The Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles continue their crucial three-game series in Baltimore on Saturday. The two teams have flipped positions in the AL East standings in recent weeks and the Orioles now find themselves out in front of Boston with just over sixty games left in the season. Both teams still have a legitimate shot at one of the three wildcard spots in the American League. On the mound on Saturday afternoon will be veteran right-hander Michael Wacha (7-1, 2.44) of the Red Sox taking on fellow righty Kyle Bradish (1-4, 6,38). First pitch is scheduled for 4:05pm EST.
The message the Red Sox brass sent out at the trade deadline was much like the team's season: inconsistent. While the team added Reds outfielder Tommy Pham and Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer, starting catcher Christian Vasquez was dealt and the team didn't add any much needed pitching. The Red Sox have played inconsistent baseball all season long as they've dealt with a variety of injuries, particularly to their pitching staff. Now, with the returns of Kike Hernandez to their lineup and pitchers Michael Wacha, Rich Hill and Nathan Eovaldi back to the starting rotation, the Red Sox have picked up their play recently. The Sox head into this matchup with Baltimore winners of two-straight series. On Friday night, in the series opener against the O's, the Sox bats were ready but the team's pitching was not. Starter Kutter Crawford gave up 11 hits and 9 runs in just 3.2 innings and the Sox bullpen was not much better as the team allowed 18 hits and 15 runs in a 15-10 loss.
Doubling down. pic.twitter.com/Y5bfaCNlNG
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 18, 2022
Since the all-star break, the Red Sox have gone just 11-15 heading into Friday night's game. Since the August 3rd trade deadline, the team has gone just 6-8. Still, Boston finds itself within striking distance of the third and final wildcard spot. With the return of Kike Hernandez, the insertion of Tommy Pham at the top of the order, and Eric Hosmer holding down first base, the Red Sox may finally have the type of lineup that can score more consistently and the type of outfield that can take hits away from the opposition. On the mound on Saturday will be one of the Sox newly returning pitchers, Michael Wacha. Wacha has had an outstanding first-season for the Sox and bounced back from arm fatigue in his last start to dominate the Yankees. Wacha went seven innings, allowed just two hits, no runs and struck out a season-high nine batters. Wacha has yet to face the Orioles this season.