The Red Sox (90-40) look to avoid falling below 50 games over .500 when they take on the Rays (67-62) this afternoon at Tropicana Field (6:10 p.m., NESN).
About tonight’s game: Last time out, Rick Porcello (15-6, 4.14 ERA) gave up three homers over seven innings, continuing a pretty clear trend going back to, well, the whole time he’s been on the team. Keep the ball in the yard and succeed. Provide souvenirs to the fans and perish. It’s as true today as it’s ever been.
The Rays will start Ryan Yarbrough (12-5, 3.84 ERA), who has previously been the fake starter who comes in after the “opener,” but who has been so good he just gets a regular ol’ starting nod here. He’ll face a lineup that includes both Steve Pearce (DH) and Mitch Moreland (1B), with Mookie Betts playing center and Jackie Bradley Jr. sitting against the lefty.
About last night’s game: The rare bad game from start to finish for this team, who were pounded, 10-3. It was never close. Read Matt’s recap here.
Forecast: Pretty uniforms, ugly stadium.
Today’s reading: Matt digs into Ryan Brasier’s unlikely rise.
A good tweet:
First MLB team to reach (in 2018):
— AJ ⚾️ (@NCSox) August 23, 2018
10 wins - Mets
20 wins - Red Sox
30 wins - Red Sox
40 wins - Red Sox
50 wins - Astros
60 wins - Red Sox
70 wins - Red Sox
80 wins - Red Sox
90 wins - Red Sox
LINEUPS
Game 131 at Rays
Lineup Spot | Red Sox | Rays |
---|---|---|
Lineup Spot | Red Sox | Rays |
1 | Mookie Betts, CF | Joey Wendle, 2B |
2 | Andrew Benintendi, LF | Matt Duffy, 3B |
3 | Steve Pearce, DH | Ji-Man Choi, DH |
4 | J.D. Martinez, RF | Tommy Pham, LF |
5 | Xander Bogaerts, SS | C.J. Cron, 1B |
6 | Mitch Moreland, 1B | Kevin Kiermaier, CF |
7 | Ian Kinsler, 2B | Willy Adames, SS |
8 | Eduardo Núñez, 3B | Brandon Lowe, RF |
9 | Sandy León, C | Michael Pérez, C |
SP | Rick Porcello, RHP | Ryan Yarbrough, LHP |