The Boston Red Sox will look to expand their lead atop the American League East (over the Yanks) when they take on the Detroit Tigers in a three-game series at Comerica Park. The Tigers, meanwhile, aim to start the second half of the season with something positive.
Starters: David Price (10-6, 4.42 ERA) vs. Matthew Boyd (4-8, 4.76 ERA)
Pitching:
In his most recent start, Price allowed three earned runs on six hits while striking out eight batters in 6.2 innings of a 6-4 win at home against Toronto on Jul. 12. He is 5-4 with a 4.96 ERA in 11 road starts so far this year. The Tigers are 0-5 in Boyd’s last five starts. Boyd, however, is 3-2 with a 3.57 ERA in eight starts at Comerica Park this season.
Hitting:
Victor Martinez is 8-for-17 with three homers vs. Price.
Mitch Moreland is 5-for-14 with a home run vs. Boyd.
Writer’s Prediction:
Boston wins, 6-4.
Game 2, Saturday, July 21, 6:10PM
Starters: Brian Johnson (1-2, 4.20 ERA) vs. Mike Fiers (6-6, 3.70 ERA)
Pitching:
Johnson is set to make his fourth start of the season this Saturday against Detroit. In his last start, he gave up two earned runs on two hits in a 5-2 home win over Toronto on Jul. 15. Johnson has a 3.38 ERA in his three starts this year. As for Fiers, he has allowed more than one run just once over his last for starts. The Tigers are 7-3 in Fiers’ last 10 starts.
Hitting:
The current Tigers lineup is 8-for-27 vs. Johnson.
J.D. Martinez is 7-for-14 with two home runs vs. Fiers.
Writer’s Prediction:
Boston wins, 5-3.
Game 3, Sunday, July 22, 1:10PM
Starters: Chris Sale (10-4, 2.23 ERA) vs. Michael Fulmer (6-6, 3.70 ERA)
Pitching:
Sale has fanned at least 11 hitters in each of his last five starts, and he will look to extend that streak against the Tigers on Sunday. Sale is 3-0 with an insane 0.45 ERA in his his last three starts. Fulmer, meanwhile, isn’t as lucky (nor as good) as Sale of late. The Tigers are 0-5 in his last five starts and is coming off an ugly performance on Jul. 14, when he allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits in 4.2 innings of a 9-1 road loss to Houston.
Hitting:
Victor Martinez is 22-for-52 with four homers vs. Sale.
Xander Bogaerts is 3-for-6 vs. Fulmer.
Writer’s Prediction:
Boston wins, 7-3.
Writer’s Overall Series Prediction
The Red Sox extend their lead in the AL East by taking all three games from the Tigers at the midpoint series of the season.
