The Boston Red Sox will take on the Cincinnati Reds this weekend for a three-game series. The Red Sox are coming off a series sweep over the Blue Jays while the Reds are coming off a series loss to the Pirates.
Boston Red Sox (40-35) vs. Cincinnati Reds (35-39)
Game 1:
Date: Friday, June 21
Time: 7:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Game 2:
Date: Saturday, June 22
Time: 4:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Game 3:
Date: Sunday, June 23
Time: 1:40 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Probable Starting Pitchers
Game 1: Kutter Crawford (3-6, 3.54 ERA) vs. Andrew Abbott (5-6, 3.42 ERA)
Crawford gets the middle game he is 3-6 with a 3.54 ERA, a 3.66 FIP, a 1.14 WHIP, and 88 strikeouts in 86.1 innings. In his last start, he faced the Yankees going six innings giving up three runs on three hits; he walked one and struck out nine. In his career against the Reds, he’s appeared in one game going 0.2 innings giving up a run on a hit; he walked two and didn’t record a strikeout. Abbott will oppose Criswell making his 15th start, he is 5-6 with a 3.42 ERA, a 4.76 FIP, a 1.20 WHIP, and 60 strikeouts in 79 innings. In his last start, he faced the Brewers he went five innings giving up three runs on four hits; he walked three and struck out three. He has never faced the Red Sox in his career.
Game 2: Nick Pivetta (4-4, 3.88 ERA) vs. Frankie Montas (3-5, 4.62 ERA)
Pivetta gets the finale, he is 4-4 with a 3.88 ERA, a 4.16 FIP, a 1.12 WHIP, and 59 strikeouts in 53.1 innings. In his last start, he faced the Blue Jays going seven innings giving up three runs on nine hits; he walked one and struck out four. In his career against the Reds, he is 1-1 with a 2.92 ERA, a 0.81 WHIP, and 30 strikeouts in 24.2 innings. Montas goes for the Reds he is 3-5 with a 4.62 ERA, a 4.53 FIP, a 1.39 WHIP, and 49 strikeouts in 60.1 innings. In his last start, he faced the Brewers he went five innings giving up three runs on four hits; he walked three and struck out five. In his career against the Red Sox, he is 0-2 with a 2.19 ERA, a 1.45 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts in 24.2 innings.
Game 3: TBD vs. Carson Spiers (0-1, 3.20 ERA)
The finale will likely be a bullpen game for the Red Sox and it’s expected the Reds will go with Spiers who is 0-1 with a 3.20 ERA, a 2.40 FIP, a 1.22 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts in 25.1 innings. In his last start, he faced the Pirates going six innings giving up four runs on seven hits; he walked one and struck out five. He has never faced the Red Sox in his career.
Boston Red Sox vs. Cincinnati Reds Leaders
Red Sox:
AVG – Rafael Devers- .278
HR – Tyler O’Neill – 15
RBI – Ceddanne Rafaela – 41
IP – Tanner Houck – 96.2
ERA – Tanner Houck –2.14
K – Tanner Houck – 94
Reds:
AVG – Jeimer Candelario – .251
HR – Jeimer Candelario – 12
RBI – Spencer Steer – 43
IP – Hunter Greene – 88.2
ERA – Hunter Greene – 3.35
K – Hunter Greene – 98
Boston Red Sox vs. Cincinnati Reds Numbers
Red Sox
AVG: .254 (5)
OPS: .742 (5)
R: 350 (9)
HR: 81 (10)
ERA: 3.45 (5)
K: 656 (4)
WHIP: 1.17 (6)
Reds
AVG: .225 (27)
OPS: .675 (21)
R: 309 (19)
HR: 72 (19)
ERA: 3.80 (10)
K: 619 (20)
WHIP: 1.24 (11)
Wrap Up
The Boston Red Sox are riding a five-game winning streak and have won eight of their last ten. This series seems like it could be a series in which the Red Sox continue that streak based on how things line up but they struggle in the first game of the series, if they can come out ready to go following an off day expect the streak to continue. Sunday could also be an interesting one but the Red Sox are 11-1 on Sunday so they find a way to win the finale. There have also been rumors of Wilyer Abreu being back this weekend as well which provides a booth to the Red Sox lineup. The one question can they contain Elly De La Cruz? If they can keep him off the bases and continue to hit the Red Sox should at minimum take two out of three.
