Potential playoff preview from Seattle’s Safeco Field early this week as the Boston Red Sox are in town for three games. Boston heads into Seattle as the MLB series betting favorites. The Sox are the only division winner in baseball with a losing road record and have scored just 27 runs in their past 11 games at pitcher-friendly Safeco. The Mariners are trying to hang around the wild-card race as the AL West already has been conceded to Houston.
MLB Series Prediction & Betting Pick: Boston at Seattle
When: Monday, July 24th & Tuesday, July 25th, 10 PM ET, Wednesday, July 26th, 3:40 PM ET Where: Safeco Field, Seattle TV: NESN (Boston) / ROOTNW (Seattle) Radio: 103.7 FM (Boston) / 710 ESPN (Seattle) Stream: MLB.tv MLB Series Odds: Red Sox -130 / Mariners +110RECAP: @HanleyRamirez slugs homer and @RickPorcello deals 8 solid innings, but #RedSox fall to Angels. https://t.co/dubWwpLfWW pic.twitter.com/46NNMSyrhT
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 23, 2017
Prospect To Save Day?
The Red Sox have had a gaping hole at third base all season and recently released free-agent bust Pablo Sandoval. So they were looking to acquire a third baseman by trade – specifically, the White Sox’s Todd Frazier. Except the Yankees beat their rivals to the punch last week by getting Frazier and two relievers. It’s possible that Red Sox GM Dan Dombrowski still tries to make a deal before the July 31 deadline, but for now he’s going to throw heralded 20-year- old Rafael Devers out there, the No. 3 rated prospect in all of baseball. That’s a lot to ask of a young kid: contribute immediately in a pennant race. Last year, Boston did the same thing with Yoan Moncada and he was overwhelmed and since trade to the White Sox. Two weeks ago, the Boston Red Sox had no urge to call up Devers. In fact, the last thing they wanted, according Dombrowski, was to thrust a 20-year- old third baseman into the middle of a pennant race. What changed? In the past two weeks, Devers has been promoted to Triple-A, where he notched three more hits Sunday and was 14-for- 35 (.400) in nine games overall. He previously batted .300 and slugged .575 over his first 77 games with Double-A Portland this season. Devers has 20 homers and 60 RBIs in 322 at-bats in the Minors this season. He should join the team Monday and get his first start Tuesday. At least initially, the left-handed- hitting Devers will start against most right-handed pitchers, and Deven Marrero will get most of the playing time at third against lefties. Brock Holt will roam around the infield but still get some time at third base as well. By calling up Devers, the Red Sox might be able to focus their attention on upgrading the bullpen before the trade deadline.First MLB Series This Season
The Mariners visited Boston from May 26-28 and lost two of three. The opener was a 3-0 Red Sox win. Eduardo Rodriguez pitched six scoreless innings. He gave up five hits and struck out four. The only run support Rodriguez needed came in the second inning, when Hanley Ramirez scored on Josh Rutledge's RBI groundout. Boston added two more runs in the sixth, scoring on a wild pitch and passed ball. In Game 2, Boston won 6-0. Brian Johnson pitched a five-hitter in his first big league appearance at Fenway. The 26-year- old left-hander became the first Red Sox pitcher to throw a shutout in his first Fenway start since Pedro Martinez on April 11, 1998. Xander Bogaerts’ RBI single triggered a three-run first inning and Jackie Bradley hit a two-run homer in the sixth. Seattle avoided a sweep with a 5-0 win in the finale. Christian Bergman threw seven shutout innings. Bergman allowed four hits, walked two and struck out two. He got a lot of help from his infielders when they turned a double play in each of the first four innings. Robinson Cano hit a two-run homer and Guillermo Heredia a solo shot for the Mariners.
Probable Pitchers
It’s lefty Rodriguez on Monday for Boston vs. fellow lefty James Paxton. Rodriguez (4-2, 3.66) allowed three runs on six hits and four walks while striking out eight batters over 5.1 innings during last Monday’s loss to Toronto. He didn’t factor into the decision. It was Rodriguez’s first start since June 1 because of a stint on the disabled list with a knee injury. Paxton (9-3, 3.05) has been back on his game in July, going 4-0 with a 2.05 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings over four starts. He held the Astros to one run in seven innings in his last outing. He’s 1-0, 0.56 ERA in two career starts vs. Boston. Lefty Drew Pomeranz (10-4, 3.51) goes Tuesday for the Sox. Pomeranz allowed only one unearned run on three hits and five walks over 6.2 innings in Wednesday’s 5-1 win over the Blue Jays. He struck out three. In his last 11 starts, Pomeranz is 7-1 with a 2.64 ERA. In nine road starts, Pomeranz is 4-2 with a 3.06 ERA. Seattle ace Felix Hernandez has a 1.00 ERA over his last three starts with just 11 hits and 22 strikeouts in 18 innings. This will be his first time facing Boston this year, but he’s 8-4 with a 3.90 ERA in 18 career starts against the Sox. In the finale, it’s Sox ace lefty Chris Sale (12-4, 2.48). Sale fired six innings of scoreless baseball Friday against the Angels, allowing just four hits, walking two and striking out nine en route to the win. Sale reached 200 strikeouts in only 141.1 innings this season, faster than any AL pitcher ever. Randy Johnson did it in 143 innings in 1995, and Pablo Martinez got to 200 in 147 innings in 1999. Seattle’s Andrew Moore will make his sixth career start as he looks to shake off back-to- back rough outings as he’s allowed 10 runs over nine innings. Moore has surrendered nine homers in 30 innings on the year.Latest MLB Series Trends
- Red Sox are 1-4 ATS in the last 5 games on the road
- Red Sox are 1-4 SU in the last 5 games on the road
- The total went OVER in 4 of Boston’s last 6 games on the road
- Mariners are 3-12 ATS in the last 15 games at home
- Mariners are 3-12 SU in the last 15 games at home
- The total went UNDER in 4 of Seattle’s last 6 games at home
