Red Sox

So is Carlos Rodon. Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi are Rangers. Trea Turner and Taijuan Walker are Phillies. Forever Cub Willson Contreras went to the “say it ...

Dansby Swanson and Cody Bellinger are Cubs. Trea Turner and Taijuan Walker are Phillies. Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi are Rangers.

BOSTON – The Orioles will try for the series win this afternoon with the latest outfield alignment putting Terrin Vavra in left field.

Jorge Mateo is out of the lineup after sustaining two cuts on his right index finger last night. For the Red Sox For the Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles (1-1) and Boston Red Sox (1-1) close out their season-opening 3-game series at Fenway Park on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m. ...

[Pick’em Challenge](https://dailyticket.usatoday.com/) and win! [Play now](https://dailyticket.usatoday.com/)! [BetMGM Sportsbook’s](https://mediaserver.betmgmpartners.com/renderBanner.do?zoneId=1689650) lines around the Orioles vs. A depth of batters on each side is dialed in so far. Red Sox -1.5 (+135) This has been a level series the last couple of years, and both starting pitchers are fade-worthy, being slightly overrated by their 2022 surface numbers. U: -115) New customer offer; expires 4/30/2023. Subscribe today and start winning! Houck went 5-4 with a 3.15 last season. The Red Sox were trailing 8-7 on Saturday, but won when CF Adam Duvall hit a 2-out, 2-run HR in the bottom of the 9th. Irvin pitched for Oakland last season, going 9-13 with a 3.98 ERA.

We give our top picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for Orioles-Red Sox on Sunday, April 2.

As he pitches to a lineup of Adley Rutchman, Austin Hays, and Ryan Mountcastle, I like the Orioles here. With the way both teams have been hitting in this series — at least one team hitting nine on their own in each game — I like the over here. ET on Sunday in the final game of a three-game series.

The Red Sox and Orioles have combined for 38 runs over two games, the highest combined total through two Sox games since 1926.

Irvin made a strong first impression with Baltimore this spring, pitching to a 3.14 ERA in 14 ⅓ innings. In nine total innings against Boston, Irvin has no decisions and a 2.00 ERA ... The righthander has a 1.84 ERA over 14 ⅔ career innings against Baltimore, though that experience has largely come out of the bullpen. The Orioles have also run wild on Sox catcher Reese McGuire, becoming the first team in MLB history to steal five bases in each of the first two games of a season. Houck had a 9.74 ERA in 20 ⅓ spring innings, saying that he felt off mechanically while working to add a cutter to his pitch mix ... Riding the high of Saturday’s wild walk-off win over the Orioles, the Red Sox can take the first series of the season with a win on Sunday after a pair of thrillers to start the year.

The Red Sox and the Orioles will compete for a series win Sunday when the division rivals close out their three-game set at Fenway Park.

Houck is coming off the 2022 campaign in which he The left-handed-hitting Triston Casas will start Sunday’s game on the bench. With Baltimore sending left-hander Cole Irvin to the hill for the finale, Boston’s lineup will feature a different look than its last two games.

Cole Irvin makes his O's debut as the team tries to right itself after a disastrous loss.

Houck, their pitcher, is making his first start since May 8 of last year after working mainly in the bullpen last season. He has yet to start a game, and even the converted infielder Vavra is starting ahead of him in left field today. Stowers and backup catcher Anthony Bemboom are the only O’s hitters yet to make an appearance this season. Lefty Cole Irvin will be making his club debut this afternoon, hoping to become the first starting pitcher in this series — for either team — to get an out past the fifth inning. Or, in a more pleasant alternative, the O’s can make last night’s loss a mere footnote, flush it away, and take the series today to get back on the winning track. The O’s built a six-run lead in both the first and second games of the season, only to have to sweat out the endings.

The first two games of the season featured similar action: the Red Sox sent an ace to then mound, the ace struggled, and the batters had to dig out of a ...

There have been 10 games at 3 hours or more over the season’s first two days and the Sox have played in 2 of them. Unless the first two games are a taste of the Orioles becoming a powerhouse (unlikely). Once it wasn’t enough, but the second time it lead to a walkoff win.

Adam Duvall's two-run walkoff homer Saturday was followed by something that had never before happened at Fenway Park.

such as [FanDuel](https://www.masslive.com/betting/massachusetts/fanduel/), [DraftKings](https://www.masslive.com/betting/massachusetts/draftkings/)and [BetMGM](https://www.masslive.com/betting/massachusetts/betmgm/)to find the best offers available. We’re trying to catch up and I thought yesterday was great.” And in a sport that we want young people to come and enjoy it and have fun with it, I think we’ve done enough to get that atmosphere. “I remember watching my brother play in 1987, ‘88 at the old Jack Murphy Stadium. They canceled the game and we came here and we played. “In San Diego, that atmosphere is unreal,” Cora said. And the whole league is doing that.” It was 15,000 kids, a lot of music and it was fun. And I think as an organization, we’ve done an amazing job improving the facility and keeping what it means to all of us. “Really it was driven by making sure we have equal distribution of light across all areas of the field and get everything up to the modern age,” Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy said about the new lighting system back during spring training. [Mobile sports betting](https://www.ma.betmgm.com/en/p/king-of-sportsbooks?wm=7086263) is live in Massachusetts on BetMGM. “We were kind of the last holdout to go to the LED lighting system.

The fly ball would have been the final out of the game.

[according to the Boston Globe](https://twitter.com/alexspeier/status/1642301649115856899). Instead, he surrendered the game-losing dinger ( [BOS 9, BAL 8](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/boxscore/MLB_20230401_BAL@BOS/)). [MLB](/mlb/) implemented a series of rule changes designed to encourage more stolen bases this season, and no team has taken advantage like the upstart O's. [Félix Bautista](/mlb/players/2821464/felix-bautista/) got two quick outs on a [Rafael Devers](/mlb/players/2165929/rafael-devers/) strikeout and a [Justin Turner](/mlb/players/1600680/justin-turner/) ground out. [Chris Sale](/mlb/players/1762602/chris-sale/) and led 8-1 in the middle of the third inning. The Red Sox answered with four runs in the bottom of the third and two runs in the seventh to climb to within 8-7.

It's hard to draw too many conclusions two games into a young baseball season. But as John Tomase writes, we can already say this much about the 2023 Red ...

When he did, the Red Sox revealed a new Fenway Park light show that stopped one step shy of pyrotechnics. Pulling the ball against us and now today." With the wind blowing out and the air unseasonably humid, the Red Sox pounded Orioles pitching for eight extra-base hits, including the two homers from Duvall and one from No. Without the wall, that ball is at the (Hotel) Commonwealth. Whatever we thought of the Red Sox from December through March during an underwhelming offseason, we can forget about it now and judge them on what we actually see. We just have to keep grinding it out and we're going to be good.

Adam Duvall had three more hits, including two doubles and a two-run single to break a fifth-inning tie as the Boston Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles ...

After falling behind by six runs in each of the first two games, Boston led 3-0 after three innings. Yoshida singled in one run to break the tie and chase starter Cole Irvin. Duvall played the first 10 years of his career in the NL before signing with Boston this offseason. And when he hits the ball he hits it very hard. One day after amassing four hits, including a walk-off homer, Adam Duvall had three more hits — two doubles and a two-run single to break a fifth-inning tie. They are the third team in baseball history to score at least nine in three straight games to start a season, joining Cincinnati’s 1976 Big Red Machine and the ’78 Milwaukee Brewers known as “Bambi’s Bombers.”

BOSTON -- In the first series of the season, Boston's remodeled batting order looked built to score and relentless while doing it. Maybe it doesn't have the ...

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Adam Duvall continues his hot start, and Boston becomes just the third MLB team to open the season with at least nine runs in its first three games.

After falling behind by six runs in each of the first two games, Boston led 3-0 after three innings. Duvall, a former Sanford Mainer, played the first 10 years of his MLB career in the NL before signing with Boston this offseason. And when he hits the ball, he hits it very hard. Hernández hit a solo homer, and Rafael Devers, Masataka Yoshida and Alex Verdugo each had two of Boston’s 14 hits. One day after amassing four hits, including a walk-off homer, Adam Duvall had three more hits – two doubles and a two-run single. They are the third team in MLB history to score at least nine in three straight games to start a season, joining Cincinnati’s 1976 Big Red Machine and the 1978 Milwaukee Brewers known as “Bambi’s Bombers.”

Boston racked up double-digit hits in another slugfest, led by Duvall's three-hit day; the center fielder was one of four Sox with multiple RBIs.

The Sox added on in the bottom of the inning. Houck was the winner. It proved to be a gift for the Orioles as reliever Bryan Baker struck out Hernández and got Connor Wong to ground out. Frazier singled, then went to third on a double by Ramón Urias. Consecutive singles by Rafael Devers, Justin Turner, Yoshida, and Duvall rebuilt the lead to 6-3. Kiké Hernandez homered and drove in two runs.

Red Sox starter Chris Sale pitched horribly in his season debut Saturday, and he gave an honest assessment of the performance afterwards.

Sale's career with the Red Sox has been full of injuries and setbacks. Now that Sale is healthy, the Red Sox need him to be effective every five days. The Red Sox don't have a lot of high-end talent or depth in their rotation.

Adam Duvall continued his hot start to the season for Boston by getting three more hits, including two doubles and a two-run single to break a fifth-inning ...

It's hard to draw too many conclusions two games into a young baseball season. But as John Tomase writes, we can already say this much about the 2023 Red ...

When he did, the Red Sox revealed a new Fenway Park light show that stopped one step shy of pyrotechnics. The Orioles once again ran wild, with five steals in five attempts. Without the wall, that ball is at the (Hotel) Commonwealth. With the wind blowing out and the air unseasonably humid, the Red Sox pounded Orioles pitching for eight extra-base hits, including the two homers from Duvall and one from No. Pulling the ball against us and now today." "Hopefully it doesn't have to take all this effort to get more W's." Whatever we thought of the Red Sox from December through March during an underwhelming offseason, we can forget about it now and judge them on what we actually see. Sale was abysmal in his 2023 debut, allowing three homers and seven runs in just three innings. The opening series is always about snap judgments, so here's one – the Red Sox can hit. We just have to keep grinding it out and we're going to be good. "He crushed that ball," Cora said. If we keep believing in ourselves, it's going to be tough on our opponents."

We have some guys that are on the same page as far as keeping the line moving and passing on the baton,” Kiké Hernández said.

[Kiké Hernández](https://theathletic.com/mlb/player/kike-hernandez-dmN3FDmi5nUtz5aS/) in the second inning. Those [Brewers](https://theathletic.com/mlb/team/brewers/) finished third and missed the playoffs, but the 1976 Reds are among the most famous teams in baseball history and won the World Series. [Reds](https://theathletic.com/mlb/team/reds/). That relentless offense has been the one constant out of the gate. Yoshida had an RBI groundout in the first inning, an RBI single in the fifth, and reached base four times. The Red Sox scored in each of their first three innings, and each time the Orioles rallied, the Red Sox responded. [Alex Verdugo](https://theathletic.com/mlb/player/alex-verdugo-xSZNsHsFAoNUq1XM/) said. It didn’t work, but the decision was telling. For the first time in franchise history, the Red Sox have scored at least nine runs in each of their first three games. “He’ll put it in play.” After the near comeback in Game 1, and the ninth-inning heroics of Game 2, this win felt relatively easy. I think that’s the biggest thing we’re kind of seeing.”

Make that 3 scoreless innings from Tanner Houck. Strikes out Adley Rutschman for the second time.

An RBI groundout in the first (which maybe should have yielded more Boston runs), an RBI single in the fifth, and coming home to score in the 5th, 7th, and 8th. Whether he stays in the cleanup spot remains to be seen, but it’s clear from today’s start he’s getting more comfortable and even though he’s not showing his power from the WBC just yet, he’s a meaningful addition to the lineup. Technically, the top three belong to the Orioles, as Adam Frazier’s homer, Cedric Mulins’ homer, and RBI single lead the list. I’ll give a lot of credit on this to the bullpen, holding the O’s to just give hits and two runs in the last four innings, only two knocks in the last two thanks to Chris Martin and Kaleb Ort. Giving up two homers in the fifth is probably what lands him in here, he looked much better than that sample provided. No dingers today, but more offense coming from the five slot in the lineup. Consistency and even more productivity will come but for him to lead the team in WPA with that box shows how strong he is in the box right now even now. But he’s proving to be the consummate professional at the plate. After the outstanding offenses (or pitiful pitching) (or both) contributed to games above the three-hour mark in each of the first two bouts of the series, it’s refreshing to see the pitch clock make its first impact at Fenway Park. 1-3 with a 9.74 ERA in six starts, including nine homers given up, you’d be granted a pass in thinking the O’s offense would light him up just like they had to Kluber and Sale the two previous games. Despite giving up two homers, Houck actually proved to be the most stable of the three starters in this series. Based on Spring Training production, I think Tanner Houck would have been the starter I’d been least excited to see in this opening series vs, the Orioles.

Alex Cora wanted five innings out of Tanner Houck. Corey Kluber and Chris Sale failed to pitch four innings in their respective starts on Thursday and ...

Former Red Sox pitcher Rich Hill, who started Saturday’s game for the Pirates, is not in line to take the mound in his return to Fenway Park. The Red Sox welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates for a three-game series on Monday. He set the tone on Sunday as well, delivering a leadoff single and coming around to score the game’s first run. At some point he will leave the team to complete his rehab in Fort Myers but for “It seems like he always came up with a big hit throughout the series,” Cora said after Sunday’s win. “It’s been a lot of fun,” Hernández said. “They’ve gone out there and done the same thing every day.” But Houck struck out Adley Rutschman, who hadn’t whiffed once in the first two games of the series, for the third time, to escape further damage. “It’s about just showing up each and every day and just putting your best foot forward,” he said. He only needed 47 pitches to get through the first four, compared to Orioles starter Cole Irvin, who needed 81 pitches to get through the bottom halves. Houck, who debuted as a starter in 2020 and has been used in every conceivable role over three years in the majors, delivered. Over five innings in the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles, Houck gave up three earned runs on five hits, walked one, and struck out five.