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O's host Red Sox in critical AL East showdown
By: Staff Writer - StatFox
Published: 9/20/2016  at  12:36:00 PM
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By Brad Kallet

BOSTON RED SOX (86-64)

at BALTIMORE ORIOLES (82-68)

First pitch: Tuesday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Line: Boston +127, Baltimore -137, Total: 9.0

The Orioles, on life support in the American League East, look to even their four-game series with the Red Sox in Baltimore in a crucial divisional showdown.

In the opener of this four-game series, the Red Sox (86-64) beat the Orioles (82-68), 5-2, behind home runs from RF Mookie Betts (.314, 31 HR, 108 RBI) and DH David Ortiz (.317, 35 HR, 118 RBI). Baltimore mustered just four hits in the loss. Coming into Tuesday’s game, the first-place Red Sox hold a four-game lead over the Blue Jays and the Orioles, and the O’s are tied with the Jays for the first wild-card berth. After sweeping the Yankees this past weekend, John Farrell’s club is riding a five-game winning streak, and has gone 12-5 this month. The two clubs have split their 16 meetings this seasons, but Boston has gone 5-2 against the Orioles at Camden Yards. On the mound for the Red Sox on Tuesday night is LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2-7, 4.98 ERA, 1.34 WHIP). RHP Kevin Gausman (8-10, 3.43 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) will get the nod for the Orioles. The Sox have gone a very respectable 40-32 away from Fenway Park in 2016. Buck Showalter’s club has played brilliantly at home, going 47-28.

The Red Sox have arguably the best offense in baseball. Boston leads the American League in runs with 835—Cleveland, the next closest team, has 729—hits (1,509), doubles (331), average (.286), on-base percentage (.351) and slugging percentage (.470). In addition to Betts and Ortiz, C Sandy Leon (.333, 7 HR, 34 RBI), 2B Dustin Pedroia (.325, 13 HR, 67 RBI), LF Andrew Benintendi (.321, 1 HR, 10 RBI), SS Xander Bogaerts (.297, 20 HR, 88 RBI) and 1B Hanley Ramirez (.293, 28 HR, 106 RBI) have absolutely mashed. Betts (6-for-17 with 2 HR), Ortiz (8-for-21 with 2 HR) and Pedroia (6-for-20 with 1 HR) have hit Gausman very well. Rodriguez has faced the Orioles three times this season and has not fared particularly well, going 1-1 and surrendering seven earned runs in 14 1/3 innings. For his career, Rodriguez is 1-3 against the Orioles with a 4.30 ERA.

The Sox might have the most imposing lineup in the league, but the O’s can hit a little bit, too. Baltimore leads the AL in homers (237), is second in slugging percentage (.448) and is second in OPS (.766). 3B Manny Machado (.302, 36 HR, 93 RBI) has been the Orioles’ best player this season, and CF Adam Jones (.276, 28 HR, 81 RBI) has been his usual terrific self. RF Mark Trumbo (.250, 43 HR, 102 RBI) and 1B Chris Davis (.221, 38 HR, 82 RBI) have hit for low averages, but they’re first and fifth in the league in homers, respectively. In his last start against the Red Sox, on September 14th, Gausman threw eight scoreless innings. In his two previous starts against Boston, in May and June, he allowed a combined 11 earned runs in nine innings, losing both starts. For his career, Gausman is 2-3 against the Red Sox with a 4.33 ERA.


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