Red Sox at Angels
The Boston Red Sox aim to continue their franchise-best start when they visit the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday for the finale of their three-game set. Boston won the first two games of the series by a cumulative 19-1 score to extend its winning streak to six games and improve its major league-best record to 15-2.
Rafael Devers has homered in both games of the series, belting his first career grand slam on Wednesday as the Red Sox rolled to a 9-0 victory. Mitch Moreland contributed a homer and four RBIs while J.D. Martinez went 4-for-5 with a blast to improve to 10-for-20 with two shots over his last five games. Despite the consecutive setbacks, Los Angeles has a 13-5 record that matches the best 18-game start (1982 and 1993) in franchise history. Angels star Mike Trout recorded two hits on Wednesday and is 8-for-19 with two homers during his five-game hitting streak.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0, 3.72 ERA) vs. Angels RH Nick Tropeano (1-0, 0.00)
Rodriguez defeated Baltimore in his last turn as he gave up one run and five hits with eight strikeouts in six innings. The 25-year-old has fanned 15 while issuing four walks in 9 1/3 frames after striking out a career-best 150 last season. Rodriguez had a terrible time in his lone career outing against the Angels as he allowed seven runs and six hits - including homers by Kole Calhoun and Albert Pujols - in just 1 2/3 innings of a loss at Angel Stadium on July 20, 2015.
Tropeano settled for a no-decision in his season debut last Thursday despite allowing six hits in 6 2/3 scoreless innings at Kansas City. The 27-year-old missed all of last season while recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in August 2016. Tropeano, who will be facing the Red Sox for the first time in his career, is 3-3 with a 4.71 ERA in 11 starts at Angel Stadium.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Red Sox have scored 84 runs over their last 10 games.
2. Los Angeles RHP-DH Shohei Ohtani (blister) may be available to make his next start on Tuesday against Houston, and also could be able to swing the bat on Thursday, according to MGR Mike Scioscia.
3. Boston RF Mookie Betts is 5-for-8 with three homers and two walks in the series.