The Boston Red Sox (2-5) will look to right the ship on Tuesday night as they get set to face the Oakland Athletics (3-4) in Major League Baseball’s late game and the road-team Red Sox come in as the favorite on the MLB betting odds.

Online sportsbooks list the Red Sox as favorites at roughly -140 after opening at -150 and this line movement is somewhat interesting considering that the betting public is in love with Boston tonight at close to an 80% ratio according to many bet-tracking websites. The total for this night game sits at 8 and hasn’t seen much movement since it opened.

Boston has lost their last 4 straight games in Oakland but has a quality 43-17 record over their last 60 games against teams with losing records while Oakland has won 7 of their last 8 games against teams that start a right-handed pitcher.

The Red Sox are doing just that with righty Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-1, 6.75 ERA) and the Japanese import has had quite a bit of success against the Athletics. Facing them 3 times last year and once in 2007, Matsuzaka has only given up 7 earned runs over 24.2 innings with only 15 hits given up over that time. With 3 wins to only 1 loss, Daisuke is likely to put in another quality effort if he can regain his form of last season after struggling against the Tampa Bay Rays in his season debut.

Oakland will counter with lefty Dana Eveland with Boston hitting .289 against southpaws after a 2008 season that saw them hit the left-handers as good as anyone. Eveland has faced Boston once in his career and the result was a disastrous 2 innings, 8 hit, 2 walk, and 9 earned run effort that resulted in a 2-12 Oakland loss. Eveland has solid but unspectacular in his season debut against the Angels, allowing 11 base runners and 3 earned runs over 6 innings of a 6-4 Athletics victory.

The Athletics have received solid bullpen innings with a 2.08 ERA over 21.2 innings while Boston’s usually solid relief corps is having some issues with a 6.91 ERA and 1.88 WHIP over 14.1 innings this season.

The main injury news for this game will be centered on Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez who is currently listed as doubtful as he continues to struggle with a jammed shoulder he sustained after diving for a ball last week. Boston is without outfield Mark Kotsay who is on the 15-day disabled list after back surgery.

Boston needs a strong effort from their Japanese star here if they hope to get back on track and catch the surprising Orioles and Blue Jays in the American League East division.

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  2. MLB Betting Free Picks: Oakland @ Boston
  3. MLB Betting Free Picks: Oakland @ Texas
  4. Atlanta Braves vs Philadelphia Phillies Preview
  5. MLB Betting Free Picks: Cincinnati @ Oakland

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