The Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates will close out a three-game interleague series on Thursday night at PNC Park. After winning the first two games of the series including an 8-3 triumph on Wednesday to cash in as a -157 favorite, the Red Sox will be going for the sweep. Boston has a lot of work to do in the Wild Card race at 59-59 on the season, while the Pirates are well out of contention at 45-72.
These teams last met in April of 2017, when the Red Sox rolled to a three-game sweep at home.
The Red Sox aren't quite done just yet as they improved to 5-1 over their past six games with Wednesday's easy triumph over the Pirates. Christian Arroyo hit a game-tying two-run double in the second before Enrique Hernandez added an RBI single later in the inning, with Kevin Plawecki hitting a two-run single for some late insurance in the ninth.
Rich Hill earned the win, allowing two runs on three hits and no walks while striking out four across five innings. Alex Verdugo went 3-3 with two walks, a double, an RBI and three runs scored.
Boston's offense has been solid overall, averaging 4.43 runs per game on a .719 team OPS. It's a different story for the pitching staff, which is sixth-worst in baseball at a 4.34 ERA including a mark of 4.42 from a shaky bullpen.
The Red Sox are still down on the money line for the season while going 61-5 7 on the run line. Overs are 52-56-10 for the Red Sox after Wednesday's game snapped a run of five straight unders or pushes.
Rafael Devers is enjoying another spectacular campaign at the dish, posting a .933 OPS with 25 homers and 62 driven in. Xander Bogaerts has also been effective with an .818 OPS, 49 homers and 63 driven in.
Nathan Eovaldi is set to make his 19th start, having gone 5-3 with a 4.15 ERA across 99.2 innings in a slight down year. The 32-year-old went six solid innings against the rival New York Yankees last Friday, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
Second baseman Trevor Story is still out of the lineup after undergoing wrist surgery. The rotation is down Brayan Bello (strained groin), James Paxton (Tommy John surgery) and Chris Sale (fractured wrist). Relievers Tyler Danish (elbow discomfort), Tanner Houck (back discomfort), Matt Strahm (wrist contusion) and Josh Taylor (back discomfort).