The Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays play Game 2 of their series later tonight with Rick Porcello and Chris Archer each looking to notch a win in their last starts of the month. Read on for a breakdown of this game. Also check out our preview of Cubs vs. Reds.
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For most of the season, the Red Sox have relied on their offense to carry them to victories. They may need their batters to go nuts at the plate again later tonight with the struggling Rick Porcello (8-2, 3.93 ERA) pitching.
Porcello’s numbers have continued to worsen following an impressive April in which he went 5-0 with a 2.76 ERA in five starts. Since then, Porcello went 2-2 (4.65 ERA) in May and 1-0 with a 4.45 ERA this month. In his most recent start, Porcello allowed four earned runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings of an 8-7 win over the White Sox on June 23.
Obviously, the offense saved Porcello from picking up a loss in that game and the Red Sox look to supply the righty with an ample amount of runs for him to manage.
So far this season, Porcello is getting 7.28 RS/9 from Boston’s offense.
David Ortiz is a prime candidate to deal damage to Tampa Bay later tonight, considering his excellent 11-for-29 (.379) career batting line with three doubles and 14 RBI against Rays starter Chris Archer.
Boston is 6-1 in its last seven games against the Rays when Chris Archer is the starter.
Betting on the Tampa Bay Rays
Not much is going Chris Archer’s way this season. He is 4-10 with a 4.70 ERA. He’s picked up a loss in each of his past three starts, which includes the 6-1 loss to Cleveland on June 22, wherein Archer allowed four earned runs on six hits in six innings of action.
Facing Boston’s deadly offense later tonight, Archer will have to come into Game 2 in top form. What’s more troubling for the Rays is that they can’t even say with a straight face that they trust their bullpen to silence Boston once it’s the relievers turn on the mound. Tampa Bay’s bullpen is 24th in the majors with a 4.33 ERA and owns the third-highest home-run-per-nine-innings ratio with 1.92.
Tampa Bay’s hitters, however, can jump early on Porcello to back Archer some runs. Porcello has been bad in the early innings, as he has a 4.20 ERA in first innings, 3.60 ERA in second innings, and 6.00 ERA in third innings.
Logan Forsythe is 5-for-14 (.357 ) lifetime with a triple and two walks against Porcello
