Red Sox vs. Orioles lineups: Sox return home in good shape

The Red Sox are returning to Fenway Park up two on the rest of the American League East and with a favorable pitching matchup as they try to make it three over (at least) the Orioles.

Honestly, Price vs. Miley is a scary matchup in that, were it not for the fact that the Orioles are a very good team outside of the one-time Red Sox starter taking the mound for them tonight, this would feel like something of a reverse lock. We’ve all come to terms with the fact that Price isn’t going to finish the season with the numbers we’d hoped for. But thus far the second half has seen him step up alongside Rick Porcello—strike that, Cy Young contender Rick Porcello—and pitch like the ace that was promised.

Wade Miley, on the other hand? He’s even worse than you all rmeember him being. It’s all gone thoroughly pear-shaped for Miley in 2016, and the Orioles have felt the worst of his collapse, enduring 34 innings of 7.15 ERA baseball since picking him up from the Mariners.

Yes, this is one of those games that seems like an obvious win on paper. But the Red Sox have turned no few of those games into depressing losses this year. They have to actually go out and capitalize on this opportunity ahead of much closer matchups on Tuesday and Wednesday.

First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. ET with broadcasts on NESN and WEEI.