Boston Red Sox: Winning, getting healthy and ready to host Tampa Bay Rays

Hosting the Tampa Bay Rays for a three-game set is up next as the Boston Red Sox look to keep rolling through the A.L. East.

One year ago, the Boston Red Sox were heading into an off day after recently picking up a win to improve to 69-51.

What a difference a J.D. Martinez can make.

Outside of Martinez, much of the lineup remains the same. Yes, there’s a Steve Pearce to take into an account and a healthy Brock Holt. But overall, there are many familiar faces in the lineup.

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Andrew Benintendi has upped his game, while players like Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts have put the down year of 2017 behind them.

At 86-36, the Red Sox seemed primed to runaway with the A.L. East and are serious World Series contenders. They are easily ahead of the pack with baseball’s best record and currently hold a 10.5 game lead over the New York Yankees.

The team isn’t perfect — *cough* bullpen — but Martinez and company have played some of their baseball since the All-Star break.

Boston is 18-6, including winning 11 of their last 13 games. Up next will be the Tampa Bay Rays (62-59), who have won six of their last nine.

The Red Sox are 9-4 against the Rays in 2018, though the two teams haven’t met since before Memorial day weekend.

At the plate

While Boston was winning in 2017, there was often a struggle to plate runs. They weren’t exactly horrible, except in the power department.

Martinez has helped changed that.

Fresh off a stellar season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Martinez has brought his power with him to Boston. The DH/outfielder has hit 37 home runs and driven in 104, all while hitting .333 on the season. He’s helping the Red Sox hit .270 as a team while averaging 5.5 runs per game.

A triple crown might have even been in his future, if not for an equally stellar teammate in Betts.

Betts, from the leadoff spot in the order, is hitting .352 with 27 home runs and 64 RBI. He’s also been just as hot as the weather has been in August, tearing it up with a .449 batting average. Betts has hit safely in ten straight games, twice collecting four hits in a game. He’s also posted a 1.374 OPS, stolen four bases, and scored 15 runs in August.

Tampa Bay, meanwhile, is scoring nearly 1.5 runs less per game than the Red Sox. Their most consistent hitter has been first baseman C.J. Cron. Cron has swatted 22 home runs and driven in 56, with no player currently on the team close to that. (Wilson Ramos was close prior to his trade to the Philadelphia Phillies back in July.)

Cron has struggled as of late, collecting only five hits in his last ten games and zero home runs.

Matt Duffy is hitting .297 but carries very little power for Tampa Bay.

Probable starting pitchers

Brian Johnson (3-3, 3.95 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Boston Red Sox on Friday. Johnson has won his last two starts, pitching 12 innings while striking out 17. He’s been backed by the offense as he’s given up 12 hits and nine earned runs in these starts.

Saturday will see David Price (12-6, 3.75 ERA) take the hill for Boston. This will be Price’s fourth appearance against Tampa Bay in 2018. He’s picked up a win and two no-decisions, allowing one one earned run in 20 innings. Price has allowed only 10 hits in these starts while striking out 19.

And Sale Day returns on Sunday as Chris Sale makes his second start back from the disabled list. He struck out 12 in 5 innings against the Baltimore Orioles last week. Since a June 1 start against the Houston Astros in which he gave up four runs, Sale has made 10 starts while giving up only four earned runs. During this span, he’s collected 109 strikeouts.

If you’ve been paying attention to Tampa Bay, you’ve noticed they’ve employed the unique strategy of often starting a reliever. Not only will the Red Sox see this, they will also avoid Blake Snell (14-5, 2.10 ERA).

Ryne Stanek (2.42 ERA) will get the nod on Friday. Saturday’s probable starter is Tyler Glasnow who has posted a 3.97 ERA in 12 innings pitched since his arrival via trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Sunday’s starter has yet to be announced.

The Red Sox, with Ian Kinsler and Blake Swihart also making their returns, should be a lock to win another series. Taking at least 2 of 3 from the Rays will be a nice way to prep for the Cleveland Indians, who come to town early next week.