Red Sox at Cardinals
Fresh off winning American League Player of the Week honors, Mookie Betts already is making a bid to repeat. Betts, who homered and drove in two runs in Boston's series-opening victory, looks to help the Red Sox complete a sweep of the two-game interleague set when they visit the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday.
Betts batted .375 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in six games last week and kicked off Boston's 6-3 victory on Tuesday with his 10th career leadoff blast, tying him with Jacoby Ellsbury for the franchise lead. St. Louis squandered a 3-2 lead in falling to 2-2 on its eight-game homestand. The top-third of the Cardinals' lineup accounted for all three runs in what was the team's second loss in 10 contests. Matt Carpenter drove in one of the runs, giving him three RBIs in his last two games and 10 in as many contests.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN, NESN (Boston), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (2-5, 4.01 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Mike Leake (4-2, 1.94)
Porcello has lost five of his last six starts, including an outing against Tampa Bay on Friday in which he yielded five runs - three earned - and nine hits over six innings. However, the 28-year-old reigning American League Cy Young Award winner has given up three earned runs or fewer in four of the setbacks. Porcello has made two career starts against St. Louis, going 1-1 with a 2.13 ERA.
Leake suffered his first loss in five decisions on Friday despite allowing only two runs in six innings, although he matched a season high with three walks. The 29-year-old Californian also served up two home runs, raising the total from his last two outings to three after keeping the ball in the park in each of his first five turns of the year. Leake has yet to defeat Boston in his career as he is 0-1 with a 5.25 ERA in two starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox 3B Pablo Sandoval (knee) could begin a rehab assignment by the weekend, but INF/OF Brock holt (vertigo) suffered a setback Monday during his rehab stint with Triple-A Pawtucket.
2. St. Louis 3B Jhonny Peralta (upper respiratory illness) and OF Stephen Piscotty (hamstring) both are slated to be activated from the 10-day disabled list during the team's weekend series against San Francisco.
3. Boston is expected to recall RHP Hector Velazquez from Pawtucket to make his major-league debut Thursday at Oakland.