vlaze.com

Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield has pitched well against Oakland sporting an ERA of 3.32 in his last 3 starts pitching 21 1/3rd innings. The Red Sox bats have been solid leading the team to five straight wins through Wednesday’s action. Oakland has really been slumping losing 9 of their last 11 games heading into Thursday’s action. The A’s offense has slumped scoring 2 runs or less in 7 games during that span. Rich Harden is pitching his third game since coming off a 15 day stint on the disabled list with a strained right shoulder. Harden has given up 6 earned runs in 10 2/3rd’s innings of work in his return to the rotation. Betting on Harden is a gamble as after a strong spring last year he broke down. Well after two starts Harden went on the DL again. With Boston’s bats hot and the A’s bats are not I will play on the hot Red Sox at –115.