Connelly Early starts as Orioles Vs Red Sox opens at Fenway Park
Connelly Early starts for Boston on Tuesday as orioles vs red sox opens a three-game series at Fenway Park. Shane Baz is on the mound for Baltimore, and the matchup sends the bottom two teams in the AL East into a game with the Orioles two games ahead of the last-place Red Sox.
Early And Baz At Fenway
Early entered at 5-2 with a 2.95 ERA and had already seen Baltimore once this season. On April 26, he beat the Orioles after allowing two solo home runs on four hits in 6⅔ innings, then followed that with seven scoreless innings in an 8-0 win over the Braves on May 27.
Baz brought a different recent line to the opener. He was 3-1 with a 2.64 ERA in five career starts against Boston, struck out a season-high nine batters in seven innings of one-run ball against the Red Sox last Tuesday, and had worked at least six innings in each of his last three starts.
Red Sox Riding Two Straight
Boston returned to Fenway after a day off trying to stretch its winning streak to three. The Red Sox had taken the last two games against the Guardians, including Sunday’s 9-4 win, and that victory was their third series win in their last 10 series.
The offense has given the club a steadier floor. The Red Sox scored at least three runs in 11 of their last 14 games, while Aroldis Chapman has converted each of his last 27 save opportunities.
Orioles Arrive From 7-3 Homestand
Baltimore came in with momentum of its own after going 7-3 on a homestand against the Tigers, Rays and Blue Jays. Craig Albernaz summed up the stretch by saying, “We were playing the baseball that we’re capable of,” and, “Just all the work that these guys have been putting in relentlessly every day, we’re starting to see the rewards now, and against some really good teams. It’s been fun to watch.”
That leaves Tuesday with a clean division read: Boston needs the opener to keep climbing, while Baltimore tries to widen the gap it already owns in the standings. With Early and Baz both carrying strong recent numbers, the first game of the series could swing on which starter holds the line deeper into the night.
