The Boston Red Sox will kick off the 2024 season with a West Coast Road trip starting tonight as they will start with a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners.
Boston Red Sox (0-0) vs. Seattle Mariners (0-0)
Game 1:
Date: Thursday, March 28
Time: 10:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Game 2:
Date: Friday, March 29
Time: 9:40 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Game 3:
Date: Saturday, March 30
Time: 9:40 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Game 4:
Date: Sunday, March 31
Time: 4:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Probable Starting Pitchers
Game 1: Brayan Bello (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Luis Castillo (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Bello will get the ball on Opening Day for the Red Sox, last season he made 28 starts going 12-11 with a 4.24 ERA, a 4.54 FIP, a 1.33 WHIP, and 132 strikeouts in 157 innings. This spring Bello made five starts going 0-1 with a 3.93 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts in 18.1 innings. In his career against the Mariners, Bello has made two starts going 2-0 with a 4.09 ERA, a 1.64 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts in 11 innings. Luis Castillo will oppose Bello for the Mariners, last season he made 33 starts going 14-9 with a 3.34 ERA, a 3.81 FIP, a 1.09 WHIP, and 219 strikeouts in 197 innings. This spring Castillo has made four starts going 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts in 13 innings. In his career against the Red Sox Castillo has made two starts going 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts in 11 innings.
Game 2: Nick Pivetta (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. George Kirby (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Pivetta will get the ball in the second game of the series, last season he spent time as a starter and in the bullpen making 38 appearances with 16 of those coming as starts, he went 10-9 with a 4.04 ERA, a 3.96 FIP, a 1.12 WHIP, and 183 strikeouts in 142.2 innings. This spring he made five starts going 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts in 18 innings. In his career against Seattle, he has made three starts going 1-1 with a 4.34 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts in 18.2 innings. Kirby will face Pivetta and last season he made 31 starts going 13-10 with a 3.35 ERA, 3.34 FIP, a 1.03 WHIP, and 172 strikeouts in 190.2 innings. This spring in four starts he went 1-0 with a 5.52 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and 15 strikeouts in 14.2 innings. Against Boston in his career, he has made four starts going 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA, a 1.43 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts in 21.2 innings.
Game 3: Kutter Crawford (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Logan Gilbert (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Crawford will get the ball in game three, in 2023 he made 31 appearances with 23 of those coming as starts going 6-8 with a 4.04 ERA, a 3.83 FIP, a 1.10 WHIP, and 135 strikeouts in 129.1 innings. This spring he has made five starts going 1-0 with a 3.72 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts in 19.1 innings. In his career against the Mariners, he is 0-0 in two starts with a 0.00 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts in ten innings. Gilbert gets game three for Seattle and last season in 32 starts he went 13-7 with a 3.73 ERA, a 3.85 FIP, a 1.07 WHIP, and 189 strikeouts in 190.2 innings. This spring in five starts he went 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts in 16 innings. Against the Red Sox in his career, he has made three starts going 0-0 with a 3.79 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and 18 strikeouts in 19 innings.
Game 4: Garrett Whitlock (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Bryce Miller (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Whitlock will get the finale for the Red Sox and last season he made 22 appearances with ten coming as starts going 5-5 with a 5.15 ERA, a 4.27 FIP, a 1.32 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts in 71.2 innings. This spring he made six starts going 3-0 with a 2.49 ERA, a 0.88 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts in 21.2 innings. Against the Mariners in his career, he has made two appearances with one coming as a start going 0-0 with an 8.44 ERA, a 2.44 WHIP, and six strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Whitlock will be opposed by Bryce Miller who last season made 25 starts going 8-7 with a 4.32 ERA, a 3.98 FIP, a 1.14 WHIP, and 119 strikeouts in 131.1 innings. This spring he has made four starts going 1-0 with a 3,75 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts in 12 innings. In his career against the Red Sox, he has made one start going 0-1 giving up six runs on seven hits; he walked two and struck out four.
Boston Red Sox vs. Seattle Mariners Leaders
(Spring Training Players)
Red Sox:
AVG – Rafael Devers- .380
HR – Rafael Devers – 5
RBI – Trevor Story – 14
IP – Garrett Whitlock – 21.2
ERA – Tanner Houck – 2.40
K – Nick Pivetta – 22
Mariners:
AVG – Jorge Polanco – .419
HR – Mitch Haniger – 5
RBI – Jorge Polanco – 17
IP – Luis Castillo – 18.1
ERA – Luis Castillo – 2.95
K – Logan Gilbert – 24
Boston Red Sox vs. Seattle Mariners Numbers
(2024 Spring Training Rank)
Red Sox
AVG: .247 (21)
OPS: .757 (14)
R: 151 (13)
HR: 42 (7)
ERA: 3.76 (2)
K: 303 (6)
WHIP: 1.27 (4)
Mariners
AVG: .273 (4)
OPS: .825 (1)
R: 202 (1)
HR: 46 (4)
ERA: 5.48 (28)
K: 295 (8)
WHIP: 1.36 (11)
Wrap Up
The 2024 season has arrived and although many have a bleak outlook on the Boston Red Sox this season, there is much optimism as the lineup can produce and the pitching rotation could take a big step forward. There will also be players to watch as they enter some big years. This series for the Red Sox will be a tough one as the Seattle Mariners are one of the favorites to win the American League West and make the postseason if at worst the Red Sox can salvage a series split that will be a win to start the season.
