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| 4:10 PM PT5:10 PM MT6:10 PM CT7:10 PM ET19:10 ET23:10 GMT7:10 4:10 PM MST6:10 PM EST6:40 PM VEN3:10 UAE (+1)5:10 PM CT, June 2, 2023 Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts |
Red Sox try to keep potent Rays' bats at bay
Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox
- The Rays swept a four-game series in these teams' first meeting of the year in Tampa in April. Including the 2021 postseason, Boston is 13-7 when hosting the Rays since 2021, including sweeping a three-game set to end last year's regular season.
- Tampa Bay dropped two of three to the Cubs in Chicago, its fourth straight road series that it failed to win (three losses, one tie). Despite that, the Rays are the second team in MLB history to win 40 games before the start of June, along with the 2001 Mariners (40-12).
- Wander Franco reached 30 stolen bases and 20 home runs for his career on Tuesday at 22 years and 90 days old. The only shortstop ever to reach those figures at a younger age is Alex Rodriguez (21 years, 292 days).
- The Red Sox snapped their three-game losing streak with an 8-2 win over the Reds last night. Boston is 15-4 (.789) when plating 5+ runs at home this year compared to an AL-worst 1-9 (.100) when it does not -- its win percentage difference of .689 is the largest in the AL.
- Rafael Devers hit his 200th career double on Wednesday in his 741st game with the club. The only left-handed Red Sox hitter to reach that mark faster is David Ortiz (724). At 26 years and 219 days old on Wednesday, Devers became the third-youngest Sox hitter to reach that figure, bested only by Hall of Famers Bobby Doerr (26-40) and Tris Speaker (26-149).
- Tyler Glasnow made his 2023 debut on Saturday, yielding three runs over 4.1 innings against the Dodgers. He is 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA in five career starts at Fenway Park but has allowed one run and struck out 16 in 9.2 innings over his last two (one in 2021 and one in 2022).
The Boston Red Sox will be dealing with the most powerful team in baseball Friday night when they open a four-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays.
The Rays, who swept a four-game home series against the Red Sox in April, enter the weekend with 103 home runs, the most by any major league team. The Los Angeles Dodgers are second with 96.
Tampa Bay's power isn't the only thing that should have Red Sox fans worried. Boston ended a three-game losing streak by beating the Cincinnati Reds 8-2 Thursday but may have lost left-hander Chris Sale in the process. Sale left the mound in the fourth inning with soreness in his left shoulder.
"He'll have an MRI (Friday) and we'll know more," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "Hoping for the best. Obviously it didn't look great. (Velocity) was down in the second inning ... it went from 95 to 90, so let's wait and see.
"He wanted to finish it (the inning), but nah. Give it a shot, but after that you can't be irresponsible.
"Overall a good W. We needed that one. Now we have to be ready for (Tampa Bay)."
The Rays are coming off Wednesday's 4-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs. A loss would have resulted in Tampa Bay's first three-game losing streak.
Brandon Lowe hit a two-run, game-tying home run in the seventh inning, and Jose Siri followed with a two-run homer in the eighth that erased Chicago's 3-2 lead.
Tampa Bay's offense was dormant in the first two games against the Cubs. The Rays were shut out 1-0 on one hit Monday and were contained in a 2-1 setback Tuesday. Tampa Bay had one hit through the first six innings of Wednesday's win.
"Home runs kind of energize everybody," Lowe said. "I feel like any time you score runs, you kind of put a little oomph in your step."
The Rays have five players who have hit at least 10 home runs. Yandy Diaz leads the way with 12.
What makes the offense extra special is the Rays also lead the major leagues with 77 stolen bases. Tampa Bay has been caught stealing 16 times.
Garrett Whitlock (2-2, 5.14 ERA) is the Boston pitcher who will try to tame the Tampa Bay bats Friday. Against the Rays, the right-hander is 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA in 17 innings, allowing nine earned runs over seven career appearances (two starts).
Right-hander Tyler Glasnow (0-0, 6.23) is scheduled to be Tampa Bay's starting pitcher. Glasnow, who missed the start of the season with a strained oblique muscle, made his season debut Saturday in a 6-5 loss to the Dodgers. He allowed three runs on five hits, struck out eight and walked one in 4 1/3 innings.
Glasnow is 2-1 with a 3.83 ERA in eight career starts against the Red Sox.
The teams will play a split doubleheader Saturday before wrapping up the series Sunday.
--Field Level Media
Updated June 2, 2023
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