Boston @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Apr 2, 2014 ) Boston 6, Baltimore 2
The Boston Red Sox look to begin their World Series defense with a series victory over a division rival when they visit the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in the finale of a three-game set. Boston dropped Monday's series opener 2-1 before posting a 6-2 victory Wednesday thanks to four RBIs from Mike Napoli and a two-run homer from David Ortiz. The Red Sox received a pair of strong outings from their starting pitchers, and Felix Doubront will try to become the third straight Boston hurler to yield two runs or fewer.
The biggest bright spot for Baltimore has been the play of free-agent acquisition Nelson Cruz, who hit a home run in each of the first two games. Boston has several players off to a promising offensive start as well, led by Dustin Pedroia (6-for-10) and Napoli, who has reached base five times in the first two games. Orioles star Adam Jones, on the other hand, is looking to rebound after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Wednesday's loss, although he is just 2-for-17 lifetime against Doubront.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NESN (Boston), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LP Felix Doubront (2013: 11-6, 4.32 ERA) vs. Orioles Wei-Yin Chen (2013: 7-7, 4.07)
Doubront has gotten off to a good start in each of the last two seasons, only to fade somewhat down the stretch. He is 4-0 with an ERA just north of 4.00 over the last two Aprils, including a 3-0 mark last season, but struggled to the tune of a 9.77 ERA in his final four starts last September. Doubront did rebound to allow just one run and three hits over seven innings in the playoffs, although that work came entirely in relief.
Chen has a 5.08 ERA in seven career starts against Boston, including a 7.29 ERA in four starts last season. He was much more effective against left-handed hitters in 2013, limiting them to a .223 average while right-handers hit .286 against the Taiwanese southpaw. Statistically speaking, Chen's best month of 2013 was probably April, when he set personal bests for ERA (2.53) and opponents' batting average (.211).
WALK-OFFS
1. Opponents batted .357 this spring against Doubront, who posted a 7.11 ERA in five Grapefruit League starts.
2. Cruz has not homered in three straight games since doing so for the Texas Rangers in Games 4, 5 and 6 of the 2011 ALCS against the Detroit Tigers.
3. Pedroia is 11-for-19 against Chen.
PREDICTION: Red Sox 8, Orioles 6