Boston Red Sox

Preview: Chris Sale scheduled to start for Red Sox Wednesday against Rays

The Red Sox will face the Tampa Bay Rays in Florida for the final game of this series, having lost the previous two games.

Chris Sale allowed just four earned runs and fanned 21 in his first three games this season, but Tampa will be a significant step up.
Chris Sale is expected to start for the Red Sox Wednesday evening with the roster missing 10 players due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

By The Associated Press

1 minute to read

Boston Red Sox (75-59, third in the AL East) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (84-48, first in the AL East)

St. Petersburg, Florida; Wednesday, 7:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Red Sox: Chris Sale (3-0, 2.35 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 21 strikeouts) Rays: Drew Rasmussen (1-1, 3.46 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 58 strikeouts)

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Rays +106, Red Sox -124; over/under is 7 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: Tampa Bay and Boston will play on Wednesday.

The Rays are 43-23 in home games in 2020. The Tampa Bay pitching staff averages 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings, Ryan Yarbrough leads them with a mark of 7.

The Red Sox are 34-33 on the road. Boston has slugged .445 this season. Kyle Schwarber leads the club with a .578 slugging percentage, including 41 extra-base hits and 28 home runs.

Advertisement:

The Rays won the last meeting 8-5. Yarbrough earned his eighth victory and Randy Arozarena went 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI for Tampa Bay. Brad Peacock registered his first loss for Boston.

TOP PERFORMERS: Brandon Lowe leads the Rays with 56 extra base hits and is slugging .499.

Rafael Devers leads the Red Sox with 99 RBIs and is batting .276.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 9-1, .253 batting average, 3.13 ERA, outscored opponents by 32 runs

Red Sox: 5-5, .251 batting average, 5.04 ERA, outscored by three runs

INJURIES: Rays: Matt Wisler: (finger), Ryan Thompson: (shoulder), Jeffrey Springs: (knee), Chaz Roe: (shoulder), Cody Reed: (thumb), Colin Poche: (elbow), DJ Johnson: (shoulder), Tyler Glasnow: (elbow), Oliver Drake: (forearm), Yonny Chirinos: (elbow), Jalen Beeks: (elbow), Nick Anderson: (elbow), Brett Phillips: (ankle), Ji-Man Choi: (hamstring).

Advertisement:

Red Sox: Martin Perez: (covid-19), Darwinzon Hernandez: (oblique), Ryan Brasier: (calf), Eduard Bazardo: (lat), Matt Barnes: (covid-19), Danny Santana: (groin), Kike Hernandez: (health protocols), Christian Arroyo: (health protocols).

To comment, please create a screen name in your profile

Conversation

This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com