The Boston Red Sox are looking to do something Tuesday that they haven’t done all season: win four consecutive games.
They’ll have their hottest pitcher on the mound, as rookie phenom Eduardo Rodriguez will take the ball against his former team, as Boston opens a three-game series in Baltimore with the Orioles. Rodriguez enters Tuesday’s start with a 2-0 record and a microscopic 0.61 ERA. Rodriguez has been especially tough against right-handers early in his big league career. He’s limiting right-handed hitters to a .081 batting average.
According to Elias and per the Red Sox game notes, Rodriguez is the first pitcher in the modern era (since 1900) who’s gone at least seven innings, allowed no more than three hits and one run in each of his first two starts.
Offensively, the Red Sox should lean heavily on shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who’s been one of the best players at that position this season. Bogaerts also is among baseball’s hottest hitters right now, hitting .483 (14-for-29) since May 31, a mark that’s best in the majors. He now ranks first among American League shortstops in on-base percentage and batting average.
Baltimore right-hander Miguel Gonzalez has impressive numbers against the Red Sox for his career. He’s 5-1 with a 3.17 ERA in 10 career appearances versus Boston.
RED SOXÂ (27-31)
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Brock Holt, RF
Hanley Ramirez, LF
David Ortiz, DH
Mike Napoli, 1B
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Mookie Betts, CF
Blake Swihart, C
Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP (2-0, 0.61 ERA)
ORIOLES (26-30)
Manny Machado, 3B
Delmon Young, RF
Adam Jones, CF
Matt Wieters, C
Chris Davis, DH
Nolan Reimold, LF
Steve Pearce, 1B
J.J. Hardy, SS
Ryan Flaherty, 2B
Miguel Gonzalez, RHP (5-4, 3.54 ERA)
Thumbnail photo via Tim Heitman/USA TODAY Sports Images
