Red Sox Series Preview: A Test In Tampa

Jun 23, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) smiles in the dugout during the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Pitcher Matchups @ Rays (Tropicana Field)

June 26 @ 7:10 PM ET

• Rick Porcello (4-8, 5.61 ERA) vs. Alex Colome (3-3, 4.50 ERA)
• Porcello is 1-6 in his last seven starts. If you haven’t swallowed your tongue yet, just know that he has given up 15 runs in his last three games, all for losses. He’s given up 24 runs in 16.2 innings, so expect more of the runs bleeding, even against the Rays less-than-potent offense.
• Take what you will from these facts: Colome is 3-3 in 11 starts. He has given up 28 runs in 56 innings this season. Does it not give fans a warm feeling when their pitcher gives up less runs than the amount of innings that he pitches?

June 27 @ 4:10 PM ET

• Wade Miley (7-6, 4.50 ERA) vs. Matt Andriese (2-2, 3.79 ERA)
• In his last two starts, Miley has won both games and allowed only two runs on 10 hits. After his blowup with manager John Farrell in the dugout a few weeks ago, Miley has been one of the bright spots on the mound. Could this be a sign of his time in Boston becoming more successful at a more consistent rate?
• Andriese is 2-1 in his last three games. After dominating the Chicago White Sox and the Washington Nationals, blanking both, he hosted the Toronto Blue Jays whom knocked him around for four runs on five hits in under six innings.

June 28 @ 1:10 PM ET

• Justin Masterson (2-2, 6.37 ERA) vs. Chris Archer (9-4, 2.10 ERA)
• Masterson’s statistics with the Red Sox are pointless, as he is returning from the disabled list and hoping to put his major league troubles behind him. Instead of the bullpen, where he may still end up, Masterson is taking over for Joe Kelly‘s start, after Kelly was sent down to Pawtucket on Thursday.
• And what a welcome to the starting role for Masterson, as he gets to battle Archer, one of the best MLB pitchers around. Archer pretty much dismantled and baffled the Blue Jays’ high-impact offense, which seems like an ill omen for the Red Sox this Sunday.

Jun 18, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder

(26) and center fielder

(50) celebrate a victory against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. The Red Sox defeated the Braves 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Red Sox Key Players To Watch:

• Center fielder Mookie Betts has been on an absolute tear, recently, hitting .462 with two home runs and five RBIs in the last seven games. With a stolen base and incredible defense to his credit, Betts is performing like the leader nobody expected him to be so soon. Especially since weeks earlier people were writing him off for a move back to Pawtucket, after struggling in May.

• Left fielder Hanley Ramirez was the only Red Sox batter hotter than Betts with the bat, hitting .529 in the same stretch while also earning two home runs and five RBIs. Getting hit by a bashed ball while running from first to second may have momentarily slowed him down, keeping out of last night’s game against the Orioles, but he should quickly return. According to Gordon Edes of ESPN, “X-rays and a CT scan came back negative, and while there was still swelling and Ramirez wore a brace, the Red Sox left fielder avoided the disabled list and is considered day-to-day.”

• Outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. made his return from Triple-A last night, filling in by playing right field while Alejandro De Aza played left field for the injured Ramirez. Bradley has always been known for his amazing defensive plays, while his offense had much to improve upon for him to be taken seriously by MLB starting pitchers. In last night’s game, he went 2-for-4 which is impressive in his first game back; however, as always, his defense was the real story: