The Boston Red Sox will head to the Windy City for a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox. The Red Sox are coming off a four-game series split with the Minnesota Twins while the White Sox are coming off a series loss to the Texas Rangers in which they dropped two of three. The Red Sox last season against the White Sox went 2-4, the two wins saw the Red Sox combine for 32 runs which led to them outscoring the White Sox 38-23.
Boston Red Sox 39-37 vs. Chicago White Sox (32-44)
Game 1:
Date: Friday, June 23
Time: 8:10 PM
Broadcast: NESN
Game 2:
Date: Saturday, June 24
Time: 4:10 PM
Broadcast: NESN
Game 3:
Date: Sunday, June 25
Time: 2:10 PM
Broadcast: NESN
Boston Red Sox Projected Starting Pitchers:
Game 1: Brayan Bello (4-4, 3.49 ERA) vs. Lucas Giolito (5-4, 3.54 ERA)
Brayan Bello will get the series started for the Red Sox, he is making his 12th start of the season for the Red Sox. Bello posts a 4.00 FIP, a 1.29 WHIP, a 3.0 BB/9, and an 8.6 K/9 this season. In his last start, he faced the Yankees and dominated going seven innings giving up one run on four hits; he walked three and struck out eight. Bello has never faced the White Sox in his career. Bello will be opposed by Lucas Giolito who is making his 16th start of the season, in his last outing Giolito went five innings giving up three runs, two earned on eight hits; he walked three and struck out five against the Mariners.
Game 2: James Paxton (3-1, 3.29 ERA) vs. Lance Lynn (4-8, 6.51 ERA)
James Paxton gets the middle game of the series in Chicago, making his eighth start of the season. Paxton enters this start posting a 3.25 FIP, a 1.07 WHIP, a 2.6 BB/9, and a solid 12.0 K/9. Paxton’s last start came against the Twins on Monday in which he went 6.1 innings giving up three runs on three hits; he walked one and struck out seven. Paxton in his career against the White Sox has made five starts posting a 3-0 record in 24.2 innings of work he has given up nine earned runs and struck out 27. Paxton will face Lance Lynn who is making his 16th start of the season, his last outing came against the Mariners, and he pitched well going seven innings giving up three runs on four hits; he walked two and struck out 16 batters in a loss to Seattle.
Game 3: Kutter Crawford (2-3, 3.75 ERA) vs. TBD
Kutter Crawford will take the ball for the finale, he is making his 15th appearance and seventh start. Crawford posts a 3.56 FIP, a 1.14 WHIP, a 1.8 BB/9, and a 9.1 K/9. In his last start which came against the Twins Crawford went five innings, not allowing a run on six hits; he didn’t walk anyone and struck out five en route to his second win of the season. Crawford has never faced the White Sox in his career. Chicago has not named a starter yet on who will face Crawford.
Boston Red Sox Player To Watch
Masataka Yoshida (.304/8/17)
Masataka Yoshida will get his first taste of baseball in the Windy City. This season Yoshida posts a .304/.375/.479 slash line with a .854 OPS he has 78 hits with 17 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, and 39 runs driven in and he has also scored 39 runs playing in 66 games for the Red Sox. In his last five games, Yoshida is 5-21 with a triple, a home run, and three RBI.
Series Prediction:
The Red Sox offense had been solid despite being shutout in the finale against the Twins 6-0. In their last ten games including the shutout the Red Sox combined to put up 65 which is an average of 6.5 runs a game. Their opponents over that same stretch have combined to score 40 runs. With those stats, the Red Sox lineup and pitching have been solid as of late, and let’s face it the White Sox have not had a good season to date so heading into this series and based on the pitching matchup the Red Sox should return home from Chicago with a series split.
