The Boston Red Sox will take on the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park for a three-game series. The Red Sox are coming in off a series win over the Kansas City Royals in which they took three of four and outscored the Royals 15-14. The Tigers are also coming in off a series win, in which they took three of four from the Minnesota Twins; they outscored the Twins 21-14 and shut out the Twins twice in that series, and they are on a three-game winning streak. The Red Sox swept the Tigers in April, outscoring them 24-9.
Boston Red Sox (60-55) vs. Detroit Tigers (52-63)
Game 1:
Date: Friday, August 11
Time: 7:10 PM EST
Broadcast: NESN
Game 2:
Date: Saturday, August 12
Time: 4:10 PM EST
Broadcast: NESN
Game 3:
Date: Sunday, August 13
Time: 12:05 PM EST
Broadcast: Peacock
Projected Starting Pitchers:
Game 1: Chris Sale (5-2, 4.58 ERA) vs. Tarik Skubal (2-1, 3.67 ERA)
Sale returns to the Red Sox rotation, having been out since June 1. He has been working rehabbing with AAA Worchester, and in two starts, he posts a 0.00 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP, a 2.8 BB/9, and a 14.2 K/9 in 6.1 innings of work. With the Red Sox this season, he has made 11 starts and posts a 3.69 FIP, a 1.18 WHIP, a 2.3 BB/9, and a 10.8 K/9. In his career against the Tigers, he has appeared in 34 games making 24 starts pitching 178.1 innings, and is 11-8 with a 3.03 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, and a 10.1 K/9. Skubal will oppose Sale making his seventh start of the season; he posts a 1.38 FIP, a 1.03 WHIP, a 1.3 BB/9, and an 11.0 K/9. In his career against the Red Sox, Skubal has made two starts going 9.2 innings, posting a 1-1 record with a 5.58 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and an 8.4 K/9.
Game 2: Brayan Bello (8-6, 3.64 ERA) vs. Matt Manning (3-4, 5.06 ERA)
Brayan Bello will get the middle game of the series for the Red Sox, and he is making his 20th start of the season. In his last start, he dominated the Kansas City Royals going 6.2 innings, giving up one run on six hits; he walked two and struck out two. This season, he posts a 4.35 FIP, a 1.23 WHIP, a 2.5 BB/9, and a 7.5 K/9. Bello has never faced the Tigers in his career. Matt Manning will oppose Bello, making his 11th start for the Tigers; he posts a 5.31 FIP, a 1.18 WHIP, a 2.4 BB/9, and a 6.6 K/9. Manning has made one start in his career against the Red Sox, going six innings and giving up one run on one hit; he didn’t walk anyone and struck out two.
Game 3: Kutter Crawford (5-6, 3.80 ERA) vs. Eduardo Rodriguez
Crawford will get the finale, making his 23rd appearance and 15th start. This season, he posts a 4.05 FIP, a 1.14 WHIP, a 2.2 BB/9, and a 9.2 K/9. In his career against the Tigers, Crawford has made two appearances with one start and posts a 6.75 ERA, a 1.69 WHIP, and an 11.8 K/9; his lone start came earlier this season in which he went five innings giving up one run on five hits; he didn’t walk anyone, struck out six and picked up a win. Former Red Sox Eduardo Rodriguez will get the ball for the Tigers, making his 18th start of the season, and posts a 3.10 FIP, a 1.04 WHIP, a 2.2 BB/9, and a 9.0 K/9. Rodriguez has only made one start against his former team, going 3.2 innings, giving up seven runs, only two earned runs on five hits; he walked three and struck out five in the loss.
Red Sox vs. Tigers Batting Leaders
Series Prediction
This is a complicated series to predict, as I could see the Red Sox sweeping the Tigers, but that first game is tough with Skubal pitching well, and who knows what Sale we will get in his return. The third game could also be tough with how well Eduardo Rodriguez has looked, and Crawford struggled against the Royals. I think two out of three is the way to go.
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