The Boston Red Sox will return home for a four-game series against the Angels. The series kicks off Friday at 7:10 PM. Saturday will start at 4:10 PM. Sunday will be at 1:35 PM. The finale on Monday will be at 11:10 AM as it is a tradition for the Red Sox to play in the morning on Patriot’s Day.
Red Sox Projected Starting Pitchers:
Game 1: Tanner Houck (2-0 4.50 ERA)
Houck has pitched well to start the season. Unfortunately, he might be the odd man out once James Paxton and Brayan Bello return, but for now, he will make another start for the Red Sox. His first two starts came against Baltimore and Detroit. In both outings, he went five innings each. In his career against the Angels, he has pitched in two total games coming in, in relief, and he has struggled, pitching 4.1 innings and giving up seven earned runs on six hits. He will look to overturn his misfortune with his first career start against the Angels.
Game 2: Nick Pivetta (0-1 0.90 ERA)
Pivetta has been the best Red Sox pitcher after two starts, he is 0-1 with the loss coming against Pittsburgh, a game in which he gave up three runs, but the Boston lineup didn’t help him either, only scoring one run. His second start this season came against a good Tampa Bay team, and he shut them down going five innings, allowing only three hits, and he did not allow a run, a game in which the Red Sox lost 1-0. Against the Angels in his career, he has made two prior starts posting a 0-1 record. He has pitched 11 combined innings against them and allowed six earned runs on ten hits; he has 18 career strikeouts against Angels hitters.
Game 3: Garrett Whitlock
Whitlock will look to rebound off his tough first start of the season against Tampa Bay, a game in which they got to him early and often. Whitelock pitched five innings, allowing five runs on eight hits. He gave up three home runs; the only inning he did not allow a run was the third, and he struck out five Rays batters. In his career against the Angels, he has made two starts and three appearances. He pitched ten innings in his career against them, giving up six earned runs on eight hits but has 17 strikeouts against them.
Game 4: Chris Sale
Sale will most likely get the ball for Monday’s game unless Alex Cora decides to go with Brayan Bello. Sale has struggled to start the season, having a bad outing against Baltimore and Tampa Bay. He did pitch better against the Tigers, which was his second start of the season. Sale, in his career, has dominated the Angels, so this could be a good game for him to get some confidence back. Against the Angels, Sale has made ten appearances, with eight of those being starts, in those starts, he has allowed seven runs on 29 hits and has struck out 64 batters.
Player To Watch:
Triston Casas (.132/2/7)
Casas will get his first taste of the Angels and Shohei Ohtani in this series, as Ohtani will start on Monday. Casas will need to get going in this series if the Red Sox want to turn things around. To this point in the season, Casas has a slash line of .132/184/.555 with two home runs and seven RBI.
Prediction:
The Red Sox will look to overcome a rough series in Tampa Bay after being swept by the Rays. They will look to take their frustrations out on the Angels as they return to Fenway. The Red Sox should take three out of four from the Angels, especially if Pivetta pitches as he has to this point and if Whitlock can rebound from a rough first outing.
