The Boston Red Sox are peaking at the right time and are now 4 games up on the New York Yankees after pummeling the Oakland Athletics last night at Fenway, 11-1. The bottom dwelling Athletics have had issues against the AL East, posting a record of 3-9 in the last 12 games, and are a dismal 16-43 in their last 59 when they make the trip to Fenway. It doesn’t look any brighter for Oakland tonight when Jharel Cotton takes the hill. Cotton is 1-0 in his last 3 turns, with an ERA of 7.20, a 1.53 WHIP, and the Athletics are 2-5 in his last 7 road starts. The Red Sox, who are 5-1 in their last 6 overall and 5-1 in their last 6 home games, will send Doug Fister to the rubber. Fister has been sharp as a tack, going 2-1 in his last 3 outings, with an ERA of 1.71, a 0.90 WHIP, and Boston is 5-2 in his last 7 starts. In the last two meetings with Oakland, the Red Sox have outscored the Athletics, 23-4. The Red Sox are by far the superior team in this one.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BOSTON RED SOX