Phillies at Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox recorded their American League-best 11th shutout of the season on Sunday while the Philadelphia Phillies were on the wrong end of a blanking to lose three in a row for the first time since June 24-26. Winners of 18 of their last 22, the Red Sox aim to continue their torrid play on Monday as they host the Phillies for the opener of their abbreviated two-game interleague series.
J.D. Martinez pushed his major league-best RBI total to 89 by driving in all three runs in Sunday's 3-0 triumph over Minnesota as Boston moved 41 games over .500 for the first time since Sept. 29, 1946. Martinez has hit safely in six straight contests and is riding a 43-game on-base streak at home while Andrew Benintendi has recorded 11 multi-hit performances in his last 16 games, going 25-for-60 with nine extra-base hits (seven doubles, triple, homer), nine RBIs and 15 runs scored in that stretch. While the Red Sox are in the midst of a full sprint, the Phillies already are seeing "red" after limping out of Cincinnati following a 4-0 setback on Sunday. Maikel Franco registered his fourth multi-hit effort in eight games with a pair of singles, improving to 10-for-29 with four homers during that run.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Philadelphia, NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Aaron Nola (12-3, 2.42 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH David Price (11-6, 4.17)
Nola failed to complete six innings for just the fourth time in 21 starts on Tuesday, when he allowed three runs and five hits in five frames of a no-decision versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 25-year-old All-Star, who permitted a homer for the first time since June 12, is 4-3 with a 2.86 ERA while limiting the opposition to a .190 batting average in 11 turns on the road this season. Nola will be making his first career start at Fenway Park.
Price tossed just 14 pitches during Wednesday's suspended contest against Baltimore. The 32-year-old owns a 1-1 record and 4.67 ERA in three career starts versus Philadelphia. Veterans Asdrubal Cabrera (7-for-20), Trevor Plouffe (10-for-29) and Carlos Santana (10-for-31) have gotten in their licks on Price.
WALK-OFFS
1. Philadelphia OF Rhys Hoskins has reached base in 16 straight contests.
2. Boston LF Blake Swihart is 11-for-26 during his career-high nine-game hitting streak.
3. Phillies MGR Gabe Kapler will experience a homecoming of sorts as he played for the Red Sox from 2003-06.