The Boston Red Sox will return home for a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians. The series kicks off Friday at 7:10 PM. Saturday will start at 4:10 PM. The finale on Sunday will be at 1:35 PM.
Red Sox Projected Starting Pitchers:
Game 1: Nick Pivetta (1-1 4.58 ERA)
Pivetta picked up his first win of the season last Friday when he beat the Milwaukee Brewers going 5.2 innings giving up three runs on seven hits; he walked one and struck out seven. Over his last two starts, Pivetta has struggled, going 9.2 innings between the two starts and he giving up nine runs on 12 hits. This comes after he pitched well in his first two starts of the season. In his career against Cleveland, Pivetta has made two starts, posting a 1-0 record and a 2.13 ERA in 12.2 innings of work against the Guardians.
Game 2: Garrett Whitlock (1-2 6.19 ERA)
Whitlock has gone back in forth over his first three starts, struggling in his first and third start but pitching a dominant game in his second start of the season against the Angels. In his last outing against the Brewers, he picked up the lone loss in that series, where gave up five runs on eight hits in just four innings pitched. He also had one walk to go along with a strikeout. In his career against the Guardians, he has never made a start but has pitched in relief making four appearances. Over those appearances, he went 6.1 innings, struck out seven, and gave up just two earned runs.
Game 3: Chris Sale (1-2 8.22 ERA)
Sale looked like he turned the corner against the Twins when he struck out 11. However, he struggled in his last outing against the Baltimore Orioles, as he allowed five runs on nine hits and failed to register a strikeout. Sale had a problem early in the season with his location, but that seemed to go away against the Twins. However, it, unfortunately, presented itself yet again against Baltimore. In his career against the Guardians, he has made 20 career starts, where he has given up 65 runs but has also struck out 123 Cleveland hitters.
Player To Watch: Jarren Duran (.400/1/10)
Duran has been one of the Red Sox’s best hitters as of late. In his last five games, he is seven for 18 with five runs scored, a double, a home run, and four RBIs. In his career against the Guardians, he has played in nine games, he has two RBIs, a .243 batting average, and four runs scored.
Prediction:
The Red Sox dropped a tough series to the Baltimore Orioles, but they are back home at Fenway, and the pitching matchups in this one will be tough. I say two out of three, but if Whitlock and and Sale can bounce back, perhaps the Red Sox could find a way to sweep the Guardians.
