The Boston Red Sox will hit the road for the first time in the 2023 season by heading to Detroit. The series kicks off Thursday at 1:10 PM. Friday will be an off day for both teams, then the second game on Saturday will start at 4:10 PM. The finale on Sunday is set to start at 1:10 PM.
Red Sox Projected Starting Pitchers:
Game 1: Chris Sale (0-0, 21.00 ERA)
Sale pitched well in his first start of the season, just had location issues in his first start since July 17th of last season, and the location issues led to three home runs for the Orioles and them scoring seven runs on Sale in the three innings he pitched. Sale in his career against Detroit has made 23 starts and is 9-8 against them in his career with a 3.01 ERA.
Game 2: Tanner Houck (1-0, 5.40 ERA)
Houck pitched well against the Orioles on Sunday, going five innings and allowing three runs, with all the runs coming off the two home runs he gave up. Houck has only made one appearance in his career against Detroit, going one inning allowing only one hit, and striking out one.
Game 3: Kutter Crawford (0-1, 15.75 ERA)
Crawford made his 2023 debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, and he struggled, going only four innings but gave up seven runs, all of which were earned, and he picked up the loss. In his career against the Tigers, he made an appearance, only going a third of an inning, giving up three runs, he struggled in that game.
Player To Watch:
Alex Verdugo (.391/1/4)
Verdugo is one of the Red Sox better hitters to start the season, as he has started the season posting a slash line of .346/.393/.538. He has one home run and has driven in four RBI. He has been solid as the Red Sox leadoff hitter. Against the Tigers in his career, Verdugo is 12 for 42 with three doubles, a home run, and seven runs batted in.
Prediction:
The Red Sox pitching has been a huge downfall to this team to start the year, the lineup put up 33 runs through the first four games, but in the final two games against the Pirates, they scored one run a game as the lineup went cold. The Tigers are coming into this series off a huge series win over the Houston Astros, so they have momentum, while the Red Sox were swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates. If the Red Sox bats stay as they were in the final two games against Pittsburgh, the Red Sox will win one of the three games against Detroit, they could even be swept. The Red Sox need the pitching to get figured out and the bats to wake up in their first road series to get back in the win column.
