Rays at Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are off to a 5-1 start as they play their home opener versus the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday with their pitching staff - especially the starters - mostly responsible. Boston lost its season opener 6-4 on March 29 when Tampa Bay stunningly scored six runs in the eighth inning but won its next three against the Rays before sweeping a pair of games at Miami, including a 4-2 victory in 13 innings Tuesday.
The Red Sox boast a 2.21 ERA - 1.03 from its starters to include Chris Sale, who hasn't earned a decision in two turns while allowing one run in 11 innings. “If all five of our starters can have, not even great years, just have good years, I think we can do something really special,” Boston's David Price, who will make his second start of the season Thursday, told reporters. The Red Sox hope to continue taking advantage of a soft early season schedule with its first nine games against teams who are in heavy rebuild mode before hosting the New York Yankees for three games beginning Tuesday. Tampa Bay, which is 1-5 after a 7-2 loss at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, gives the ball to reliever Yonny Chirinos on Thursday because of its apparent shortage of starters.
TV: 2:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network; FS Sun (Tampa Bay), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Yonny Chirinos (0-0, 0.00) vs. Red Sox LH David Price (1-0, 0.00)
Chris Archer started Tampa Bay's 11-4 loss at New York on Tuesday before Blake Snell took the mound Wednesday. With Jacob Faria scheduled to pitch Saturday, manager Kevin Cash will use his bullpen exclusively Thursday and Sunday since Nathan Eovaldi - his only other designated starter - is expected to miss 6-to-8 weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his pitching elbow. Cash has Matt Andriese, who has made 44 starts in his 74 major-league appearances - 17 in 18 last season, in the bullpen and he yielded a two-run homer to Aaron Judge his 50 pitches over 2 2/3 innings Wednesday.
Price allowed four hits and struck out five while throwing 76 pitches in seven shutout innings of Friday's 1-0 victory in improving to 4-3 with a 3.45 ERA in 10 games (nine starts) against his former team. "It felt good. That's what I know best," the 32-year-old Tennessee native told reporters after Friday's start. "I had success coming out of the pen, but this is what I want to do." Price, who is 17-5 with a 3.12 ERA in 35 games (32 starts) at Fenway Park, has fared well against Carlos Gomez (0-for-17) and Brad Miller (4-for-27).
WALK-OFFS
1. Boston DH-LF J.D. Martinez, who signed a five-year, $110 million contract during the offseason, makes his home debut after starting the season 4-for-20 with seven strikeouts and two RBIs.
2. The Rays are hitting .196 this season and scored nine runs in its last five games.
3. The Red Sox have split their last four home openers after winning nine straight, and are 2-0 against Tampa Bay in such games.