Jake Bennett (2-3, 3.27 ERA) draws Reid Detmers (3-5, 3.88 ERA) in a lefty-on-lefty matchup that's closer than either team's record suggests. First pitch at Angel Stadium is 6:38 PM PT.
The Red Sox's week was more eventful off the field than on it. Willson Contreras earned a 7-game suspension after charging the mound during a benches-clearing incident Tuesday against Washington — Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli struck Contreras out looking, then yelled "sit down, boy" as he walked toward the dugout, and that was all the provocation Contreras needed. Nate Eaton got 3 games for his role in the scrum. Add Connelly Early to the 15-day IL with left elbow inflammation and Boston is heading west without its first baseman, an outfielder, and yet another arm in an already gutted rotation.
The Angels have their own availability problems. Mike Trout is on the 10-day IL with a hamstring strain and is unlikely to return before the All-Star break. Anthony Rendon hasn't played since May. Yusei Kikuchi (shoulder) and Jack Kochanowicz (Tommy John surgery) are both on the 60-day IL, and Grayson Rodriguez is still working his way back from a back issue. What Los Angeles does have is Detmers, who has been quietly effective enough — 112 strikeouts in 99.2 innings with a 3.88 ERA — that he's drawing legitimate trade deadline interest, per Athlon Sports.
- 10-Day-ILNick Sogard 3B — Sogard (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment Thursday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
- 10-Day-ILIsiah Kiner-Falefa 2B — Kiner-Falefa underwent a CT scan on his left forearm Thursday which revealed a stress reaction, MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILMarcelo Mayer 2B — The Red Sox placed Mayer on the 10-day injured list Friday with a stress reaction in his left forearm, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
- SuspensionNate Eaton OF — Eaton has received a three-game suspension Thursday for his actions during a benches-clearing incident Tuesday, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports
- SuspensionWillson Contreras 1B — Contreras received a seven-game suspension Thursday for his actions during and following a benches-clearing incident Tuesday, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILConnelly Early SP — Early has been diagnosed with left posterior elbow inflammation following an MRI, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
- 60-Day-ILPatrick Sandoval SP — Sandoval (biceps) struck out three and allowed one earned run on three hits and one walk across four innings Sunday in his rehab start with Triple-A Worcester.
- 60-Day-ILRoman Anthony LF — The Red Sox transferred Anthony (finger/wrist) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
- 10-Day-ILMike Trout CF — Trout (hamstring) took 30 swings and ran at about 50 percent intensity Saturday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
- 10-Day-ILAdam Frazier 2B — Frazier (elbow) resumed throwing Wednesday, per MLB.com.
- 10-Day-ILSebastian Rivero C — Rivero was removed from Tuesday's game against the Astros with an apparent left hand injury, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILGustavo Campero C — The Angels selected Campero's contract from Double-A Rocket City and placed him on the 10-day injured list Saturday due to a fractured hand.
- 15-Day-ILGrayson Rodriguez SP — Rodriguez (back) struck out four and allowed one earned run on five hits and one walk across four innings Sunday in his rehab start for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
- 60-Day-ILTravis d'Arnaud C — D'Arnaud (foot) was able to catch from a pitching machine Sunday and has continued to do swinging and throwing in his workouts, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILJack Kochanowicz SP — Kochanowicz's Tommy John surgery on his right elbow was deemed "successful," per MLB.com.
- 60-Day-ILYusei Kikuchi SP — Kikuchi (shoulder) has begun a throwing program, per MLB.com.
At 37-48 and 36-52, neither team is heading anywhere meaningful. Boston has been outscored 18-3 over its last 2 games, and the Angels just got swept out of Seattle, including a 0-1 shutout loss Thursday. If there's a story worth tracking, it's Bennett — demoted early in the season and a clearly better pitcher on his return, posting a 2.78 ERA over his last 4 starts. His 6.1-inning effort against the Yankees last week was the first time in his professional career he'd pitched into the seventh inning. Two bad teams, one holiday crowd, and a pair of lefties who've earned their rotation spots. This game goes exactly as long as the starters do.