Baltimore @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Mar 25, 2013 ) Boston 9, Baltimore 12
The Boston Red Sox got off to miserable starts in each of the last two years despite entering the season with lofty aspirations. Now, with expectations decidedly modest, the Red Sox have won their first two series and enter Monday's home opener against the Baltimore Orioles feeling pretty good about themselves. Boston pounded out six homers - three by Will Middlebrooks - in a 13-0 romp over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.
With slugger Chris Davis finally coming back to earth after his record-setting start, Baltimore lost the final two games of its weekend series against Minnesota. Davis has four homers and 17 RBIs to overshadow a sensational start by center field Adam Jones, who is batting .538 and has hit safely in each of the six games. Jones went 2-for-3 in Sunday's series finale vs. the Twins, his fifth multiple-hit game.
TV: 2:05 p.m. ET, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (Baltimore), New England Sports Network (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH Wei-Yin Chen (0-0, 3.18 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Clay Buchholz (1-0, 1.29)
Chen gave up two runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings at Tampa Bay in his season debut, getting helped out by three double plays. He acquitted himself quite well in his rookie season against Boston, going 2-0 with a 2.50 ERA in three starts. Middlebrooks was 3-for-6 as the Red Sox batted .292 against Chen, but the left-hander did not allow them a home run in 18 innings.
The Orioles will always be a favorite opponent of Buchholz, who threw a no-hitter against them in his second career start in 2007. Buchholz is 7-3 with a 2.40 ERA against Baltimore. He's had his issues with J.J. Hardy, who is 6-for-13 with two homers against him. Buchholz had a strong season debut, limiting the New York Yankees to one run on six hits in seven innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Baltimore has won seven of the last nine meetings and averaged more than six runs in each of the victories.
2. Buchholz has thrown three of his five career complete games against Baltimore.
3. The Orioles were 29-9 in one-run games in 2012 but have lost all three one-run contests this year.
PREDICTION: Red Sox 5, Orioles 3