MLB: Boston Red Sox vs Tampa Bay Rays | 28 August, 4:10 AM (PST)

[Mary C]

POTENTIAL STARTING LINEUPS: 

BOSTON RED SOX: 

C | Kevin Plawecki 

FB | Eric Hosmer 

SB | Trevor Story 

S | Xander Bogaerts 

TB | Rafael Devers 

LF | Tommy Pham 

CF | Enrique Hernandez 

RF | Alex Verdugo 

DH | J.D. Martinez 

 

TAMPA BAY RAYS: 

C | Francisco Mejia 

FB | Ji-Man Choi 

SB | Brandon Lowe 

S | Taylor Walls 

TB | Yandy Diaz 

LF | David Peralta 

CF | Jose Siri 

RF | Randy Arozarena 

DH | Harold Ramirez 

 

 

It’s an American League tussle in Major League Baseball this weekend's series at Fenway Park. Hosting will be the Boston Red Sox at home as the Tampa Bay Rays head over from their home base in Florida. Will the underdogs draped in Red find the means to pitch out the Devil Rays? We will find out this Sunday.  

 

Starting with the AL East team of better numerical stature is the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays are currently dominating the East next to the New York Yankees with 69 wins and 55 losses. They’ve most recently swept their series against the Los Angeles Angels, and across the board, they’ve managed to grapple their place within the top 10 teams, 8th specifically. Shane McClanahan leads the Devil Rays’ pitching with his laudable 2.20 earned run average (ERA) and 182 strikeouts. However, Corey Kluber is expected to pitch for Sunday’s game. Kluber in comparison is less secure with only 4.20 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 114 strikeouts. While it’s decent, it’s not as impressive when put side-by-side with McClanahan’s.  

 

Looking over to Boston’s side, the Red Sox have been performing slower than they did last season as they finished 7th overall. Now, they’re 18th at this point of the season and fifth in their division with 60 wins and 65 losses. The Toronto Blue Jays owned their latest series with a 3-game sweep. Nick Pivetta is expected to pitch for the upcoming game and conveniently is also the Red Sox’s pitching leader with 4.24 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 139 strikeouts.  

 

Quite clearly, all of the circumstances are pointing to the Tampa Bay Rays’ favor, and it would be foolish of us to go against it. While the Boston Red Sox can definitely manage a win if they get back in their groove on time, we still don’t see that happening anytime soon. We stand by the Tampa Bay Rays, and it’s their game on Sunday.  

 

4:10 AM (PST), Sunday, August 28, 2022. Fenway Park, Boston, MA.