How Good Are Red Sox? Weekend Series Vs. Surging Padres Is Strong Test

Just how good are the Boston Red Sox this season? We are about to find out thanks to their huge six-game road trip featuring a pair of playoff contenders.

Up first are the San Diego Padres (64-51), who are just two games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. The Padres also are in second place in the NL Wild Card standings.

The Padres are 9-2 in their last 11 games and have been the talk of baseball after loading up before the July 31 MLB trade deadline. Among their notable additions were All-Star closer Mason Miller and slugger Ryan O’Hearn.

“This is the deepest lineup I’ve ever been a part of,” O’Hearn said Wednesday, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.

Like Boston, San Diego is off Thursday, so here’s how the pitching probables are shaping up, according to Masslive.com’s Chris Cotillo: “Buehler-Pivetta, Giolito-King and Bello-Cease this weekend in what should be an entertaining series in SD.”

Friday

Walker Buehler, BOS: 6-6, 5.74 ERA

Nick Pivetta, SD: 11-3, 2.73 ERA

NOTE: Think the Red Sox regret letting Pivetta walk as a free agent last winter? His 11 wins are tied for second in the National League. His 2.73 ERA is seventh in the NL. Those 11 wins and 2.73 ERA also are career bests for the 32-year-old right-hander.

Saturday

Lucas Giolito, BOS: 8-2, 3.57 ERA

Michael King, SD: 4-2, 2.59 ERA

NOTE: King will be coming off the injured list to start for the Padres. The former New York Yankees right-hander has been out since mid-May with a nerve injury.

Sunday

Brayan Bello, BOS: 8-5, 3.03 ERA

Dylan Cease, SD: 4-10, 4.60 ERA

NOTE: The Padres shopped Cease before the trade deadline. Among the many clubs linked to the 29-year-old right-hander were the Red Sox. But Cease would’ve been a short-term rental, since he will be a free agent following the season.

After their weekend in San Diego, the Red Sox will head to Houston to face the AL West-leading Astros (64-51). Boston swept a three-game series from Houston last week at Fenway Park.

While this six-game road trip won’t make or break the Red Sox’s season, it will be a strong litmus test to see just how good this year’s club is.