The Boston Red Sox will return home for a quick three-game series against the Miami Marlins. The Red Sox are coming off a tough series loss against the Chicago White Sox in which they dropped two out of three. The Marlins are coming off a four-game series win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, taking three of four. The last time these two teams played was back in 2021 when the Red Sox swept a three-game series over the Marlins outscoring them 13-6.
Boston Red Sox (40-39) vs. Miami Marlins (45-34)
Game 1:
Date: Tuesday, June 27
Time: 7:10 PM
Broadcast: NESN
Game 2:
Date: Wednesday, June 28
Time: 7:10 PM
Broadcast: NESN
Game 3:
Date: Thursday, June 29
Time: 6:10 PM
Broadcast: NESN
Projected Starting Pitchers:
Game 1: Garrett Whitlock (4-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. Sandy Alcantara (2-6, 5.08 ERA)
Garrett Whitlock will get the series started for the Red Sox. Whitlock is making the ninth start of the season and posts a 4.07 FIP, a 1.22 WHIP, 1.4 BB/9, and a 7.6 K/9. Whitlock’s last start came against the Twins in which he went seven innings, giving up four runs on eight hits; he didn’t walk anyone and struck out six. Whitlock has appeared in one game against Miami going 0.1 innings. He will be opposed by Sandy Alcantara who has struggled this year after winning the NL Cy Young last season. Alcantara’s previous start came against the Blue Jays, and he went seven innings giving up five runs on ten hits; he walked two and struck out six.
Game 2: Opener vs. Braxton Garrett (3-2, 3.64 ERA)
The Red Sox will use an opener for the middle game of this series. They last used an opener against the Twins in the final match when Justin Garza started and went one inning, giving up three runs on four hits; he didn’t walk anyone and struck out two. Garza then gave the ball to Brandon Walter, who pitched well, going 6.2 innings, giving up three runs on six hits; he walked three and struck out two. Alex Cora hinted at Nick Pivetta possibly getting the start in this one. The opener will face Braxton Garrett for the Miami who is making his 15th start and in his last outing he went seven innings giving up two runs, only one earned on three hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out 13.
Game 3: Brayan Bello (5-4, 3.27 ERA) vs. Jesus Lazardo (6-5, 3.77 ERA)
Brayan Bello will wrap up the series for the Red Sox; he is making his 13th start of the season for the Red Sox. Bello posts a 3.86 FIP, a 1.27 WHIP, a 2.9 BB/9, and an 8.5 K/9 this season. In his last start, he faced the White Sox and pitched well, going 6.2 innings, giving up one run on six hits; he walked one and struck out five. Bello has never faced the Marlins in his career. Bello will be opposed by Jesus Lazardo who is making his 17th start of the season, in his last outing against the Pirates, Luzardo went seven innings and didn’t allow a run on two hits; he walked one and struck out nine.
Boston Red Sox Player to Watch
Alex Verdugo (.303/5/31)
Alex Verdugo should return for this series against the Marlins, and he clearly has been missed by this Red Sox lineup. This season Verdugo posts a slash line of .303/.374/.468 and an OPS of .843. Verdugo has also been a 2.8 WAR; he has scored 51 runs and has 24 doubles, four triples, five home runs, 31 RBI, and three stolen bases. In his career against Miami, Verdugo has played in eight games going 11-33 with five runs, a home run, three RBI, and two walks.
Series Prediction:
After a rough series against Chicago, the Red Sox could use a series win over the Marlins. It lines up well with their pitching that they may be able to get the job done as Alcantara has struggled this season, and they will avoid the Marlins young phenom in Eury Perez. The teams the Red Sox are currently chasing in the Wild Card chase are losing players to injury, and this is the time to make up the ground and get back into the race before the big names return. In this series against the Marlins, I could see a sweep since Miami is a good team and the Red Sox seem to show up for those series, but I’ll play it safe and say they take two out of three before hitting the road for the weekend.
