Both teams are 3-2 in their last 5 and trending the right way. The Orioles just wrapped a 10-game homestand by taking 7, including a series win over the AL East-leading Blue Jays. Boston, meanwhile, took 2 of 3 in Cleveland to crawl back toward respectability after the Braves dropped a 10-2 hammer on them last Thursday. The Sox are still just 9-19 at Fenway, which is the genuinely weird stat in this whole game.
The injury lists are where this matchup gets ugly fast. Baltimore is missing Mountcastle, Westburg (Tommy John), Eflin (also Tommy John), Bautista, Kremer, Povich — basically half a rotation and a third of a lineup. Boston isn't faring much better with Crochet shut down again with lat tightness, Story out 6-10 weeks after sports hernia surgery, Roman Anthony shut down from swinging, and Contreras and Rafaela both day-to-day. Whoever can patch together 9 healthy hitters wins half the battle.
- Day-To-DayLevi Wells (P) — Wells underwent successful core-muscle surgery Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.05/28
- Day-To-DayRichard Guasch (SP) — no05/08
- Day-To-DayWill Robertson (LF) — The Orioles reassigned Robertson to minor-league camp Wednesday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayLuis Vazquez (SS) — Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said Monday that Vazquez has been diagnosed with a broken right thumb, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILDylan Beavers (RF) — Beavers (oblique) hit in the batting cage Wednesday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.05/27
- 15-Day-ILRyan Helsley (RP) — Helsley (elbow) said Sunday that he's scheduled to complete a few more bullpen sessions and will gradually ramp up the intensity of his throwing before he resumes facing hitters, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.05/31
- 15-Day-ILCade Povich (SP) — Povich (elbow) met with Dr. Keith Meister on Tuesday and is without an official timetable for his return after receiving a cortisone injection, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.05/19
- 60-Day-ILDean Kremer (SP) — The Orioles transferred Kremer (quadriceps) to the 60-day injured list Friday, MLB.com reports.05/31
- 60-Day-ILColin Selby (RP) — Selby was recently evaluated by Dr. Chris Looze in Baltimore due to ongoing symptoms with his injured right shoulder, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.05/19
- 60-Day-ILRyan Mountcastle (1B) — General manager Mike Elias said Friday that Mountcastle is expected to return sometime in late June or July, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.05/15
- 60-Day-ILJordan Westburg (3B) — Westburg (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Andrew Golden of TheBanner.com reports.05/15
- 60-Day-ILYaramil Hiraldo (RP) — The Orioles announced Monday that Hiraldo (shoulder) has resumed a throwing program, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.05/11
- 60-Day-ILZach Eflin (SP) — Eflin underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Wednesday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILFelix Bautista (RP) — Bautista (shoulder) threw a baseball Tuesday for the first time since undergoing surgery last August, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayWillson Contreras (1B) — Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said that Contreras is being held out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians while he manages a lingering wrist/hand injury, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.05/31
- Day-To-DayCeddanne Rafaela (CF) — Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said that Rafaela was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians due to a sore lower back, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.05/31
- Day-To-DayHobie Harris (RP) — Harris was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILRoman Anthony (LF) — Anthony (finger) felt discomfort while hitting off a tee Thursday and has been shut down from swinging, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.05/29
- 10-Day-ILTrevor Story (SS) — Story underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia Thursday and will be sidelined 6-10 weeks, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.05/22
- 15-Day-ILGarrett Crochet (SP) — Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Sunday that Crochet (shoulder) began experiencing lat tightness over the past few days and will have his throwing program shut down for the time being, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.05/31
- 15-Day-ILGarrett Whitlock (RP) — Whitlock (knee) threw from flat ground Thursday but has been shut down after experiencing discomfort, MLB.com reports.05/30
- OutBrendan Rodgers (2B) — Rodgers (shoulder) re-signed Friday with the Red Sox on a two-year, minor-league contract, Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.com reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILTriston Casas (1B) — Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told reporters Wednesday that Casas (abdomen/knee) is close to being cleared to swing a bat, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.05/27
- 60-Day-ILPatrick Sandoval (SP) — Sandoval (biceps/elbow) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.05/27
- 60-Day-ILRomy Gonzalez (1B) — Gonzalez (shoulder) has started hitting flips, MLB.com reports.05/24
- 60-Day-ILKutter Crawford (SP) — no05/22
- 60-Day-ILTanner Houck (SP) — Houck (elbow) has been making throws out to 105 feet three days per week, MLB.com reports.05/15
- 60-Day-ILJohan Oviedo (SP) — Oviedo (elbow) will be reevaluated by Dr. Keith Meister in two weeks to determine his progress, Marcos Grunfeld of ElEmergente.com reports.05/08
Pinnacle has the Sox at -129 with a total of 8.5. That feels about right — Fenway is Fenway, Early has earned the chalk, and the Orioles bullpen behind Baz is the soft spot. But if Baz keeps doing what he did to Tampa, this turns into a 3-2 game in the 7th real quick, and at that point it's whichever lineup blinks first.