Athletics vs Red Sox Picks and Predictions — MLB, Sept. 16, 2025
The Oakland Athletics head to Fenway Park to take on the Boston Red Sox in a key late-season matchup.
Boston is clinging to an AL Wild Card spot, sitting just 1.5 games behind the Yankees, while Oakland — despite being out of playoff contention — has been one of MLB’s hottest teams since late July.
Both teams send lefties to the mound: rookie Connelly Early for Boston and Jeffrey Springs for Oakland.
The Athletics Can Win If…
- Power bats stay hot. Oakland hit four homers in their 7-4 win over the Reds, including Nick Kurtz’s rookie-best 32nd of the season. Kurtz and Shea Langeliers (30 HRs) give the A’s as much raw power as any AL club.
- Springs holds his own. Despite an 0-3 lifetime mark vs Boston, Springs has reached the sixth inning in each of his last three outings. Limiting early damage will be crucial.
- Bullpen dominance continues. Since dealing Mason Miller, the A’s relievers own the second-best ERA (2.76) in MLB — a group that has quietly become elite.
The Red Sox Can Win If…
- Early keeps the magic going. The rookie dazzled in his MLB debut last week vs Oakland, fanning 11 in five shutout innings. Another solid start would stabilize Boston’s rotation.
- Lineup produces early runs. Romy Gonzalez is riding a 14-game hitting streak, while Trevor Story and Carlos Narváez add consistent power. Boston leads MLB in doubles (300), a key run-creation stat.
- Momentum carries over. The Red Sox snapped a skid by beating the Yankees 6-4 on Sunday, and they’ll need to string wins together to secure a Wild Card berth.
Key Betting Trends
Category | Athletics | Red Sox |
---|---|---|
Record | 70-80 (4th AL West) | 82-68 (3rd AL East) |
Last 10 Games | 6-4 | 4-6 |
Current Streak | W4 | W1 |
Hitting Strength | 2nd in SLG (.438) | 1st in Doubles (300) |
Pitching Weakness | 27th ERA (4.79) | 5th ERA (3.74) |
MLB Game Result Prediction
My model projects a 5-3 Boston win. Early should give Boston a quality start, and the Sox bullpen plus Fenway advantage tips the scale.
- Moneyline Lean: Red Sox -158
- Runline Lean: Red Sox -1.5 (+142)
- Total Lean: Under 9.0 (-120) — Both pitchers may surprise, and Boston’s pitching staff is far superior.
Best Bet Box
Best Bet: Red Sox Moneyline (-158)
Confidence: ★★★★☆
Want expert MLB picks for every game down the stretch? 👉 Today’s best MLB bets