The Boston Red Sox are on the verge of being swept at home by the Oakland Athletics and have now fallen one game behind the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East. The Red Sox have been stranding base runners in scoring position and if you want to win games in this league, you can’t do that. Tonight they will have a chance to change that pattern when the A’s send Trevor Cahill to the rubber. The journeyman has pitched well thus far, with a record of 1-1, a 2.25 ERA, and a 0.96 WHIP. However, he does have an issue with his elbow and has struggled against Boston. In 5 career starts against the Red Sox, he has an ERA of 6.35 and has been throttled at Fenway, allowing 20 runs in 21-1/3 innings. That’s not good. Boston’s ace, hard throwing southpaw Chris Sale, will get the nod tonight. Sale has been dominant as usual, with a record of 3-1, a 2.17 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP, and has fanned 27 batters in his last 2 outings. That’s scary. John Tumpane will be behind home plate tonight and he has been kind to Boston. The Red Sox are 7-1 in their last 8 games when he calls the shots.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BOSTON RED SOX