Boston Red Sox vs Athletics

Boston Red Sox at Athletics (2026-07-28). Jake Bennett vs Gage Jump at Sutter Health Park.

Starters — Jake Bennett brings a 2.58 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, and 59.1 innings with a modest 6.37 K/9 but excellent control at 1.37 BB/9 and strong contact management at 0.61 HR/9. His last three starts were 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 K, 0 BB; 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 K, 1 BB; and 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 K, 1 BB. The trend is up, driven by two scoreless outings in his last three and consistently low walk totals. Gage Jump has a 4.42 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and 57.0 innings with more bat-missing ability at 9.63 K/9, but less command at 3.32 BB/9 and more home run risk at 1.11 HR/9. His last three starts were 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 5 K, 4 BB; 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 8 K, 2 BB; and 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 7 K, 2 BB. The trend is also listed up, though the recent profile is volatile because the strikeout upside is clear but efficiency and run prevention have swung sharply.

Teams — Boston enters with a .706 OPS, 442 runs scored, a 3.55 team ERA, and a 1.22 team WHIP. The Red Sox are also 8-2 over their last 10, which supports the idea of a club arriving in strong overall form, especially on the run prevention side. The Athletics have a slightly better .724 OPS and 470 runs scored, with a .245 average, so the lineup has produced more than Boston’s on the season. The concern is the pitching staff, which carries a 5.34 ERA and 1.48 WHIP, and the recent form is weaker at 3-7 over the last 10. That split suggests Oakland’s offense can keep pressure on, but the staff has had trouble limiting traffic and damage.