Boston Red Sox: A weekend series with the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays
Back in the win column, the Boston Red Sox hit the road for a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Striding into the dog days of summer, it’s good to see the Boston Red Sox can handle a little adversity.
Losing three in a row for the first time since April — twice to the Oakland A’s, followed by a loss to the Toronto Blue Jays — Boston managed to bounceback nicely. The Red Sox salvaged a split of the four-game series with the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians by picking up a 7-0 win on Thursday.
The pitcher who threw the gem behind the victory? None other than David Price.
Price (14-6) picked up his fifth-straight win, pitching eight innings of shutout ball, allowing only three hits. Since the All-Star break, Price has been nearly spectacular. The lefty has made six starts, allowed only five runs while posting a 1.09 ERA.
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He’s been a key reason the Red Sox are sitting at 90 wins. Price’s regular season has been solid, but it’s safe to say his performance will be a topic once again come October. And if he’s putting up the same numbers in two months, there should be a lot of celebrating. to do.
Next up on the road to those October months are the Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox won two of three from the Rays last weekend. Tampa Bay is coming of a four-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals.
Getting the bats going
The Red Sox are 11-5 against the Rays in 2018, but their production has slightly dipped when playing Tampa Bay.
Boston is averaging nearly 1.5 runs less per game (4.1) when compared to their season average (5.4). The Red Sox were shutout 2-0 last Sunday by the Rays.
One player who has not struggled against Tampa Bay is shortstop Xander Bogaerts.
Bogaerts went 4-8 last weekend for the Red Sox, raising his season average against Tampa Bay to .396. He’s also driven in 14 runs, giving him the team lead against the Rays.
Bogaerts is coming off a series against the Indians in which he had six hits and 8 RBI, continuing a torrid August in which he’s hitting .327. He has also posted a 1.078 OPS with three home runs and 15 RBI.
Tampa Bay managed only seven runs against Boston last weekend. Mallex Smith is batting .372 over his last ten games (2-8 last weekend.) C.J. Cron leads Tampa Bay with 24 home runs and 59 RBI. Cron knocked two out of the park last week in Fenway.
On the hill
The probable starters for the Boston Red Sox are set for the weekend, while Tampa Bay is going with the ol’ TBD in two of the three games.
Hector Velazquez (7-1, 2.74 ERA) will get the ball on Friday. Velazquez has made five starts in his 36 appearances in 2018. He started in Boston’s loss on Sunday, pitching four innings while allowing three hits and one run.
Rick Porcello (15-6, 4.14 ERA) is slated as the starter for Saturday. Porcello has been hit and miss as of late, pitching strong one game and struggling the next. His last outing was a loss to Cleveland, pitching 7 innings and allowing 5 earned runs.
Porcello is 2-1 vs Tampa Bay in four starts in 2018. He’s tossed 24 innings and given up 11 earned runs, though he’s allowed only one home run against the Rays this season.
Nathan Eovaldi (5-5, 3.81 ERA) gets the nod on Sunday against his former team. After throwing 15 shutout innings to begin his Boston career, Eovaldi has struggled. In three starts since, Eovaldi has pitched 13 innings, allowing nine earned runs (15 total).
On Friday and Saturday, the Red Sox will likely see a reliever start things off for Tampa Bay. Boston might also see former teammate Jalen Beeks, who allowed only one hit in four innings in Sunday’s victory.
Blake Snell (15-5, 2.07 ERA) is the scheduled starter for Sunday. Snell has won his last three decisions, allowing only one run in 16 innings while striking out 23.
Next. Boston Red Sox: Top 5 rookie seasons in team history. dark
This weekend will be the last time the teams meet in 2018. Tampa Bay is playing for the future, but Boston has plenty to play for. Clinching a playoff berth creeps ever closer and for Boston, the sooner that gets done the better.