Boston is one win from tying an 80-year-old franchise record, and Baltimore — missing both of its catchers — is the team unlucky enough to be standing in the way.
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BALBOS
BALBOS
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Best BetRed Sox
Boston's won 14 straight and just beat this same Baltimore team two nights ago, so there's little reason to jump off now. The Orioles are also breaking in backup catchers with both Rutschman and Basallo compromised, which tends to show up in the little things — a botched sign, a passed ball, a stolen base allowed. Backing the streak until it actually breaks is the safer read here.
Orioles
+Won 7 straight before Monday's loss to Boston
+Cam Sanders emerging as bullpen weapon after trade
+Nearly stole Monday's game late off Boston's ace pen
−Rutschman on 10-day IL with wrist injury
−Basallo now day-to-day, both catchers compromised
−Closer Ryan Helsley done for season on 60-day IL
Red Sox
+Riding 14-game win streak, one shy of franchise record
+Chad Tracy 21-5 as interim manager since June 19
+Lineup producing multiple blowout wins in last week
−Ranger Suarez scratched again with groin issue
−Rotation depth thin with Houck, Oviedo, Crochet all out long-term
−Streak has to end sometime, due for a letdown
Neither club has locked in a game 1 starter for this getaway-day doubleheader, which puts extra weight on two shorthanded bullpens that have already been leaned on hard this month. Baltimore's relief corps lost closer Ryan Helsley to the 60-day IL with an elbow issue, while Boston is still without Ranger Suarez, who was scratched from his scheduled start against these same Orioles on 7/21 with a groin issue that's nagged him since early July.
Whoever starts, the story here isn't the arm on the mound — it's who's missing behind the plate and who's been raking behind the wheel. Adley Rutschman landed on the 10-day IL with a left wrist injury, and Samuel Basallo, who was supposed to pick up the slack, is now day-to-day with a shoulder issue of his own. That leaves Baltimore's catching duties to whoever's left standing, a rough spot to be in against a Boston lineup that's been scoring in bunches.
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BAL Orioles
BOS Red Sox
Boston's front office, meanwhile, has a different problem: deciding whether to buy or sell before the deadline. Craig Breslow is reportedly hunting for a right-handed bat even as this roster keeps winning without one, and interim manager Chad Tracy — hired after an April firing and a 10-17 start — has this team playing like it doesn't need the help.
Baltimore Orioles
Jul 21?@ Red Sox—
Boston Red Sox
Jul 21?vs Orioles—
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Tracy is 21-5 since June 19, and Wednesday's doubleheader opener is a chance to push Boston's active winning streak to 15 games, which would tie the 1946 club record. That streak survived a scare from these same Orioles just two nights ago — Baltimore led before Caleb Durbin's go-ahead homer over the Monster in the 8th sealed a 6-5 Boston win and snapped what had been a season-high 7-game run for the O's, with four costly Baltimore errors doing plenty of the damage.
Baltimore Orioles
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Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Boston Red Sox
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Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Injury report — info via ESPN.
Baltimore isn't dead in the water — a Pittsburgh trade brought in reliever Cam Sanders, who's already turned into a surprise bullpen weapon, and the O's were rolling before Monday's letdown. But between the catching injuries, the shaky pen, and a Red Sox club playing this loose and this hot at home, Baltimore has its work cut out for it at 1:35 PM ET.
