Baltimore @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 27, 2019 ) Baltimore 4, Boston 1

The Boston Red Sox are heading into an offseason of uncertainty after failing to make the playoffs but are trying to finish the regular season on a positive note. The Red Sox will try to even the final series at one win apiece when they host the Baltimore Orioles in the second of a three-game set on Saturday.

Boston won the World Series in 2018 and owns the highest payroll in baseball again this season but fired general manager Dave Dombrowski earlier in the summer due to differing opinions on the direction of the franchise and intends to get below the luxury tax threshold this winter no matter who takes over the front office. "Our real intention is to be competitive every year," Red Sox owner Tom Werner told reporters. "And we'll do whatever we have to do to do that. The solution to that isn't always having the highest payroll in baseball." The Orioles are finishing up a last-place season but are already well into their rebuilding mode and seeing promising signs from young players like Renato Nunez, who clubbed the key homer - his 30th - and drove in all four runs in Friday's 4-1 triumph, and rookie outfielder Austin Hays. Baltimore will showcase another promising rookie on Saturday when left-hander John Means takes the mound opposite Boston veteran righty Jhoulys Chacin.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH John Means (11-11, 3.54 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Jhoulys Chacin (3-11, 5.81)

Means snapped a three-start winless streak by breezing through seven innings against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, allowing one run and seven hits while striking out four. The 26-year-old has surrendered two or fewer earned runs in six of his last seven outings after battling through a brief slump in August. Means had little trouble in four previous starts against Boston this season, posting a 2-1 record with a 2.35 ERA.

Chacin got off to a strong start after being signed earlier this month but was roughed up in his last two outings. The 31-year-old Venezuela native was reached for a total of eight runs and nine hits - three homers - in 6 1/3 innings by the San Francisco Giants and Tampa Bay Rays. Chacin, who was signed to a minor-league deal by the Red Sox after being released by Milwaukee in July, is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career games - one start - against Baltimore.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox RF Mookie Betts needs one home run to reach 30 for the third time in his career.

2. Baltimore OF Anthony Santander missed his third straight game on Friday but is hopeful to return this weekend while battling several minor injuries.

3. Boston 3B Rafael Devers is three hits away from reaching 200 for the first time in his career.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 5, Orioles 4