The Boston Red Sox (19-14) take one of the highest-scoring lineups in the league on the road to face the Philadelphia Phillies (15-17) at Citizens Bank Park on Friday for the first of a three-game Interleague series. The Red Sox just wrapped up a successful seven-game homestand (6-1).
They are coming off a four-game sweep of the Blue Jays, taking the finale 11-5 on Thursday at Fenway Park for their sixth straight win. Rafael Devers was 3 for 5 with a home run and a double. He had four RBIs. Masataka Yoshida also went 3 for 5 with a home run, three runs, and three RBIs.
The Phillies just wrapped up a rough six-game road trip (2-4). They are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the Dodgers, dropping the finale 10-6 on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium for their fourth straight loss.
Bryce Harper went 3 for 3 with a double and two runs. The teams are meeting for the first time since July 11, 2021, when the Phillies finished off a 2-1 series win with a 5-4 victory at Fenway Park.
ON THE MOUND
Chris Sale (2-2, 6.75 ERA) is set to start for Boston. The LHP allowed one run over 6.1 innings in his last start, a 7-1 road win over the Guardians on Sunday. He got the win, giving up three hits while striking out five.
For Philadelphia, RHP Zack Wheeler (3-1, 3.86 ERA) gets the ball. In his last start on Saturday, Wheeler got the win on the road against the Astros. He threw six scoreless innings and gave up three hits, striking out seven and walking one in the 6-1 triumph.
AT THE PLATE
The Boston offense is averaging 5.9 runs per game for the season, third best in MLB, with a slash line of .274/.345/.463. Yoshida leads the team in OPS at .948. The center fielder is slashing .317/.400/.548 with six home runs, 24 RBIs, and 21 runs over 27 games.
Over the last five games, however, Boston has averaged 7.8 runs a game while performing better across the board (.364/.415/.630). Against righties like Wheeler this season, the Sox have an .827 OPS, third highest in the league. Alex Verdugo is the team’s strongest hitter against right-handers with a .996 OPS in 83 at-bats.
Philadelphia is slashing .266/.323/.433 for the season and averaging 4.3 runs per game. Brandon Marsh leads the team with a 1.023 OPS. The outfield has four home runs, 14 RBIs, and 18 runs scored with a slash line of .326/.413/.611.
The Phils have a .707 OPS against lefties in 2023. With a 1.160 OPS over 32 at-bats, Edmundo Sosa has been their best hitter against left-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Boston is 6-7 on the road in 2023, scoring 5.5 runs per game while allowing 5.0 runs. Philadelphia has gone 8-5 at their home ballpark this season, averaging 4.6 runs per game while surrendering 3.7.
Boston is 6-4 in the last 10 games between the teams at Citizens Bank Park with an average scoreline of 4.1-3.3.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Red Sox are third in the AL East, seven games behind the division-leading Rays. The Phillies are fourth in the NL East, seven games behind the Braves.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Philadelphia Phillies (-155)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
