The Boston Red Sox (70-75) host the Kansas City Royals (58-88) at Fenway Park on Sunday with the three-game series even at 1-1. The Royals evened the series 1-1 after winning 9-0 on Saturday, their fourth head-to-head victory in six games this season. Starter Brady Singer threw six scoreless innings for the win. MJ Melendez was 3 for 5 with a double, four runs, and two RBIs in the win. Vinnie Pasquantino also went 3 for 5 with a double and three RBIs. Kike Hernandez went 2 for 3 for the Red Sox.
ON THE MOUND
Kris Bubic (2-12, 5.55 ERA) is slated to take the mound for Kansas City. The southpaw allowed five runs over five innings in his last start, a 6-3 home defeat against the Twins on Tuesday. He was charged with the loss, yielding 10 hits while striking out six and walking one. Bubic has made one previous start against the Red Sox this season, a 7-3 home victory on August 4. He surrendered two runs on four hits over six innings, striking out six and walking one. Right-hander Nick Pivetta (9-11, 4.31 ERA) will take the mound for Boston. He has made one prior start against the Royals this season, giving up three runs over five innings in a 7-3 road defeat on August 4. He gave up seven hits and walked one, while striking out five in the no-decision. In his last start on Tuesday, Pivetta took a no-decision at home against the Yankees. He threw 5.1 innings and gave up three runs on six hits, striking out five and walking two in the 7-6 defeat.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Kansas City has averaged 3.0 runs a game, a small drop compared to their season average of 3.9. Against right-handed pitchers like Pivetta this season, the Royals have a .665 OPS, fourth lowest in MLB. Bobby Witt Jr. is the team’s most productive hitter against right-handers with a .716 OPS in 396 at-bats. Boston is averaging only 2.4 runs per game in the last five, down from 4.5 for the season, with their slash line slipping across the board (.170/.253/.248). The Sox have a .757 OPS against southpaws in 2022. With a 1.012 OPS over 107 at-bats, Xander Bogaerts has been their best hitter against left-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Kansas City is 24-47 away from Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium in 2022, scoring 3.8 runs per game while allowing 5.0 runs. Boston has gone 36-37 at Fenway Park this season, averaging 4.6 runs per game while surrendering 5.1. In the last 10 meetings at Fenway Park, Boston is 8-2 with an average scoreline of 5.5-4.3.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Royals are fourth in the AL Central, 21 games behind the division-leading Guardians. The Red Sox are fifth in the AL East, 17 games behind the Yankees.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Boston Red Sox (-190)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
