Boston @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 11, 2018 ) Boston 5, Baltimore 0

The Boston Red Sox have saved some of their best offensive efforts for their American League East rivals, although none of them quite compared to their last performance. The Red Sox hope to put their major league-best offense on display two more times Saturday when they visit the Baltimore Orioles for a day-night doubleheader between the best and worst teams in baseball.

Boston (82-35) overcame an early five-run deficit by piling on 14 runs after the fifth inning in Friday's 19-12 series-opening victory - the club's highest offensive output on the road since a 22-run outburst on April 12, 1994. The Red Sox, who own a nine-game lead over the New York Yankees in the East and boast a 40-15 division record, have scored at least 10 runs in a game 15 times this season - eight of which have come against division rivals. While Boston won for the 11th time in 13 contests, Baltimore (35-81) fell to 3-6 in August and lost a game in which it scored at least 12 runs for the first time since July 26, 2006. The Orioles are 2-11 versus the Red Sox this season and have dropped 14 of their last 16 meetings overall against them.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), MASN 2 (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Hector Velazquez (7-0, 2.64 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Yefry Ramirez (1-4, 5.66)

Velazquez appears to be the favorite to start the nightcap but will only pitch if he's not needed in the opener, according to comments made by manager Alex Cora following Friday's opener. The second-year veteran would make his fourth start of the season and first since July 10 when he allowed one run over three innings against Texas. Adam Jones (3-for-4) and Trey Mancini (2-for-4) have fared well versus Velazquez, who is 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA in three games (one start) against Baltimore this season.

Ramirez turned in the worst outing of his seven-start big-league career Sunday in Texas, surrendering five runs on five hits and five walks while throwing 69 pitches over only 1 2/3 innings. The 24-year-old, who owns a 3.86 ERA at home, wasn’t much better in his previous turn - permitting six runs over five frames in New York versus the Yankees. Ramirez notched his most recent victory on July 24 against the Red Sox and has allowed six runs across 9 1/3 innings while splitting a pair of starts versus Boston this year.

WALK-OFFS

1. The 31 combined runs in the opener were the most total runs scored in a major-league game this season.

2. Red Sox OF Mookie Betts is 11-for-20 with seven extra-base hits, six walks and 11 runs scored over his last five contests.

3. Baltimore OF Cedric Mullins was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Friday afternoon and finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored in his big-league debut.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 7, Orioles 6