Boston @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 10, 2018 ) Boston 19, Baltimore 12

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: 1:05 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), MASN 2 (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH David Price (11-6, 3.93 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Jimmy Yacabonis (0-0, 7.15)

Price extended his unbeaten streak to five outings and recorded his fourth straight quality start in Sunday’s no-decision against the Yankees, yielding two runs over six innings. The former Cy Young Award winner has been particularly sharp in his last three turns, winning once while giving up a total of three runs across 20 1/3 innings. Price logged a complete-game victory against Baltimore on May 17 and has been dominant in his 11 career starts in Camden Yards, going 7-0 with a 2.96 ERA.

Yacabonis has yet to lose in 18 career appearances (two starts) and is set to pitch in his first major-league game since July 9 when he permitted three runs over five frames against the Yankees. The New Jersey native hasn't fared very well at Triple-A Norfolk in four turns since, going 0-2 with an 11.33 ERA. Yacabonis made two of his 14 relief appearances last year against Boston, giving up a run on two hits over 1 1/3 combined innings.

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 9, Orioles 3