The Boston Red Sox will take on the Tampa Bay Rays this week for a four-game series. The Red Sox are coming off a series win over the Nationals, while the Rays are coming off a series loss to the Yankees.
Boston Red Sox (21-19) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (20-21)
Game 1:
Date: Monday, May 10
Time: 7:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Game 2:
Date: Tuesday, May 11
Time: 7:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Game 3:
Date: Wednesday, May 12
Time: 7:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Game 4:
Date: Thursday, May 12
Time: 7:10 pm EST
Broadcast: NESN
Probable Starting Pitchers
Game 1: Kutter Crawford (2-1, 1.75 ERA) vs. Zach Eflin (2-4, 3.75 ERA)
Crawford is making his ninth start to kick off the series, he is 2-1 with a 1.75 ERA, a 2.84 FIP, a 1.07 WHIP, and 46 strikeouts in 46.1 innings. In his last start, he faced the Braves going six innings giving up two runs on five hits; he walked two and struck out six. In his career against the Rays, he is 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA, a 0.87 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts in 24 innings. Eflin goes for the Rays making his ninth start as well, he is 2-4 with a 3.75 ERA, a 3.74 FIP, a 1.12 WHIP, and 39 strikeouts in 48 innings. In his last start, he faced the White Sox going seven innings giving up one run on six hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out three. In his career against the Red Sox, he is 1-0 with a 6.16 ERA, a 1.47 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts in 19 innings.
Game 2: Nick Pivetta (1-2, 3.60 ERA) vs. Aaron Civale (2-3, 5.88 ERA)
Pivetta gets the second game, this season he is 1-2 in three starts with a 3.60 ERA, a 5.16 FIP, a 1.13 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts in 15 innings. He made his return to the rotation last Wednesday against the Braves going four innings giving up five hits; he walked one and struck out one. In his career against the Rays he is 1-6 with a 4.56 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, and 52 strikeouts in 51.1 innings. Civale opposes Pivetta, he is making his ninth start, he is 2-3 with a 5.88 ERA, a 4.47 FIP, a 1.35 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts in 41.1 innings. In his last start, he faced the White Sox going 4.2 innings giving up two runs on five hits; he walked two and struck out four. In his career against the Red Sox, he is 1-1 with a 4.80 ERA, a 1.46 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts in 15 innings.
Game 3: Tanner Houck (3-4, 2.24 ERA) vs. Taj Bradley (0-1, 1.50 ERA)
Houck gets the third game, he is 3-4 with a 2.24 ERA, a 2.18 FIP, a 0.97 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts in 52.1 innings. In his last start he faced the Nationals going seven innings giving up three runs on six hits; he walked one and struck out four. In his career against the Rays he is 0-3 with a 7.47 ERA, a 1.65 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts in 15.2 innings. Bradley goes for Tampa Bay, he’s made one start this season going six innings giving up one run on four hits; he walked two and struck out seven. In his career against the Red Sox he is 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts in ten innings.
Game 4: Cooper Criswell (2-1, 2.10 ERA) vs. Zack Littell (2-2, 3.02 ERA)
Criswell makes his seventh appearance which is his sixth start of the season, he is 2-1 with a 2.10 ERA, a 3.94 FIP, a 1.01 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts in 25.2 innings. In his last start, he faced the Nationals going five innings giving up two runs on three hits; he walked one and struck out nine. He has never faced his former team in his career. Littell gets the finale for the Rays he is 2-2 in eight starts with a 3.02 ERA, a 2.55 FIP, a 1.27 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts in 44.2 innings. In his last start he faced the Yankees going 5.2 innings giving up two runs on four hits; he walked two and struck out three. He is 1-0 in one appearance against Boston going two shutout innings giving up two hits; he didn’t walk anyone and struck out two.
Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays Leaders
Red Sox:
AVG – Rafael Devers- .287
HR – Tyler O’Neill – 9
RBI – Ceddanne Rafaela – 22
IP – Tanner Houck – 52.1
ERA – Kutter Crawford – 1.75
K – Tanner Houck – 50
Rays:
AVG – Isaac Parades – .300
HR – Isaac Parades – 8
RBI – Isaac Parades – 22
IP – Zach Eflin – 48.0
ERA – Zack Littell – 3.02
K – Zack Littell – 45
Boston Red Sox vs. Rays Numbers
Red Sox
AVG: .244 (13)
OPS: .718 (10)
R: 169 (14)
HR: 39 (18)
ERA: 2.76 (1)
K: 327 (19)
WHIP: 1.11 (4)
Rays
AVG: .244 (12)
OPS: .681 (20)
R: 161 (20)
HR: 33 (25)
ERA: 4.29 (22)
K: 346 (11)
WHIP: 1.29 (17)
Wrap Up
The Red Sox have now won three straight series at Fenway Park and this series has a chance to see them put some distance between themselves and the Rays for third place in the American League East. The Red Sox have the pitchers going in this series they should be thrilled about and if the bats can get going they should take at the minimum three games. The issue has been RISP, they need to get that figured out in this series cause despite the bad record the Rays can make them pay for that.
