Series Preview: Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles

Three out of four in New York! The only loss coming in the game started by the winner of the coin flip to be sent of the bullpen. And then the loser of that flip really put the game out of reach in relief.

Now on to Baltimore.

The Orioles embarrassed the Red Sox last week sweeping the two-game series. Now in Baltimore the Sox hope to even things up.

Sugano shut out the Red Sox last Tuesday over 5.0 innings in a game Boston would eventually lose in 11 innings 4-3. The Sox got five hits off the righty

who struck out 3 and walked zero, so there was some action. His ERA is almost four and his FIP is another run higher than that. He doesn’t strike guys out. He doesn’t throw hard. That was his only start against the Sox this season. Maybe they have notes? He really doesn’t go over 90 pitches often, just 11 times in 24 starts. If they get a few long at bats it could change the course of the night.

The Sox will kick off the series with a bullpen game, featuring opener Brennan Bernardino. Then it’ll be Lucas Giolito, who allowed 3 runs to the Yankees in 4.2 innings last time out with 4 Ks and 3 walks. He shut out the O’s for 7.0 innings back on May 24th and will look to bring that same energy to Baltimore this week as a bounce-back.

Brayan Bello is coming off a marvelous start in the Bronx. 7.0 innings, three hits, 5 Ks, 1 walk? Against the 2025 Yankees? He’s turned in some tremendous outings in the second half after a rocky start to the season.

The finale, on the second Thursday in a row the Red Sox have a game, features Garrett Crochet against Cade Povich. Povich, with a name like a Star Wars character, has made 15 starts this year with two appearances coming in more like the bulk innings guy in the second or third. He’s struggled more often than not. However, the southpaw has face the Sox twice in 2025. In total he’s allowed 4 runs in 9.1 innings with 5 walks and 14 strikeouts. But those were the March and May Red Sox. So things could be different this time around. The Sox certainly aren’t the same team as either iteration he faced.