1:05 pm
May 23

Red Sox @ Phillies

Who will WIN this matchup?

Boston Red Sox (29-18)

@ Philadelphia Phillies (22-24)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Rodriguez (BOS): 5-2; 4.70 ERA

Wheeler (PHI) 3-2; 2.52 ERA

 

Current odds:

Boston Red Sox: (+100)

Philadelphia Phillies: (-120)

 

• The surging Boston Red Sox will look for their fifth consecutive victory when they complete a three-game weekend series against the host Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. After winning two straight against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Red Sox now have a chance to sweep the Phillies. The task will be difficult against right-hander Zack Wheeler, arguably the Phillies’ ace.

• The Red Sox will send Eduardo Rodriguez to the mound. Rodriguez is 5-2 with a 4.70 earned run average in eight starts. For Rodriguez’s career against the Phillies, he’s 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA in two starts totaling 13 2/3 innings.

• Rafael Devers hit an RBI double in Saturday’s 4-3 win as he continued to shine against the Phillies. Devers already has posted 12 home runs and 38 RBIs this season, good enough for a potential first career All-Star berth.

• Alex Verdugo had three hits in Friday’s game but left with hamstring tightness and sat out Saturday. It doesn’t appear as if he’ll be available to play in the series finale.”As you know we have an extra position player, but most likely we’ll stay away from him over the weekend and get him ready for next week,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said.

• The Phillies will turn to Wheeler to try and salvage the finale and snap a four-game losing streak. Wheeler (3-2, 2.52 ERA) will be starting for the 10th time and he’s 2-0 with a 1.70 ERA over his last five starts. This will be Wheeler’s first career start against the Red Sox.

• For the Phillies to win, they’ll likely need production from Bryce Harper, who’s mired in a maddening slump. Harper went 0-for-5 on Saturday and has two hits in his last 25 at-bats. Harper has struggled with injuries, including a sore shoulder, wrist and recovering after being hit in the face by Genesis Cabrera of the St. Louis Cardinals.

• J.T. Realmuto (hand) and Didi Gregorius (elbow) remain on the injured list, and Alec Bohm is hitting .224 after a stellar rookie season.

4/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Philadelphia Phillies
Previous Pick
Next Pick