The Boston Red Sox will take on the Cleveland Guardians this week. The Red Sox are coming off a series win over the Angels, while the Guardians are coming off a series loss by the Yankees.
Boston Red Sox (9-7) vs. Cleveland Guardians (10-5)
Game 1:
Date: Monday, April 15
Time: 11:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Game 2:
Date: Tuesday, April 16
Time: 7:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Game 3:
Date: Wednesday, April 17
Time: 7:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Game 4:
Date: Thursday, April 18
Time: 1:35 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Probable Starting Pitchers
Game 1: Kutter Crawford (0-0, 0.57 ERA) vs. Xzavion Curry (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Crawford gets the ball on Patriot’s Day making his fourth start of the year, he is 0-0 with a 0.57 ERA, a 2.65 FIP, a 0.95 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts in 15.2 innings. In his last start against Baltimore, he went five innings, didn’t allow a run on two hits, walked four, and struck out six. Crawford in his career against Cleveland is 0-2 in four appearances with a 5.52 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, and ten strikeouts in 14.2 innings. Curry will get the ball for Cleveland making his first start of the season. In Triple-A he’s made two starts going 0-0 with a 1.29 ERA, a 1.42 WHIP, and eight strikeouts in seven innings. Curry has appeared in two games in his career against the Red Sox going 0-0 with a 1.93 ERA, a 1.49 WHIP, and three strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
Game 2: Garrett Whitlock (1-0, 1.26 ERA) vs. Tanner Bibee (1-0, 5.93 ERA)
Whitlock will get the second game making his fourth start, he is 1-0 with a 1.26 ERA, a 3.37 FIP, a 1.18 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts in 14.1 innings. His last start came against Baltimore going five innings, giving up one run, on four hits; he walked two and struck out four. Whitlock is 1-0 against the Guardians with a 2.84 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and seven strikeouts in 6.1 innings. Bibee will make his fourth start, he is 1-0 with a 5.93 ERA, a 4.93 FIP, a 1.82 WHIP, and 15 strikeouts in 13.2 innings. His last start came against the White Sox and he went 4.1 innings giving up five runs on six hits; he walked three and struck out two. Bibee in his only appearance against the Red Sox went five innings giving up one run on four hits; he walked two and struck out two.
Game 3: Tanner Houck (2-1, 2.04 ERA) vs. Carlos Carrasco (0-1, 3.55 ERA)
Houck gets the ball in game three making his fourth start, he is 2-1 with a 2.04 ERA, a 2.51 FIP, a 1.18 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts in 17.2 innings. In his last outing, he struggled going 5.2 innings giving up seven runs, four of which were earned, on 12 hits; he didn’t walk anyone and struck out two. Houck against the Guardians has made seven appearances going 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts in 15.1 innings. Carrasco is 0-1 with a 3.55 ERA, a 3.88 FIP, a 1.65 WHIP, and 11 strikeouts in 12.2 innings. In his last start against the Yankees, he went 4.2 innings giving up one run on five hits; he walked five and struck out two. Carrasco in his career against the Red Sox is 1-4 with a 8.29 ERA, a 2.11 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts in 33.2 innings.
Game 4: TBD vs. Triston McKenzie (1-2, 6.23 ERA)
The Red Sox haven’t announced a start yet but it could possibly be Cooper Criswell again. McKenzie is making his fourth start, he is 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA, a 7.25 FIP, a 1.76 WHIP, and five strikeouts in 13 innings. In his last start against the Yankees, he went four innings giving up six runs, five earned on four hits; he walked six and struck out one. In his career against Boston, he has made one start taking the loss going seven innings giving up for runs on six hits; he walked one and struck out six.
Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Guardians Leaders
Red Sox:
AVG – Tyler O’Neill – .304
HR – Tyler O’Neill – 7
RBI – Triston Casas – 8
IP – Brayan Bello – 20.2
ERA – Kutter Crawford – 0.57
K – Tanner Houck – 19
Guardians:
AVG – Stevan Kwan – .368
HR – Josh Naylor – 4
RBI – Jose Ramirez – 12
IP – Logan Allen – 21.1
ERA – Carlos Carrasco – 3.55
K – Logan Allen – 17
Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Guardians Numbers
Red Sox
AVG: .233 (22)
OPS: .698 (19)
R: 72 (15)
HR: 20 (6)
ERA: 2.54 (1)
K: 159 (2)
WHIP: 1.14 (2)
Guardians
AVG: .254 (9)
OPS: .734 (13)
R: 81 (12)
HR: 16 (14)
ERA: 3.20 (5)
K: 137 (14)
WHIP: 1.30 (16)
Wrap Up
The Boston Red Sox are now 2-4 at Fenway Park and have won two straight, this is a crucial series as the Guardians have gotten off to a hot start despite dropping their series to the Yankees and are without their ace for the season. This series will be a real test of where the Red Sox are for the 2024 season.
