The Boston Red Sox will take on the Atlanta Braves this weekend. The Red Sox are coming off a series loss by the Twins, while the Braves are coming off being swept by the Dodgers.
Boston Red Sox (19-16) vs. Atlanta Braves (20-12)
Game 1:
Date: Tuesday, May 7
Time: 7:20 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Game 2:
Date: Wednesday, May 8
Time: 7:20 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Probable Starting Pitchers
Game 1: Kutter Crawford (2-1, 1.56 ERA) vs. Reynaldo Lopez (2-1, 1.50 ERA)
Crawford gets the first of the two games, he is 2-1 with a 1.56 ERA, a 2.52 FIP, a 1.06 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts in 40.1 innings. In his last start, he pitched well against the Giants going a career-high seven innings giving up two runs on four hits; he walked two and struck out six. He has never faced the Braves in his career. Reynaldo Lopez opposes Crawford, he is 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA, a 2.94 FIP, a 1.00 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts in 30 innings. In his last start, he faced the Mariners, and he gave up three runs on six hits; he walked two and struck out seven. In his career against the Red Sox, he is 2-1 with a 4.03 ERA, a 1.61 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts in 22.1 innings.
Game 2: Nick Pivetta (1-1, 0.82 ERA) vs. Chris Sale (4-1, 3.44 ERA)
Pivetta is expected to return to the Red Sox rotation, he will make his third start of the season, he is 1-1 with a 0.82 ERA, a 2.23 FIP, a 0.81 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts in 11 innings; he’s been on both sides of 1-0 finals, a Red Sox win and a Red Sox loss. He pitched at Triple-A Worcester on Thursday in a rehab start going…. Sale opposes Pivetta facing his former team, the Braves he is 4-1 with a 3.44 ERA, a 3.00 FIP, a 0.95 WHIP, and 42 strikeouts in 36.2 innings. In his last start, he faced the Mariners going five innings giving up one run on six hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out nine. In his career against the Red Sox, he is 2-1 with a 2.29 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts in 39.1 innings.
Boston Red Sox vs. Atlanta Braves Leaders
Red Sox:
AVG – Jarren Duran – .262
HR – Tyler O’Neill – 9
RBI – Ceddanne Rafaela – 19
IP – Tanner Houck – 45.1
ERA – Kutter Crawford – 1.56
K – Tanner Houck – 46
Braves:
AVG – Marcell Ozuna – .306
HR – Marcell Ozuna – 10
RBI – Marcell Ozuna – 33
IP – Max Fried – 38.1
ERA – Reynaldo Lopez – 1.50
K – Chris Sale – 42
Boston Red Sox vs. Atlanta Braves Numbers
Red Sox
AVG: .246 (10)
OPS: .730 (8)
R: 162 (12)
HR: 38 (9)
ERA: 2.61 (1)
K: 297 (17)
WHIP: 1.11 (3)
Braves
AVG: .258 (4)
OPS: .742 (4)
R: 163 (11)
HR: 32 (18)
ERA: 3.76 (14)
K: 267 (27)
WHIP: 1.23 (12)
Wrap Up
The Boston Red Sox have a tough series coming up with the Braves who many think are the best team in baseball. Last season the Red Sox won three of their four games against the Braves as they split the series in Atlanta and swept the series in Boston. The pitching matchup in this will be intriguing to watch with the series starting with two pitchers with low ERAs and the second game will have Chris Sale facing his former team, this will also feature Vaughn Grissom facing his former team for the first time. If the Red Sox can come away with a series split that’ll be a good sign of things to come with the Washington Nationals next up on the horizon.
