Boston will look to improve on its 30-26 record when take on Oakland, a key part of the MLB odds lineup on Friday.

For the Red Sox, Clay Buchholz gets the ball, charged with keeping the Athletics hitters off the base paths. He'll face Josh Outman, 1-0 on the year.



View Oakland vs Boston Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Baseball odds makers opened the Red Sox as -175 moneyline favorites in this matchup. Over under bettors saw the number open at 8.5.

Power Rankings:
The Odds Shark MLB Power Rankings have the Red Sox at No. 3 in the American League and the Athletics at No. 5 in the American League heading into this contest.



How They Match Up:
Rating these teams in several key categories is important for handicappers and Boston has the American League's No. 4-rated offensive output, at 9.2 hits per game. The Athletics average 8.1 hits per game, good for No. 13 on the American League list.

Boston owns the American League's No. 8 defense, allowing 4.4 men per game to cross the plate. That contrasts with Oakland's American League No. 1-rated defense.

Oakland was a 4-2 loser in its last match at home against the Yankees. They lost as -107 favorites, while the total score of 6 made winners of UNDER bettors. The Athletics were saddled with a loss last time out in Gio Gonzalez's start, as they lost 4-2 against New York on Wednesday at Overstock.com Coliseum.

Boston lost its last outing, a 7-4 result against the White Sox on June 1. Bettors who backed the White Sox at +132 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (11) sent OVER bettors to the payout window. The Red Sox endured a 7-4 loss at the hands of the White Sox on Wednesday, with Tim Wakefield throwing 6 innings of 7-hit ball at Fenway Park.


Oakland Athletics Trends:
When playing on Friday are 4-6
Before playing Boston are 7-3
After playing NY Yankees are 2-8
After a loss are 3-7

Boston Red Sox Trends:
When playing on Friday are 7-3
Before playing Oakland are 5-5
After playing Chi White Sox are 2-8
After a loss are 4-6

A few Athletics at Red Sox trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Oakland's last 5 games when playing on the road against Boston
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Oakland's last 15 games when playing Boston
Oakland is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing Boston
Oakland is 5-10 SU in its last 15 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 5 games when playing at home against Oakland
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston's last 6 games at home
Boston is 12-4 SU in its last 16 games when playing at home against Oakland
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Boston's last 15 games when playing Oakland


Next up:
Oakland at Boston, Saturday, June 4