The New York Mets and Boston Red Sox will take the field on Saturday at Fenway Park. First pitch is at 4:10 p.m. ET.
New York (45-51 SU and 38-58 RL) is starting righty Max Scherzer. The 38-year-old is 8-3 with a 3.99 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 17 outings this season.
Boston (51-46 SU and 51-46 RL) is countering with lefty James Paxton. The 34-year-old is 5-2 with a 3.51 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP in his 11 starts.
The Mets are slight favorites and the game total is nine runs scored.
NY dropped four straight against San Diego and Los Angeles but has responded, winning three of its last four prior to its series with Boston. The Mets are six games under .500 and seven games out of the Wild Card chase.
New York averages 4.44 runs (18th) and hits .237 (21st) with a .718 OPS (19th). It's hit 121 home runs (10th) and stolen 76 bases (11th) this season. The Mets' pitching staff has compiled a 4.36 ERA (18th) and a 1.34 WHIP (21st) with 30 quality starts (21st).
Okay, Omar! ?? pic.twitter.com/zbrZPMCt69
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 20, 2023
Scherzer will take the hill for the visitors on Saturday. The 16th-year veteran sports a 107:26 K:BB ratio this season. He bounced back from a poor start in San Diego (five runs on six hits and two HRs) with a one-hitter in seven frames vs. LA. It was the first outing he's made since June 1st that he didn't give up a home run.