Athletics at Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox have dipped back into second place in the American League East for just the second time since the beginning of April. They will try to bounce back from a homestand-opening loss to the Oakland Athletics when the teams continue a three-game series at Fenway Park on Tuesday.
The Athletics utilized three solo homers and 11 hits overall to take the series opener 6-5 on Monday, dropping the Red Sox to 11-11 since their 17-2 start and a half-game behind the idle New York Yankees in the division. J.D. Martinez homered among two hits for Boston and the slugger has gone deep in six of his last 12 games while pushing his average to .346. He will take aim at Oakland right-hander Daniel Mengden, who owns a 2.95 ERA over his past 13 starts dating to last season. The Red Sox turn to Eduardo Rodriguez in the middle game of the set as they look to snap a three-game losing streak against the Athletics.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Daniel Mengden (2-4, 4.06 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Eduardo Rodriguez (3-0, 4.58)
Mengden allowed two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts, including a hard-luck loss against Houston on Wednesday in which he let up two runs over 6 2/3 innings. The Texas A&M product has issued five walks in 44 1/3 innings and got through 6 1/3 frames of one-run ball against Boston last month without issuing a free pass. Jackie Bradley Jr. is 3-for-5 against Mengden, who will be making his first career appearance at Fenway Park.
Rodriguez has 24 strikeouts in 15 innings over his last three starts after fanning eight in five scoreless at Yankee Stadium on Thursday. The Venezuela native also has 21 strikeouts in 13 2/3 frames at home but his ERA at Fenway Park sits at an unsightly 5.93. Oakland slugger Khris Davis is 0-for-10 with five strikeouts against Rodriguez, who is 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA in three career starts against the Athletics.
WALK-OFFS
1. Davis homered in Monday's win and has eight long balls in 21 road games.
2. Boston RF Mookie Betts had two hits in the loss to raise his major league-leading average to .362.
3. Oakland is 7-2 in one-run games.