Orioles vs Red Sox Series Preview: Can Red Sox Earn Series Win to Stay in AL Playoff Hunt?

The Boston Red Sox aren’t out of the playoffs just yet. It would take a miracle, but a strong September could create chaos in the baseball playoffs race.

The Red Sox are still above .500, but they’re more than three games away from the Rays, Mariners, Blue Jays, and Rangers for the three other AL Wild Card spots.

That’s why it’s unlikely that the Red Sox make it into the playoffs. But it’s not impossible if two other teams flail while the Red Sox get on a groove.

However, the Red Sox don’t have it easy, especially over the weekend. They’ll take on the Baltimore Orioles, who currently lead the AL East and the entire American League in the standings.

Can the Red Sox shock baseball fans around the world?

Here’s our Orioles vs Red Sox series preview for the three-game American League East series.

Corey Kluber Expected to Join Red Sox Soon

We won’t see Corey Kluber pitch for the Red Sox in this weekend’s series. However, he’s inching closer to returning to the big league club.

Kluber is on the 60-day injured list with shoulder inflammation. But he’ll likely begin his rehab assignment on Friday. He could return to the starting rotation five days later if everything goes well.

Kluber has been cleared to begin his rehab assignment with Double-A Portland.

He first landed on the injured list on June 21. But a rehab stint in late July only shut him down for longer. He’s been on the 60-day Injured List since August 25, after first being on the 15-day Injured List in June and July.

Kluber started Opening Day for the Red Sox this season. But the former Cy Young winner never put up ace-like numbers this season.

The veteran right-hander has gone 3-6 with a 7.04 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP this season. Meanwhile, the Red Sox have only won six games in the 15 games he’s started this season.

Maybe the Red Sox shouldn’t be in such a rush to bring back the veteran, especially if they’re still in a playoff race. But that’s just my opinion.

Jackson Holiday Promoted to Triple-A

The Orioles drafted Jackson Holliday with the No. 1o overall pick in last year’s MLB Draft. He won’t be in the majors this year. But he’ll absolutely make the Majors next year.

Jackson is the son of former MLB star, Matt Holliday.

He’s baseball’s No. 1 prospect and hit .338 with 15 extra-base hits in just 36 games in Double-A.

The Orioles have produced some incredible talent throughout the last couple of seasons. They’ve already got Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson in the Majors, and they’ll have Holliday join the lineup next year.

The Orioles don’t want to rush the process. He’s only 19 years old. He’s so young that when he got to Triple-A, looking for a hotel, he had to talk his way into an unknown hotel to prepare for his debut in Triple-A on Tuesday night.

Holiday has a career .338 batting average in the minor leagues. He’s also added 11 home runs and 27 stolen bases in just 127 games. His time is coming. He’ll be in the majors before he’s legally allowed to drink. That’s just unbelievable to think about.

What if the Orioles make the postseason and celebrate with champagne next year?

Below, we’ll provide probable pitchers for the Orioles vs Red Sox series preview over the weekend.

Early Odds: RL Baltimore +1.5 (-195), ML Baltimore -110, O/U -125/-105

Today’s MLB schedule includes the first matchup between the Red Sox and Orioles.

Kyle Bradish will get the call for the Orioles. The righty has been dominant lately, holding teams to a .046 ISO and wOBA of .234 in the last 30 days. Bradish has struck out over 30% of batters and has induced over 62% of ground balls in the previous 30 days. He’s also limited fly balls to 15.5%.

Bradish has done everything right except for his high strikeouts against lefties. But he can earn ground balls and earn double plays in those situations.

He’ll take on Tanner Houck of the Red Sox. The right-hander has watched his last 29 lefties smack a .435 ISO and wOBA of .558 against him. Houck has been dominant against righties despite just 15.8% of strikeouts. But those lefties are what’s killing him right now.

Against righties, the Orioles have four above-average bats in the lineup right now. Anthony Santander, Austin Hays, Gunnar Henderson, and Cedric Mullins have all hit above-average ISO and wOBA numbers against righties in the last month. Three of those batters are lefties.

The Red Sox have smacked a .189 ISO and wOBA of .358 with their projected lineup against righties over the last 30 days. Only three batters in that lineup have hit below-average numbers. Therefore, I’d back the Red Sox in Game 2 with Sale on the mound.

The Orioles are at -110, with the Red Sox at +100. The total is 9, with the Over juiced to -125. We’d back the Orioles in this one. The lineup has more consistency throughout the order.

In Game 2, Jack Flaherty will pitch for the Orioles. The right-hander has allowed a .269 ISO and wOBA of .400 to his last 86 batters. However, he’s also struck out over 24% and has kept walks down to 7% in the previous 30 days.

Flaherty has struggled more against lefties, allowing a .294 ISO and wOBA of .348 to his last 36 lefties. He’s also given up over 40% of fly balls to lefties in the previous month. The hard contact and line drive rate gets Flaherty in every start.

On the other hand, it’ll be Chris Sale on the mound for the Red Sox. The lefty has struck out over 30% of batters in the last month. However, oddly enough, he’s allowed lefties to hit a .333 ISO and wOBA of .415 over the previous month. Sale will mainly face righties and has faced mainly righties throughout the season.

Meanwhile, the projected lineup for the Orioles has hit a .213 ISO and wOBA of .330 against lefties over the last month. The squad has only struck out 18.7% of the time in the previous 30 days against lefties. Adley Rutschman, Ryan Mountcastle, and Austin Hays have put up ridiculous numbers against lefties over the last month. All three are right-handed batters when facing lefties. But Sale has been OK against right-handed batters, as suggested above.

The Red Sox likely have this one.

In the potential rubber match, Grayson Rodriguez will take the hill. The rookie right-hander has struck out over 23% of batters in the last month. He’s also limited teams to a .108 ISO and wOBA of .275 while inducing 53.6% of grounders. He’s got low strikeouts against lefties, but that’s really his only blemish over the last 30 days.

Conversely, the Red Sox will pitch Brayan Bello. He’s a right-hander who has only struck out 16.4% of batters in the last month. Bello has pitched well against righties and has struggled a little with lefties. But he’s also earned over 56% of grounders and has limited teams to 17% of fly balls.

Rodriguez will likely outpitch Bello. Our baseball picks will include the Orioles on the moneyline for Sunday.

For MLB betting news, baseball odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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