Athletics - Red Sox series preview
The train keeps rolling, Sox look to continue dominance against Athletics.
Winning streaks are fun.
Walk-off wins are even better.
But the real test of a contender isn't surviving the dramatic games—it's showing up the next day and taking care of business.
The Red Sox have done plenty of the exciting stuff lately. Now comes the less glamorous challenge: beat the teams you're supposed to beat.
The Athletics are in town, and if Boston wants to keep climbing the American League standings, this is a series they simply can't let slip away.
Three Things to Watch
Take Care of Business
This isn't a series the Red Sox need to survive—it's one they need to control.
Good teams don't play down to their competition. They jump ahead early, let their pitching do the heavy lifting, and leave no doubt by the seventh inning.
The Athletics are capable of making life uncomfortable if Boston lets them hang around. The Red Sox have been too good lately to let that happen.
Keep the Rotation Rolling
Boston's starting pitching has been absolutely dominant during this run back into playoff contention. Facing an Oakland lineup with flashes of potential, but largely a lineup of young players still working to figure it out at the MLB level, should provide the starters with the opportunity for quick at-bats, working deep into outings, and taking away a sliver of optimism from the opposing dugout.
Every quality start takes pressure off the bullpen, which used everyone to complete the sweep against Chicago, and gives the lineup time to do what it's been doing best—wearing pitchers down, demoralizing opponents, and, most importantly, scoring runs in abundance.
If the starters continue attacking the strike zone and working deep into games, this series could lead to another sweep in favor of the Red Sox.
Attack. Attack. Attack.
The Red Sox absolutely cannot let a young Athletics team have any hope of competing. Look for the Sox to jump out to early leads, attack the starting pitching, and get into a bullpen that has been among the worst in baseball. The Red Sox should be dangerous in every frame against an Athletics pitching staff that struggles to keep teams off the scoreboard.
Score early, score often, and don't let up. Take the hope out of the opposing dugout early. The Sox should be able to pile on consistently as the series goes on.
KPage Media Predictions
Game 1
Perkins (2-7, 6.72 ERA) vs. Tolle (6-6, 3.30 ERA)
Boston wastes little time setting the tone. The offense jumps ahead early against a starting pitcher with a high ERA.
Tolle will look to build on an outstanding season. The Athletics lineup will be without Nick Kurtz, limiting the power the lineup possesses.
This should be straightforward: a good pitcher versus a bad pitcher and a very hot lineup versus a lineup still trying to figure it out at the Major League level.
Prediction: Red Sox Win
Game 2
Jump (4-7, 4.59 ERA) vs. Bennett (7-4, 2.90 ERA)
This one gets a little uncomfortable because Red Sox baseball apparently comes with mandatory stress. Jump could prove to be a serviceable starter and turn in a good outing here. Look for Bennett to keep his outstanding form in this one. I expect a tight one, with the A's hanging around before a late Boston rally when the bullpens factor into this one. Boston pulls away in the late innings against a subpar performance from the Athletics bullpen.
Prediction: Red Sox Win
Game 3
Ginn (8-6, 3.51 ERA) vs. Sandoval (1-0, 3.38 ERA)
By Sunday afternoon, the A's are frustrated, tired, and looking to get out of town. Fenway has been an unkind weekend stop for them, and the pitching has been battered consistently over the past two days. I do expect Ginn to turn in a nice start here. He has proven to be fairly reliable for them. The 27-year-old righty gives them a chance to win, but if Patrick Sandoval can counter with a decent start of his own, the lineup and significantly better bullpen give Boston a far superior chance to win here.
I don't typically predict sweeps, but the Sox are too hot and playing far too well for me not to predict one here.
Prediction: Red Sox Win — Earn Sweep
The Final Page
This isn't the flashiest series on Boston's schedule.
Nobody is circling Red Sox-Athletics in August as a playoff preview.
But these are the weekends that often define a season.
The best teams don't just beat contenders—they consistently beat the teams they're expected to beat.
Boston has earned plenty of attention during its recent surge, beating playoff teams, including the back-to-back World Series champion Dodgers. Now it's time to play big brother to the Athletics.
KPage Media Prediction: The Red Sox complete the sweep, extend their winning streak to 11 games, and keep reminding the rest of the American League that this isn't the same team everyone saw back in May.
And if they could avoid another 13-inning thriller... that'd be great.
Red Sox fans everywhere would greatly appreciate a dominant weekend—no drama, just take care of business and continue to climb the standings.
