Athletics at Red Sox
While the Boston Red Sox haven't been near the offensive juggernaut this season that they were in 2018 when they led the majors in runs, they have shown some signs of getting back to that level during their nine-game homestand. The Red Sox attempt to even their season series with the visiting Oakland Athletics at three wins apiece when they meet for the second contest of their three-game set on Tuesday.
Boston entered the opener ranked 22nd in the majors with 120 runs scored before using a six-run third inning to overcome an early four-run deficit and cruise to a 9-4 victory on Monday, getting multiple hits from Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and rookie Michael Chavis. The scoring explosion marked the third time in five contests the Red Sox have generated at least seven runs after doing so only four times in their first 23 games. The Athletics had a hand in Boston reaching its second-highest run total of the season, however, committing two errors during the Red Sox's big frame. Oakland ranks seventh in the majors with 42 homers but has hit only one during its four-game slide and is one of three teams that has yet to win a game in which it failed to hit a home run (0-10).
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Aaron Brooks (2-2, 5.33 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (1-3, 7.43)
Brooks matched a career high with seven strikeouts but did not factor in the decision on Wednesday against Texas, yielding three runs and six hits - including four for extra bases - over five innings. The 29-year-old has not fared particularly well in his two road turns, going 1-1 with a 6.55 ERA while striking out only five in 11 frames. Bogaerts has recorded three doubles in four career at-bats versus Brooks, who fired six scoreless innings en route to a win in his season debut on April 1.
Porcello's first quality start of the season led to his first win Thursday against Detroit as he permitted three runs in six innings. The 2016 Cy Young Award winner has rebounded a bit from a winless three-game stretch to begin the campaign during which he posted an 11.12 ERA, going 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA over his last two turns. Kendrys Morales (9-for-41, two homers) has far more experience than any of his teammates facing Porcello, who gave up five runs over six innings in a loss to Oakland last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. After beginning his major-league career 1-for-9 and failing to drive in a run over his first three games, Chavis is 7-for-19 with three homers and eight RBIs in his last six contests.
2. Oakland has committed 15 errors over the last 18 games after making three in its first 13 contests.
3. Betts needs to score one more run to join Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky and Nomar Garciaparra as the only members of the Red Sox in the last 100 years to score at least 500 runs in their first 700 games.