With the Indians in a bit of a funk right now, the pressure is on Trevor Bauer (9-8, 5.25 ERA) to deliver a great start for Cleveland tonight. The right-hander was superb in his last start against the Los Angeles Angels, pitching eight innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts. The Indians won that contest, 2-1. Boston is a whole different animal, though, and Bauer knows that fully well. In three career games against the Red Sox, Bauer has allowed 11 runs in 7.2 innings.
Bauer can’t do it all alone, though, and he needs the Cleveland hitters to step up their play tonight. The Indians have been outscored 18-12 during their two-game losing skid. One guy who needs to contribute for the Indians is Carlos Santana. He’s batting .320 in his last seven games for the AL Central leaders with three homers and six RBIs. Santana will be licking his chops at the prospect of facing Rick Porcello as he is 12-of-41 in his career against the scheduled Boston starter with three homers and four RBIs.
The Boston Red Sox made a dramatic return to the top of the AL East with a thrilling 12-10 come-from-behind victory over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday. Christian Vazquez delivered a three-run walkoff homer against Indians closer Cody Allen with two outs in the ninth to help the Red Sox move a half-game clear of the Yankees in the division standings. It was an incredible victory by the Red Sox who overcame poor performances by stalwarts Chris Sale and Craig Kimbrel.
The Red Sox will look to keep the momentum going when they lock horns with the Indians in the final game of their three-game set tonight. Pitching for Boston in this clash is Rick Porcello (4-14, 4.55 ERA). He struggled mightily in his last start against the Kansas City Royals, allowing four runs on six hits in seven innings of action. The Red Sox lost that ballgame. 4-2. They have now lost each of their last four outings with Porcello as their starter. So what’s going on with last year’s Cy Young winner? Porcello’s command has been off this season with the righty already giving up 25 homers this campaign, more than he gave up last season.
Given Porcello’s erratic form, the Red Sox’s offense will need to stand tall against the Indians tonight. One guy who’s swinging the bat well for Boston is rookie Rafael Devers. He has been on fire at the plate of late, batting .417 with two homers and four RBIs in his last six games for the Red Sox. Devers has also drawn a pair of walks during this span. He went 2-of-4 last night in the win against Cleveland.
Writer’s Prediction
The Red Sox (-119) complete the series sweep with a 6-4 win in the finale.
