The Orioles' 7-game win streak died in Boston on Monday. Now they're back at Fenway for game 2 of a Wednesday doubleheader, and Baltimore needs an answer fast.
Bush’s Picks
BALBOS
BALBOS
OverUnder
Best BetRed Sox
Boston's the play here. Bennett's been lights-out and Baltimore is trying to piece together a lineup without either of its catchers. The Orioles have shown plenty of fight all year, but backing the hotter team with the better-throwing starter at home is the value side right now.
Orioles
+Won 7 straight before Monday's loss to Boston
+Just swept a 3-game set in Houston
+Bullpen has found saves from 9 different arms
−Both catchers out or banged up (Rutschman, Basallo)
−Kremer scuffling with walks/homers since returning
−Bullpen down Helsley, Bautista, Akin, Selby
Red Sox
+Riding a hot stretch, winners of 5 straight
+Bennett has a 2.35 ERA and dominant last start
+Getting contributions across the lineup, not just one bat
−Kelly, Suarez also unavailable out of the pen/rotation
−Anthony and Story still weeks away from returning
Jake Bennett (5-3, 2.35 ERA) gets the ball for Boston looking to keep the Red Sox rolling, while Dean Kremer (1-2, 4.15 ERA) takes the mound for an Orioles team trying to shake off Monday's 5-6 loss. First pitch is 7:10 PM ET.
Bennett has been the story of Boston's second half. The rookie southpaw, acquired in a prospect-for-prospect deal over the offseason, tossed 6 shutout innings on 1 hit against Tampa Bay in his last start and has quietly become one of the more reliable arms in this rotation while Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford and Johan Oviedo all sit on the 60-day IL. Kremer, meanwhile, is still finding his footing after missing time — his last outing against Houston lasted just 4 innings and included 3 walks.
Show fees
7:10 PM ET
Spread
ML
Total
BAL Orioles
BOS Red Sox
Baltimore's bigger issue right now has nothing to do with pitching matchups. Both catchers are banged up — Adley Rutschman just went to the 10-day IL with a left wrist injury, and Samuel Basallo is day-to-day with a shoulder problem that flared up behind the plate. That's a lot of instability at a position that usually anchors a lineup, and it's happening in the middle of a series against a team that just won't lose.
Baltimore Orioles
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Boston Red Sox
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Injury report — info via ESPN.
Give the Orioles credit — this isn't a fluke club. They ripped off 7 straight wins, including a 3-game sweep in Houston, before running into Boston on Monday. This roster has weathered an absurd run of injuries all year — Ryan Helsley, Felix Bautista, Keegan Akin and Colin Selby are all out of the bullpen, Jordan Westburg and Ryan Mountcastle are gone from the infield — yet they keep finding a way to scrap out wins.
That resilience is exactly what makes the Red Sox's current stretch so impressive. Boston has won 5 straight and hasn't needed to lean on one guy to do it — different arms, different bats, same result. Chad Tracy's group is getting contributions up and down the roster while waiting on reinforcements like Roman Anthony and Trevor Story to eventually rejoin the mix.
Baltimore Orioles
Jul 21?@ Red Sox—
Boston Red Sox
Jul 21?vs Orioles—
Recent form.
Whichever way this one goes, it's a legitimate late-July heavyweight scrap between two teams playing meaningful baseball in July for a change. Baltimore wants revenge for Monday. Boston wants to make it feel routine.
