Preview: Red Sox at Orioles
Gracenote
Jun 10, 2018
The Boston Red Sox are coming off a rare series loss to a team with a losing record and are hoping that doesn't become a trend as they prepare for a 10-game road trip. The Red Sox will begin on Monday at the Baltimore Orioles, who are losers of four straight and own the worst record in baseball.
Boston scored six runs per game while going 7-2 in the first nine games without right fielder Mookie Betts (abdominal strain) atop the lineup but managed an average of two while going 1-3 in the last four contests and is anxiously awaiting the return of the major league's leading hitter. The Red Sox went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position in a 5-2 loss on Sunday and dropped two of three at home to the lowly Chicago White Sox over the weekend. The Orioles (19-45) aren't exactly tearing the cover off the ball of late and rank last in the American League in runs scored at 229 after getting swept in a four-game series at Toronto over the weekend. Baltimore will send ace Dylan Bundy to the mound on Monday opposite Boston's Steven Wright.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Steven Wright (2-0, 1.57 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (4-7, 4.04)
Wright made his first start of the season on Tuesday against Detroit and dominated while allowing two hits and walking three in seven scoreless innings. The veteran knuckleballer began the season in the bullpen but has a chance to stick in the rotation with left-hander Drew Pomeranz on the disabled list. Wright surrendered two runs in 4 2/3 innings of relief against Baltimore on May 18 and is 2-2 with a 5.68 ERA in seven career games - four starts - versus the Orioles.
Bundy is coming off his own performance of seven scoreless innings after dominating the New York Mets in a win on Wednesday. The 25-year-old is 2-1 with 25 strikeouts over 22 innings in his last three outings. Bundy will be making his third start of the season against Boston and lost the first two while yielding a total of seven runs - five earned - and 12 hits over 11 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles LHP Zach Britton (Achilles') could be activated from the DL on Monday.
2. Betts participated in batting practice over the weekend and could begin a minor-league rehab assignment early this week.
3. Baltimore SS Manny Machado is 2-for-17 over the last five games.
PREDICTION: Red Sox 4, Orioles 2
Gracenote
Jun 10, 2018
The Boston Red Sox are coming off a rare series loss to a team with a losing record and are hoping that doesn't become a trend as they prepare for a 10-game road trip. The Red Sox will begin on Monday at the Baltimore Orioles, who are losers of four straight and own the worst record in baseball.
Boston scored six runs per game while going 7-2 in the first nine games without right fielder Mookie Betts (abdominal strain) atop the lineup but managed an average of two while going 1-3 in the last four contests and is anxiously awaiting the return of the major league's leading hitter. The Red Sox went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position in a 5-2 loss on Sunday and dropped two of three at home to the lowly Chicago White Sox over the weekend. The Orioles (19-45) aren't exactly tearing the cover off the ball of late and rank last in the American League in runs scored at 229 after getting swept in a four-game series at Toronto over the weekend. Baltimore will send ace Dylan Bundy to the mound on Monday opposite Boston's Steven Wright.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Steven Wright (2-0, 1.57 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (4-7, 4.04)
Wright made his first start of the season on Tuesday against Detroit and dominated while allowing two hits and walking three in seven scoreless innings. The veteran knuckleballer began the season in the bullpen but has a chance to stick in the rotation with left-hander Drew Pomeranz on the disabled list. Wright surrendered two runs in 4 2/3 innings of relief against Baltimore on May 18 and is 2-2 with a 5.68 ERA in seven career games - four starts - versus the Orioles.
Bundy is coming off his own performance of seven scoreless innings after dominating the New York Mets in a win on Wednesday. The 25-year-old is 2-1 with 25 strikeouts over 22 innings in his last three outings. Bundy will be making his third start of the season against Boston and lost the first two while yielding a total of seven runs - five earned - and 12 hits over 11 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles LHP Zach Britton (Achilles') could be activated from the DL on Monday.
2. Betts participated in batting practice over the weekend and could begin a minor-league rehab assignment early this week.
3. Baltimore SS Manny Machado is 2-for-17 over the last five games.
PREDICTION: Red Sox 4, Orioles 2