Boston @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Jul 26, 2013 ) Boston 0, Baltimore 6
The Boston Red Sox spent two months in first place but a recent offensive slump has them looking up at the Tampa Bay Rays. The Baltimore Orioles, who host the Red Sox on Saturday, are making up ground in a tight American League East race at the expense of Boston. The Red Sox have lost three of their last four to drop one-half game behind the division-leading Rays.
The Orioles sit three back of Boston and 3 1/2 shy of first-place Tampa after ending a three-game slide by posting a 6-0 shutout of the Red Sox on Friday. Boston, which leads the majors in runs scored, has totaled one run in its last three losses and is averaging three runs in seven games since the All-Star break. Baltimore has taken six of eight from the division rival Red Sox in 2013.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NESN (Boston), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Ryan Dempster (5-8, 4.28 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Scott Feldman (9-7, 3.75)
Dempster is winless in his last four starts and failed to make it through the sixth inning in either of the last two while allowing a total of 12 runs (seven earned) in 8 2/3 innings. The Canada native had trouble with his command against the New York Yankees on Sunday and issued four walks. Dempster lost at Baltimore on June 14 despite yielding just two runs on five hits in 7 2/3 frames.
Feldman turned in his best start since joining the Orioles earlier in the month at Kansas City on Monday, when he allowed two runs in eight innings to pick up the win. The veteran right-hander tossed three quality starts in four chances since joining the team. Feldman has made eight career appearances (two starts) against Boston, posting a 1-0 record with a 3.91 ERA in 23 total innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles 3B Manny Machado, who leads the majors with 39 doubles, has not had a two-base hit since July 6. He singled and homered on Friday.
2. Boston LHP Franklin Morales (pectoral strain) and RH Alex Wilson (sprained right thumb) are each expected to begin rehab assignments early next week.
3. Baltimore SS J.J. Hardy is just 2-for-30 with seven strikeouts in his career against Dempster.
PREDICTION: Red Sox 6, Orioles 5