Hot-hitting Masataka Yoshida will be looking to extend his 15-game hitting streak as the Boston Red Sox (20-14) match up against the Philadelphia Phillies (15-18) at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday. The Red Sox took Friday’s series opener 5-3, their seventh straight victory overall.
Chris Sale got the win, allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings and striking out 10, and Kenley Jansen struck out the side in the ninth to pick up his seventh save. Enmanuel Valdez was 2 for 3 with one RBI in the win. Nick Castellanos went 2 for 4 with a double, one run, and one RBI for the Phillies.
ON THE MOUND
Corey Kluber (1-4, 6.44 ERA) is set for the start for Boston. The right-hander allowed three runs over 5.1 innings in his last start, a 6-5 road win over the Blue Jays on Monday. He scattered five hits while striking out seven and walking four in the no-decision.
For Philadelphia, lefty Bailey Falter (0-5, 5.01 ERA) will toe the rubber. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Red Sox. In his last start on Sunday, Falter took the loss on the road against the Astros. He threw 4.1 innings and gave up four runs on eight hits, striking out three and walking three in the 4-3 defeat.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Boston has averaged 7.4 runs a game, up from their season average of 5.9, while performing better across the board (.355/.388/.570).
Against southpaws like Falter this season, the Sox have a .754 OPS. Yoshida is the team’s most productive hitter against left-handers with a .846 OPS in 29 at-bats.
Philadelphia is averaging only 3.4 runs per game in the last five, down slightly from 4.2 for the season. The Phils have a .774 OPS against right-handers in 2023. With a 1.012 OPS over 67 at-bats, Brandon Marsh has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Boston is 7-7 in away games in 2023, scoring 5.4 runs per game while allowing 4.9 runs. Philadelphia has gone 8-6 at home this season, averaging 4.5 runs per game while surrendering 3.8. Boston is 7-3 in the last 10 games at Citizens Bank Park between the teams with an average scoreline of 4.6-3.5.
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.
