The Boston Red Sox will now hit the road to take on the defending National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies. Friday’s game is set to start at 7:10 PM. Saturday’s game will begin at 7:15 PM, while the final game on Sunday is at 1:35 PM.
Red Sox Projected Starting Pitchers:
Game 1: Chris Sale (2-2, 6.75 ERA)
Sale rebounded from a terrible start to the Orioles with a solid start against Cleveland last Sunday. He went 6.1 innings, where he gave up just one run on three hits. With that, he also registered five strikeouts. Overall, it was his second-best start of the season, as he looks to try to find his groove. In his career against Philadelphia, Sale has made two starts, where he lost both contests and sported a 5.25 ERA.
Game 2: Corey Kluber (1-4, 6.44 ERA)
Kluber had one bad inning in his last start on Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays. He allowed three runs from a home run by Bo Bichette. After that inning, he settled. In 5.1 innings pitched, he had three earned runs, four walks, and seven strikeouts. He did not factor in the decision. In his career against the Phillies, Kluber has a 1-0 record to go along with a 3.46 ERA in two starts.
Game 3: Tanner Houck (3-1, 4.50 ERA)
Houck’s last start also came against Toronto on Tuesday. He pitched well until the fifth inning when he gave up six runs. He did, however, return for the sixth and pitch a 1-2-3 inning. In his six innings pitched, he allowed six earned runs on six hits, walked three, and struck out five batters. Houck has struggled in his last two starts, and he will look to rebound against the Phillies in what will be his first time facing them.
Player To Watch:
Justin Turner (.286/2/11)
During the Toronto series, Josh Turner went 8-for-12 at the plate, where he had two doubles and four RBIs. The reason Turner is my player to watch in this series against the Phillies is because of his success against them. In his career, he has played against Philadelphia in 71 games, hitting .275 with eight home runs and 35 RBI. Against the projected starting pitchers in this series, Turner is 8-for-25 with two doubles, a home run, and four RBIs. His success has come against Zack Wheeler. In eight at-bats against him, he has four hits, a home run, and three RBIs.
Prediction:
The Red Sox come into this series off a series sweep against a good Blue Jays team. It was a great start to May, in which the Red Sox outscored Toronto 32-19, Now they hit the road to take on the Phillies, and the Red Sox will have a chance to continue their hot streak. The Phillies bolstered their roster this offseason by adding Trea Turner, and they got their best player and leader back in Bryce Harper just this week. Based on the projected pitching matchups and the way the lineup has performed compared to the season the Phillies are having, I could see the Red Sox sweeping this series., Yet, to be safe, I’ll say they take two out of three.
