Thursday MLB Free Play: Athletics at Red Sox

Take the ‘under’ 9 1/2 when the Oakland Athletics visit the Boston Red Sox in the final game of their four-game set this afternoon.

Both of the starters in the matchup have pitched well lately. Jon Lester (9-7, 3.79 ERA) has an AL-best 1.83 ERA since May 31 and opponents are hitting just .202 against him over his last 10 starts.

Gio Gonzalez (2-2, 7.75) is coming off his best start of the season holding a very powerful Yankees line-up to just one earned run and two hits over 6.7 innings. And that was in New York where the balls have been flying out of the park this season.

The over/under is 0-8 for the Red Sox in their last eight home games against a lefty starter, and the O/U is 1-7-1 in Lester’s last nine starts after a quality start in his last outing.

With the first three games in this series going ‘over’ the posted ‘total’, I look for a pitchers duel Thursday afternoon. Take the ‘under’ 9 1/2 as my MLB free play for Thursday afternoon.

Vernon Croy’s 23-12 MLB run continues right here Thursday afternoon with his MLB Totals Top Play. So make sure you get on it now.