Boston Red Sox vs Baltimore Orioles April 11-12 Series Preview
The Boston Red Sox return Fenway Park still ailing from illness and injury as they begin AL East play with a short two-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.
The Boston Red Sox will look to get a little healthier as they begin an seven-game homestand at Fenway Park on Tuesday.
The team will be without centerfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. again, as he’s been placed on the 10-day Disabled List. Xander Bogaerts should return soon however.
Boston dropped three of four games on the road in Detroit as they dealt with the flu and other injuries. Mookie Betts, Hanley Ramirez and Robbie Ross Jr. have all missed time thanks to the flu bug that has hit the Red Sox clubhouse. Even NESN broadcaster Dave O’Brien felt the effects.
Tyler Thornburg’s rehab has taken a hit as well as he’s been slowed by the flu.
Hopefully, the illness is away from the Red Sox soon, as the team has fumigated their clubhouse ahead of the homestand. The hope is to kill any remaining germs that may be carrying the bug.
Boston will have their hands full with the AL East leading Baltimore Orioles. The O’s have come out of the gates red hot, with a 4-1 record.
Our friends over at The Baltimore Wire and Birds Watcher have the latest on the Orioles start to the 2017 season.
Pitching Matchups
Tuesday, April 11th at 7:10 PM: Dylan Bundy (1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs Drew Pomeranz
Wednesday, April 12th at 7:10 PM: Ubaldo Jimenez (10.38 ERA) vs Steven Wright (5.40 ERA)
Three pitchers will be seeking their first win of 2017 in this series. Pomeranz returns from the DL, while Wright will aim to improve upon his solid effort over the weekend. Red Sox batters should be able to light up the Oriole’s Ubaldo Jimenez.
Key Players
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Boston Red Sox: SP, Drew Pomeranz
2016 Stats: 13 Starts, 3-5, 4.59 ERA, 71 SO, 24 BB
Pomeranz will come off of the Disabled List to make his first start of the 2017 season. He will look to pitch his way into a permanent role when David Price returns. He’s battling Eduardo Rodriguez and Wednesday’s pitcher Steven Wright for one of the final three spots in Boston’s rotation.
Baltimore Orioles: 3B, Manny Machado
2017 Stats: .235, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Manny Machado is one of the best third baseman in the majors. His bat will be an issue for Red Sox pitching in this series, especially if Boston can’t score to keep up.
The Bottom Line
If the Red Sox can muster a few early runs, this series is theirs. Health is the concern here though. There is no clear timetable for when this flu will be eradicted from the Boston Red Sox as a whole, and untile then you never know who may go down.
Boston will almost certainly finish above Baltimore in the AL East standings when the season ends, but these early season division matchups can go a long way towards setting the table and gaining momentum.
Next: Sandy Leon is Red Hot for Red Sox
Following this series, the Red Sox will makeup their postponed game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.