And maybe get Triston Casas and Rafael Devers on a roll.
The Red Sox are back on the road, this time to Cleveland, home of the Drew Carey Show. You can’t watch Drew and the gang get into trouble on Apple TV+ but you can watch the Red Sox game on Friday exclusively on that streaming service.
Boston enters the weekend in second place in the AL East (14-13), just two games behind the New York Yankees.
The Red Sox are second in the AL in runs scored (124), while the Guardians have scored just 96. Boston has allowed 128 (Or is it 95? We’re doing highway jokes today, apparently.) runs vs Cleveland’s 101, which actually gives the Sox a slightly better run differential.
Both teams are 6-4 in their last 10 games.
José Ramirez is being his usual self: an .824 OPS with 5 home runs and 5 steals. Coming off a 39-41 season that might have gotten more attention if Shohei Ohtani hadn’t put up the first 50-50 season, he’s still the tough out to overcome.
Carlos Santana’s reunion is off to just a .204/.272/.290 start. A .562 OPS looks low and then you realize Triston Casas is at .573. So, a little trouble at first base this series. Look for both bats to try and wake up this weekend.
Nolan Jones, who was traded from Cleveland to the Colorado Rockies and then back, is off to a slow start hitting .179/.303/.250.
Steven Kwan? 4 homers, 4 steals and hitting .337/.394/.495. Watch out for this guy he does it all.
Tanner Houck bounced back from his 11 run drubbing to toss six innings of two run ball while striking out seven.
Walker Buehler is coming off an exceptional start against the White Sox where he went seven innings and struck out nine while allowing just a single run.
Brayan Bello had a mixed outing for his first start back from injury. He danced around trouble, settled down a bit, and showed some promise to build on.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday April 25: Tanner Houck (7.66 ERA / 6.19 FIP) vs. Ben Lively (3.86 ERA / 4.00 FIP)
Saturday April 26: Walker Buehler (4.23 ERA / 4.11 FIP) vs. Logan Allen (2.11 ERA / 2.57 FIP)
Sunday April 27: Brayan Bello (1.80 ERA / 7.43 FIP) vs. Gavin Willians (4.15 ERA / 2.19 FIP)
When/Where to Watch
Friday April 25: 7:10 PM ET on Apple TV+
Saturday April 26: 6:10 PM ET on NESN
Sunday April 27: 1:35 PM ET on NESN