San Francisco @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2019 ) San Francisco 11, Boston 3

When the San Francisco Giants wrap up a three-game interleague series at the Boston Red Sox on Thursday afternoon, a pitching duel will feature the winningest left-hander in the majors. No, it's not Giants ace Madison Bumgarner, who will try to help San Francisco complete a sweep of the defending World Series champions when he opposes Eduardo Rodriguez at Fenway Park.

After winning each of their seven games in September by one run, the Giants made it a smooth ride for Bruce Bochy to become the 11th manager with 2,000 career wins in an 11-3 shellacking of Boston on Wednesday. Brandon Crawford is 5-for-11 in the series and has hit safely in six straight games for San Francisco, which improved to 41-36 on the road and 11-8 in interleague play. Rafael Devers ended an 11-game RBI drought with a milestone homer, joining Red Sox shortstop Xancer Bogaerts as the only teammates in league history with at least 30 homers and 50 doubles apiece. Devers also became the 11th player to ever post at least 30 homers, 100 RBIs and 100 runs in a season before turning 23.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (9-8, 3.73 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Eduardo Rodriguez (17-6, 3.64)

Bumgarner picked up his third straight no-decision despite a strong effort versus Miami on Saturday, when he permitted two runs and four hits over seven innings. He also went seven strong innings in his previous turn, limiting the Pittsburgh Pirates to two runs and six hits, and is 1-0 over his last five starts despite yielding two runs or fewer in four of them. Bumgarner is 0-1 with a 3.46 ERA in two career starts against the Red Sox but is 3-6 with a 5.08 ERA away from home this season.

Rodriguez could easily be going for his 20th win Thursday, but he was forced to settle for a no-decision at Philadelphia last time out despite registering a season-high 12 strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball, and was a hard-luck loser versus the Yankees in his previous turn, giving up one run and five hits over six frames. The 26-year-old has allowed a combined five runs over his last six starts. Evan Longoria is 7-for-13 against Rodriguez, who is 8-2 with a 3.13 ERA at Fenway.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox OF Mookie Betts (foot) missed his fourth straight game Wednesday and was joined on the bench by DH J.D. Martinez (groin).

2. Giants 1B Brandon Belt has hit safely in six straight games.

3. Red Sox LHP David Price will not pitch again this season due to a cyst on his left wrist.

PREDICTION: Giants 4, Red Sox 2