Red Sox-Rays Series Preview (8/4 – 8/5)

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The Boston Red Sox had a very tough series vs the New York Yankees in the Bronx over the weekend, so it is time to turn the page and start looking forward to a quick two-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays.

A positive for the Red Sox is that the Rays are not starting out the season playing like the World Series contender many people think they are. They are 4-6 in their first ten games and are coming off of a terrible series at Camden Yards where they were swept by the Baltimore Orioles (yes, the Orioles).

A big reason for their struggles is the fact that they are missing their best player, Austin Meadows, who tested positive for the coronavirus. Meadows had a career year in 2019, as he hit .291 with 33 home runs on a team that took the Astros to five games in the ALDS.

Game 1 is scheduled for August 4 and will likely be another tough game for Boston to win, as Charlie Morton will toe the rubber for Tampa Bay. After Ron Roenicke used an opener on Sunday night, expect Nathan Eovaldi to oppose him.

Ryan Yarbrough is scheduled to start the series finale for Tampa. In his first two starts of the year, he has only allowed two earned runs over 11 and 2/3 innings pitched. Martin Perez would likely go for the Red Sox.