The Boston Red Sox have started their season off quite consistently, winning each of their first three series with an overall record of 6-3, best in the American League East. This weekend, they take on division rival, the Baltimore Orioles (5-4). This marks the first time of the season that the two teams play each other.
Probable Pitchers
Game 1, April 17: Joe Kelly (1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs Ubaldo Jimenez (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
Game 2, April 18: Clay Buchholz (1-1, 7.84 ERA) vs Chris Tillman (1-1, 3.86 ERA)
Game 3, April 19: Rick Porcello (1-1, 3.86 ERA) vs Miguel Gonzalez (1-1, 1.42 ERA
Game 4, April 20: Justin Masterson (1-0, 7.59 ERA) vs Wei-Yin Chen (0-0, 4.35 ERA)
Red Sox Probable Lineup
Mookie Betts, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Hanley Ramirez, LF
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Mike Napoli, 1B
Shane Victorino, RF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Ryan Hanigan, C
Red Sox Injuries
Pablo Sandoval, day-to-day (foot)
Brandon Workman, 15-day DL (arm)
Christian Vazquez, out for season (Tommy John)
Edwin Escobar, 15-day DL (elbow)
Orioles Injuries
J.J. Hardy, 15-day DL (shoulder)
Jimmy Paredes, 15-day DL (back)
Matt Wieters, 15-day DL (Tommy John)
Wesley Wright, 15-day DL (neck)
Who’s Hot
Dustin Pedroia is hitting .300 so far in the early season and looks truly healthy for the first time in years. He has been one of the Red Sox most reliable players so far this season; look for that to continue this weekend.
After starting the season on the DL, Joe Kelly looked dominant in his first start against the New York Yankees this past weekend. Kelly only allowed one run on one hit, while striking out eight. He takes the mound for the Sox in the first game of the series.
Who’s Not
Mike Napoli has had an abysmal start to the season after having a great Spring Training. Napoli is only hitting .129 out of the six hole for Boston. He did, however, start to come around at the end of the Washington series.
After dominating his first start, Buchholz looked like a complete different pitcher against the Yankees in his second start. He allowed nine earned runs in three innings pitched. As the pitcher with the most experience in a Red Sox uniform in the rotation, Buchholz needs to be better and needs to bounce back against Baltimore.
Predictions
We have learned that the Red Sox lineup is capable of putting up four to five runs each game. Baltimore doesn’t have a stellar pitching staff, so if the Red Sox pitching can be lights out, they should have no problems winning their fourth consecutive series.
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