All the information you need on how to watch or listen to the Boston Red Sox take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park on Sunday.
The Boston Red Sox aim to even the rain-shortened series with the Tampa Bay Rays in an afternoon game from Fenway Park on Sunday.
It’s a Sale Day, a notion that would typically fill the streets of Boston with giddy excitement. Except the ace hasn’t quite looked himself this year, forcing us to temper expectations. Heading into his sixth start of the season, Chris Sale is still seeking his first win and carries a cringe-worthy 7.43 ERA. He’s shown some encouraging signs of progress lately but the Red Sox will need Sale to be at the top of his game against the first-place Rays.
If Sale is going to carve up this Rays lineup, he’ll have to do it without his security blanket. Sandy Leon has caught both of Sale’s starts since being reinstated to the active roster and has been the ace’s personal battery mate for the majority of his time with the Red Sox. Not today though, as Christian Vazquez will be behind the plate today.
Wrapping up the series against Tampa.
— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 28, 2019
Your @ParkWhiz Lineup: pic.twitter.com/Qjx0J2BDTY
Is this a sign the Red Sox want to move away from assigning personal catchers to their pitching staff or are they simply looking for more offense? They may need a boost to their lineup with J.D. Martinez missing his second consecutive game with back spasms. Martinez wasn’t available to pinch-hit in yesterday’s one-run loss and it’s unclear if he’ll be an option off the bench today.
The undermanned offense will be tasked with facing Tyler Glasnow, who has been one of the league’s best pitchers this season. He’s 4-0 with a 1.53 ERA in five starts. He held the Red Sox to two runs over 5 1/3 innings in his last outing. Boston went on to win that game against a Rays bullpen they’ve had success against. When the Red Sox swept the Rays last weekend, all three losses were pinned on a reliever. They fell just shy of rallying late in yesterday’s game, leaving the tying run on base in the ninth. The key to this game will be getting Glasnow out early enough to exploit that bullpen.
The Red Sox trail the Rays by 6.5 games in the AL East and can’t afford to fall much further back. A win today puts them back in the race while a loss would undo much of the goodwill earned by sweeping the Rays in Tampa last weekend.
You don’t want to miss any of the action form today’s series finale so we’re here to provide you with all the details you need to tune in.
Game Info
Date: Sunday, April 28, 2019
First Pitch: 1:05 p.m. ET
Stadium: Fenway Park
Location: Boston, MA
Starting Pitchers: Chris Sale vs Tyler Glasnow
TV: NESN
Radio: WEEI
Live Stream: MLB.tv, NESNgo
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