Boston at Oakland

Boston manager Bobby Valentine vowed yesterday that the Red Sox would finish the season strong despite unloading so much talent in last week's big salary dump. But talk is cheap and this team is playing awful baseball, losing five in a row and getting outscored 48-13! They are also 3,000 miles from home and playing their sixth road game of a nine-game trip out West. The Red Sox are 7-22 in their last 29 against the American League West, plus 5-18 in their last 23 games as a road underdog. Boston is also 2-14 in their last 16 vs. a team with a winning record. The Red Sox are 1-4 in Daisuke Matsuzaka's last five road starts, who is 1-3 with a 5.10 ERA overall this season. They are matched-up against the hottest team in baseball, with Oakland on a sizzling 38-15 run. The Athletics are 24-5 in their last 29 home games vs. a right-handed starter and 11-1 in their last 12 games as a favorite. Lefty Brett Anderson is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in 14 innings this season and will have no trouble shutting down this depleted Boston offense. Anderson has been excellent since coming back from Tommy John surgery, and an extra day off can only help, as he continues to build up arm strength. Play the Oakland A's.