plan to expand on their new enhancements and contend wildly with their young ability, drove by promising pitcher Joey Estes. As both teams work toward achieving their season goals, this series promises to be an exciting contest.