Series Preview: Boston Red Sox vs. Minnesota Twins 5/3-5/5

The Boston Red Sox will take on the Minnesota Twins this weekend.  The Red Sox are coming off a series win over the Giants, while the Twins are coming off a series sweep over the White Sox.

Boston Red Sox (18-13) vs. Minnesota Twins (17-13)

Game 1:

Date: Friday, May 3
Time: 8:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN

Game 2:

Date: Saturday, May 4
Time: 2:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN

Game 3:

Date: Sunday, May 5
Time: 2:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN

Probable Starting Pitchers

Game 1: Tanner Houck (3-2, 1.60 ERA) vs. Chris Paddack (2-1, 5.88 ERA)

Houck gets the series started, he is 3-2 with a 1.60 ERA, a 2.01 FIP, a 0.91 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts in 39.1 innings. In his last start, he was dominant against the Cubs going 6.2 innings giving up one run on four hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out nine. In his career against Minnesota, he has made three starts going 2-0 with a 3.12 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts in 17.1 innings. Paddack will oppose Houck, he is 2-1 with a 5.88 ERA, a 4.85 FIP, a 1.69 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts in 26 innings. In his last start, he faced the Angels going five innings giving up four runs on eight hits; he walked one and struck out two. In his career against the Red Sox, he is 0-1 in his lone start going 2.1 innings giving up six runs on seven hits; he walked one and didn’t record a strikeout.

Game 2: TBD vs. Pablo Lopez (2-2, 4.83 ERA)

The Red Sox haven’t announced a starter for this one yet, Alex Cora did say this will likely be a bullpen game. Lopez will go for Minnesota he is 2-2 with a 4.83 ERA, a 3.95 FIP, a 1.04 WHIP, and 37 strikeouts in 31.2 innings. In his last start, he faced the Angels going five innings giving up four runs on four hits; he walked out and struck out eight. Lopez has made one start against the Red Sox in his career going 5.2 innings giving up five runs, four of which were earned on six hits; he walked three and struck out nine.

Game 3: Cooper Criswell (2-1, 1.65 ERA) vs. Joe Ryan (1-1, 3.38 ERA)

Criswell goes for Boston in the finale and will make his fourth start of the season and fifth overall appearance. He is 2-1 with a 1.65 ERA, a 3.35 FIP, a 0.98 WHIP, and 11 strikeouts in 16.1 innings. In his last start, he faced the Giants going five shutout innings giving up two hits; he walked one and struck out four. In his career against the Twins, he’s made one appearance going 3.1 shutout innings giving up one hit; he walked two and struck out four. Ryan gets the ball for Minnesota making his seventh start, he is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA, a 2.82 FIP, a 1.03 WHIP, and 41 strikeouts in 34.2 innings. In his last start, he faced the White Sox going six innings giving up two runs on six hits; he walked one and struck out three. In his career against the Red Sox, he is 3-1 with a 3.12 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts in 26 innings.

Boston Red Sox vs. Minnesota Twins Leaders

Red Sox:

AVG – Connor Wong – .351
HR – Tyler O’Neill – 9
RBI – Ceddanne Rafaela – 17
IP – Kutter Crawford – 40.1
ERA – Kutter Crawford – 1.56
K – Tanner Houck – 41

Twins:

AVG – Ryan Jeffers- .300
HR – Edouard Julien – 7
RBI – Ryan Jeffers – 19
IP – Joe Ryan – 34.2
ERA – Joe Ryan – 3.38
K – Joe Ryan – 41

Boston Red Sox vs. Minnesota Twins Numbers

Red Sox

AVG: .249 (9)
OPS: .737 (7)
R: 150 (10)
HR: 36 (7)
ERA: 2.58 (1)
K: 274 (14)
WHIP: 1.09 (2)

Twins

AVG: .238 (15)             
OPS: .724 (9)
R: 143 (14)
HR: 32 (13)
ERA: 3.95 (17)
K: 291 (3)
WHIP: 1.22 (11)

Wrap Up

The Red Sox have won another series to improve to 6-3-1 in series this season, they also ended their homestand going 4-2 which helped improve their record at Fenway Park this season from 3-7 to 7-9. Now they hit the road where they are 11-5. This series will be a tough one as the Twins are riding a ten-game winning streak. The Red Sox however will have one of their best arms starting the series in Tanner Houck, but the Twins are going with two of their big three in Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan. The Red Sox have to find a way to continue to scratch and claw as they have and come away winning two out of three from the Twins, if they lose the first game things could be bleak for the rest of the series.