After the Yankees’ loss last night to the Minnesota Twins, the Boston Red Sox are just one game back of their archrival for the top AL wild card spot. Tonight the Red Sox will open a 3-game set at Fenway with the Athletics. The 82-68 Red Sox are 45-30 at home and will send Connelly Early to the hill. In his major league debut on September 9th against the Athletics in Sacramento, Early rose to the occasion, fanning 11 batters over 5 frames and allowing no runs, with the Red Sox winning 6-0. The 70-80 Athletics will give the nod to Jeffrey Springs, who is 10-11 with a 4.28 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Springs opposed Early in his last turn against the Red Sox, yielding 8 hits and 5 runs over 5 innings of work. The Athletics are just 1-6 in Springs’ last 7 starts and the Red Sox lit him up the last time they faced him so why would tonight be any different?
TONIGHT’S PICK: BOSTON RED SOX