WHO: Red Sox (32-20) vs. Miami Marlins (24-28)
WHEN: 1:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: BOS 2-0
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (5-3, 5.06) vs. RHP Sandy Alcantara (2-4, 3.46)
TV/RADIO: NESN, MLB Network: WEEI-FM 93.7
LINEUPS
MARLINS
Berti 3B
S. Marte CF
Aguilar DH
Cooper 1B
Dickerson LF
Alfaro C
Sierra RF
Devers SS
L. Marte 2B
RED SOX
Hernandez 2B
Verdugo DH
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Santana CF
Renfroe RF
Vazquez C
Gonzalez LF
Dalbec 1B
WHAT'S UP: The Red Sox have won three straight games, are 7-2 in their last nine, and 15-8 in their last 23. The Sox are unbeaten in their last five series (4-0-1) and 6-1-1 in their last eight...At 32-20 (.615), the Sox are a season-high 12 games above .500...They own the AL’s second-best record and are tied with the Giants for third-best in MLB...The Sox are 11-6 (.647) against teams that entered today with at least a .500 winning percentage, the second-best such record behind the Brewers (17-9, .654)....The Red Sox are 16-13 at Fenway Park, the AL’s fifth-best home record, but are 16-10 at home since getting swept by Baltimore to begin the season. At 16-7 (.696), the Sox own the majors’ second-best record on the road....: The Red Sox lead the majors in doubles (115), extra-base hits (187), slugging percentage (.447), and OPS (.768) while ranking second in runs (267) and batting average (.261)....The Red Sox are 7-2 vs. NL teams...They are 270-182 (.597) all time against the NL, the highest Interleague winning percentage in the majors. The Sox are 30-13 all-time against the Marlins, including 15-3 in the last 18 meetings and 8-1 in the last nine....The Sox have won their last nine home games against the Marlins...They are 8-0-0 in their last eight series vs. MIA at Fenway Park, going 17-4 in games in that time....: Red Sox relievers are fifth in the AL and ninth in MLB in ERA (3.55), after posting a 5.79 ERA in 2020. Five Sox relievers have a sub-3.50 ERA: Garrett Whitlock (1.85), Matt Barnes (2.63), Hirokazu Sawamura (2.75), Adam Ottavino (2.95), and Darwinzon Hernandez (3.38). Ottavino has a 1.53 ERA in 19 games since April 17, the Sox’ lowest ERA in that time....Among relievers with 20.0 IP, Barnes leads the AL in WHIP (0.67) and is tied for the AL lead in saves (12).... Josh Taylor has made 12 consecutive scoreless appearances since April 30, lowering his season ERA from 9.72 to 4.67....Red Sox starters have thrown five or more innings 44 times, including 29 of the last 31 games, tied with the Dodgers for second-most in the majors behind the A’s, who have 45...Offensively, the Red Sox are the only team in MLB featuring seven players with 20+ RBI: Devers (43), Martinez (39), Bogaerts (31), Vázquez (23), Verdugo (23), Dalbec (22), and Renfroe (22)....Eduardo Rodriguez saw his career-long streak of 36 consecutive starts with at least five innings pitched snapped in his last start, which had been the longest active streak in the majors. Rodriguez has lost three consecutive starts for the first time in his career...He's gotten a total of one run of support in those three games combined....Xander Bogaerts is 0-for-11 and Kike Hernandez is 0-for-13...Rafael Devers has a 1.163 OPS in his last 12 games.... Renfroe has seven hits in his last three games.
NOTES:
* J.D. Martinez, who fouled a ball of his left foot in Saturday's win, is being given Sunday off to rest and get treatment. Alex Cora said the Red Sox hoped to stay away from Martinez on Sunday afternoon. With Martinez sidelined, Cora had Alex Verdugo serve as the team's DH. Verdugo has been battling a strained hamstring for the past week and a day off from outfield responsibilities will be welcome.
* Cora detailed what he'd like to see from Eduardo Rodriguez, who has struggled over his last three outings. "I think his cutter is not where it usually is,'' Cora said. "It's playing more like a bad slider and hopefully, that pitch plays better.''
* Cora saluted outfielder Hunter Renfroe for a strong May after experiencing a slow start. "He's a good athlete and he's made some adjustments,'' Cora said. "He's doing a good job putting the ball in play, going the other way, hitting with two strikes, staying on breaking balls.''
* The manager was encouraged by the work of both Hirokazu Sawamura and Darwinzon Hernandez in Saturday's win. "For us to be able to stay healthy and rested, those guys have to step up,'' said Cora. "It can't be (Adam) Ottavino, (Josh Taylor) and (Matt Barnes) all the time. Darwinzon has to throw the ball well; Sawamura, too. (Matt) Andriese, (Colten Brewer), all those guys out there have to, at one point, pitch in high-leverage situations.''