Red Sox Series Preview: Rays’ first 2015 visit to Fenway

Apr 23, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz (11) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Pitching Matchups

Monday May 4, 7:10 p.m.

Jake Odorizzi (2-2, 2.41)  vs. Clay Buchholz (1-3, 5.76)

• This is Odorizzi’s second start against Boston this year.  On April 23 in Tampa, he dominated the Red Sox, surrendering just three hits and one run, walking three and striking out three in a no-decision.  The Rays have scored just eight runs in his five starts, not more than two in any of them.
• Buchholz’ last start could not have been more disappointing.  Entering the third inning with a 4-0 lead, he inexplicably walked the eighth place hitter and could not get out of the inning.  In 2.2 innings, he allowed six hits, four earned runs, walked one and struck out four.  Considering the way Odorizzi has pitched this year, Buchholz will need to be on his A game for them to have a chance.

Tuesday May 5, 7:10 p.m.

Drew Smyly (0-0, 3.38)  vs. Rick Porcello (2-2, 5.34)

• The left hander Smyly has been sharp in his two starts this season.  In his last start vs. the Yankees, he struck out ten batters while walking just one, allowing just two solo home runs.  On the season, he has walked just one batter, while striking out 15, in his 10.2 innings of work.
• Porcello is coming off perhaps his sharpest start of the season, allowing just two hits and one earned run in seven innings of work against the offensive juggernaut that is Toronto.  This started a run of effective starts by Red Sox starters, he looks to continue on this night.

Wednesday May 6, 7:10 p.m.

Alex Colome (1-0, 0.00) vs. Justin Masterson (2-0, 4.71)

• Colome will be making just his second start of the season.  His first outing was a five inning scoreless start vs. the Orioles.  He allowed just three hits, issued no walks and struck out six batters
• Masterson is coming off a good start off the Yankees on May 1 in which he was leading when he departed the game, 2-1  but the bullpen could not hold the lead.  His final line was six innings pitched, two earned run on six hits, three walks and two strikeouts.  Masterson’s previous start was a seven inning three earned run effort.  He has pitched better than his ERA, allowing more than three runs only once this season.

May 3, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe (11) hits a RBI single during the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Rays Key Players to Watch

• Evan Longoria still has only one home run this year to go along with five RBI. At the time the Red Sox last saw him, he was hitting just .205, but in the three games after the Red Sox left Tampa, he broke out with an 11 for 15 run of hits. He has cooled off since, going hitless in his last two games in Baltimore, but he still has a .274/.386/.405 batting line. Teams routinely pitch around him as he does not have a lot of protection in their batting order. The Red Sox will not take him lightly, and will certainly not want him to be the one that beats them in this series. Longoria was three for 11 with two runs scored and a double in the earlier series vs. Boston.
• Logan Forsythe, the Rays’ super-utility guy starting games at first base, second base and third base already in this young season, is having the season of his career. His .296/.374/.481 is the best of his career. He already has two homers on the season, when his previous season high was six. He has 11 RBI (tied for the team lead) on the season, when his previous season high was 26. Forsythe went three for eight, with four walks, and three RBI in the previous series with Boston.
• Kevin Kiermaier is one the Rays most exciting young players. While he only has two homers and seven RBI on the season, he leads the Rays in OPS with .860 (.296/.324/.535). He has excellent speed, yet has not mastered the skill of stealing bases, still looking for his first one of the season. His two triples and seven doubles can attest to his outstanding speed. A double digit figure in the triples category this season  is not out of the question.  Kiermaier was one for six in the earlier series against Boston.

May 2, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart (23) gets a hit during the 5th inning against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. The Yankees won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Red Sox players to watch

Blake Swihart may have only two major league games under his belt, but his debut at Fenway has generated excitement for the arrival of perhaps their best prospect, and the best catching prospect in the majors. Swihart’s motoring around the bases on Saturday after noon to score on a Mookie Betts double thrilled fans with the athleticism he showed scoring all the way from first base. It seems that Swihart has been thrust into the first string role as long as Ryan Hanigan is out. This is sooner than the Red Sox might have wanted but his poise thus far has shown that he is not overwhelmed by the big league stage. How he develops could be the storyline of the summer if this team continues to flounder.

Mookie Betts might be only hitting around .220, but along with Swihart, he is an exciting young player that fans want to see. He is second on the team with 15 RBI (driving in runs in five straight games.) and second in runs with 13 and first in steals with five. Considering he just started playing center field last year, he is as exciting on defense as he is on the offensive side. He was seven for his last 21 going into last night’s game with three doubles, so he is getting his average back up to the lofty heights where Red Sox fans hope it will stay.

Hanley Ramirez has provided the power the Red Sox hoped for when they signed him to a four year $88 million contract. He has cooled off over the last few days, but his ten April homers tied a team record in that category. Fans are hoping he gets back to his slugging ways and provides the offense that was barely there in the Yankees series.

Apr 19, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Rick Porcello (22) delivers against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Prediction

The Red Sox will right the ship.  After a sweep at the hands of the Yankees, the Red Sox are sure to have a chip on their collective shoulder so they should come out in this series with guns blazing.  In a three series homestand, the Red Sox certainly don’t want to have two out of three losing series.  This will be at least a series win, perhaps even a sweep.

The bats should come alive.  Perhaps last night’s Napoli home run can get him going toward more production.  They are now four games behind the Yankees and though the Yankees might not be spectacular they don’t want a huge deficit to make up at any time in the season.  The time is now to get things rolling.

Though the Rays are ahead in the standings, the Red Sox have all the tools to get some wins and get back into the thick of the upper reaches of the American League East.