Boston @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Apr 11, 2013 ) Baltimore 3, Boston 2
The Boston Red Sox are trying to run away from the rest of the American League East and have won four of their last five games. One of the teams in hot pursuit are the Baltimore Orioles, who host the Red Sox for the start of a four-game series Thursday. The Orioles sit 3 1/2 games behind Boston in the East, with the New York Yankees three back.
Baltimore had a three-game winning streak come to an end with a 9-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday but are one of the few teams that can match the Red Sox offensively. The Orioles boast the major’s home run leader in Chris Davis along with Adam Jones, Manny Machado and J.J. Hardy in the middle of the lineup. Boston leadoff hitter Jacoby Ellsbury has been hot lately, which has helped the entire Red Sox attack as it maintains the league lead in runs scored.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NESN (Boston), MASN 2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Felix Doubront (4-3, 4.84 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Kevin Gausman (0-3, 8.84)
Doubront has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his last five appearances but has not gone more than six innings in any of those outings. The 25-year-old has struggled with his command at times, issuing 31 walks in 61 1/3 total innings. Doubront has made six appearances - three starts - against Baltimore, going 0-2 with a 3.13 ERA and six free passes in 23 frames.
Gausman is still searching for his first major-league win and may have trouble holding onto his roster spot with another poor outing. The 22-year-old was lit up for seven runs in 4 1/3 innings at Tampa Bay on Saturday and has surrendered at least four runs in three of his four turns. Gausman’s one quality start also happened to be his lone outing at home, when he held the Detroit Tigers to one run in six innings June 2.
WALK-OFFS
1. The series will feature the top two base stealers in the AL in Ellsbury (29) and Orioles LF Nate McLouth (22).
2. Machado has hit safely in 10 straight games, one shy of his career high.
3. Boston RHP Clay Buchholz (neck) is penciled in to pitch Sunday’s finale but could be pushed back again to next week.
PREDICTION: Red Sox 8, Orioles 6