Red Sox Series Preview: Vs. Minnesota Twins

May 23, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Minnesota Twins center fielder

(32) catches a fly ball hit by Chicago White Sox center fielder

(1) in the eighth inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Red Sox (21-23) go back on the road and start their three-game series against the Minnesota Twins (25-18), tonight. While the Red Sox are 5-5 in their last 10 games, they won their series against the Los Angeles Angels by winning their last two games, handily. The Twins are also winners of their last two games, going 7-3 in their last 10.

The Twins are only three games back of the American League Central division leaders, the Kansas City Royals, and will look to improve their strong home record (14-6) at the expense of Boston’s brethren. The Red Sox are an even .500 on the road, so you never quite know what you’ll get from them. It should be an interesting matchup, considering two out of three games will be during the early afternoon, instead of night games.

Let’s look at the tale of the tape:

**All statistics are from MLB.com

May 22, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Phil Hughes (45) throws against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Pitching Matchups @ Twins (Target Field)

May 25th @ 2:10 PM ET;

• Joe Kelly (1-3, 5.13 ERA) vs. Ricky Nolasco (4-1, 6.00 ERA)
• After four games where he gave up at least five runs apiece, Kelly has had two solid starts that combined for allowing only three runs. Yet, he had a no-decision and a loss in that stretch. If the offense doesn’t pick up, it won’t matter if Kelly has turned the corner on his season.
• The righty Nolasco has only one start where he allowed less than three runs, when he blanked the Detroit Tigers, a high-octane team, in Michigan. His last outing, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, was less successful, allowing 10 hits and three earned runs in 5.2 innings. In that two-game span, Nolasco struck out a combined 15 batters, showing that, whether he bleeds runs or not, he can impose his will on starting lineups. If the Red Sox can get their bats on the ball, though, it should be an early night for Nolasco.

May 26th @ 8:10 PM ET;

• Clay Buchholz (2-5, 4.58 ERA) vs. Mike Pelfrey (3-1, 3.00 ERA)
• In his last three starts, Buchholz is 1-1, allowing a combined six runs. Each game saw the Red Sox in the fray, but the team’s offense came up short of helping their starting pitcher to victory. All three games saw Buchholz go deep into the frames, playing a combined 21.2 out of a possible 27 innings. That’s the kind of performance that people expected from him; now, it’s time for the bats to do their job to support him.
• Pelfrey, a right-hander, is much stronger at home (2.35 ERA) than away (3.34 ERA). Other than the pounding that he took in Detroit, allowing four runs on 10 hits in 4.2 innings, Pelfrey has been consistent. He has never given up more than two runs in the other six of the last seven games, including blanking the AL Central leaders, the Royals. Not a big strikeout total per game, but Pelfrey’s hit total is also down. Look for balls to be in play for the Red Sox, and let’s see if the defense holds them or not.

May 27th @ 1:10 PM ET;

• Rick Porcello (4-3, 5.07 ERA) vs. Phil Hughes (3-4, 4.50 ERA)
• What should we say? Porcello was dominating in his last four starts, earning three out of four wins, before his last game against the L.A. Angels. In this last start, Porcello allowed seven earned runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings of work. Granted, the defense could have been better, that night; however, Porcello could have recovered and not let it get to him. Your guess is as good as anybody’s which Porcello we will see, tonight.
• Hughes is no stranger to the Red Sox, with most of his career spent playing with the New York Yankees. No real home-field advantage for Hughes, as the righty has a 5.11 ERA at Target Field, this season. However, Hughes has had back-to-back strong starts, recently, allowing only a combined four runs and pitched into the eighth innings. Again, not a strong strikeout total, as he has not relied on it to get the job done. Meanwhile, his hit totals verge on double digits in most of his appearances. Again, the defense will be key in this game.

May 23, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman

(12) is greeted at the dugout by third baseman

(48) after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Red Sox’ Key Players To Watch:

• First baseman Mike Napoli went nuclear on Angels’ pitching, in the last two games, hitting three home runs and seven RBIs. With a .429 batting average, five home runs, and 10 RBIs in the last seven games, Napoli is the hottest thing in Boston. But, that was in Boston. His hot streak only brought his season batting average to .203 last night, with a .149 average for away games. Has the real Napoli arrived for the Red Sox, or were the last few days a flash in the pan?

• Shortstop Xander Bogaerts can relate to Napoli’s success. Bogaerts went 4-for-4 at the plate, yesterday, with a home run and three RBIs in his last seven games. He leads the team with a .455 batting average in that stretch, but he has only .290 for the season. Sadly, that average still leads all of the starters on the team. In Bogaerts’ case, if you told him that he would be hitting this well before the season started, he would have been a very happy man, considering his dismal .240 average in 2014. Let’s see if he can improve on an already more successful campaign.

• Right fielder Rusney Castillo is not on this list because of his excellent play. In fact, he has only earned a hit three times in 12 at-bats, with no big displays of power or RBI potential, since being called up from Triple-A. He was brought up to replace veteran Shane Victorino, while he is out injured; yet, Castillo makes some big money, himself. The Red Sox are expected to pay $60.4 million until 2020 for Castillo’s services. It’s only been a few games, and the man needs time to adjust to big-league pitching, but the Red Sox will expect an immediate return on their investment, if they sit or trade Victorino for playing Castillo. The time is now for Castillo to show why there was so much hype for him, before the season started.

May 20, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Minnesota Twins right fielder

(48) hits a three run double against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning of an inter-league game at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Twins’ Key Players To Watch:

• Right fielder Torii Hunter is not new to the Red Sox, either. At least, not the lower half of him. It’s been two years since Hunter fell over the right field wall in Fenway Park, displaying what the tops of his cleats looked like, to the delight of a very enthusiastic police officer and the Fenway faithful. However, that was the 2013 post-season Hunter with the Detroit Tigers. This is the 2015 Hunter from the Twins, and he is definitely no joke. Hunter is hitting .287, with seven home runs and 26 RBIs, this season. In his last seven games, Hunter has a home run and five RBIs, batting .300, and looking like an All-Star who is carrying his team on offense. If Red Sox Nation laughed at him, before, they better not laugh at him now.

• Second baseman Brian Dozier either strikes out or makes opposing pitchers pay for mistakes. It’s that simple. In his last seven games, Dozier has nine strikeouts and is hitting a mere .182, while earning three home runs and five RBIs. His slugging is at .636, making every pitch that he actually touches look scorched off of his bat. Easy out or deep threat? Let’s find out!

• Third baseman Trevor Plouffe is leading the team in batting average (.353) in the last seven games. He has a home run, four walks, and four RBIs in that stretch. With a keener eye than Dozier, Plouffe may be the hottest Twin, besides Hunter, on the team, right now, with a .706 slugging percentage.