Dodgers welcome Red Sox for three game set

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 30: Edgardo Henriquez #60 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, July 30, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Baseball Zone

SEE ALL

Trendline

San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres: Bucket Hat Giveaway at Petco Park

Arizona Republic

Diamondbacks GM identifies 2 biggest needs ahead of trade deadline

Trendline

SF Giants Eye One-for-One Trade with Mariners to Strengthen Rotation

What is the story about?

After taking two of three from the Seattle Mariners, the Los Angeles Dodgers now welcome the surging Boston Red Sox. Boston now sits in third place in the AL East, seven games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. Their record in 57-51, which oddly has been their record after 108 games each of the last four seasons.

After starting off the season abysmally, they have now won seven series in a row. Their bullpen has been a big part of that, having five relievers in the 92nd percentile or higher in expected ERA.

It is anchored by their closer, All-Star Aroldis Chapman, who along Greg Weissert could be unavailable for Friday’s game after heavy usage in the previous two games against the Athletics.

The Dodgers will be using a bullpen game for the series opener. Edgardo Henriquez will start the game. Tanner Scott and Edwin Diaz most likely won’t be involved as they too had heavy usage their last two games.

L.A. is going with a bullpen game to best preserve their six-man rotation due to Shohei Ohtani being out of it as he deals with a bicep issues. Ohtani was also out of the lineup in Thursday night’s game but is expected to be back for Friday night’s game.

Ranger Suarez will start for the Red Sox. The left hander is 4-3 on the season with a 3.02 ERA. He only threw 64 pitches in his last outing, Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Before that, his last outing was July 5th where he only went 2.2 innings as he is coming back from an injury and working his way back up to speed. He should be around 75-80 pitches or five innings on Friday.

Jarren Duran of the Red Sox has had a frustrating season, and some of that is beginning to show on the field and with his teammates. In Thursday night’s game against the Athletics, Durran was seen very visibly upset with Willson Contreras for not tagging up on a fly ball Duran hit to left field. However, that fly ball wasn’t deep enough to get Contreras home from third, and he was held up by the third base coach.

The Red Sox have an interim manager, Chad Tracy, after Alex Cora was fired in April after starting the season 9-17.