The fading Boston Red Sox look to get back on track Thursday night when they begin a four-game series with the Seattle Mariners. It will be a matchup between arguably the best offense in the majors (Boston) against the worst (Seattle).
The Red Sox are listed as the MLB lines favorites at -170 while the Mariners are +150. The over/under is 8.5 runs.
As the series gets underway, the Boston Red Sox (53-42, 23-22 away) will be looking for its first series win since before the All-Star Break. They have dropped 10 of their last 14 games to fall seven games behind first-place New York in the AL East and 4 ½ games behind wild card-leading Tampa Bay.
Fortunately for the Red Sox, Thursday night’s starting pitcher John Lackey (9-5, 4.65 ERA) has been dominant in his last few road starts at Seattle. He is 5-0 with a 1.78 ERA in his last five starts at Seattle.
The Seattle Mariners (37-58, 22-26 home) have struggled at the plate all season. They are currently last in the majors in runs scored (314), batting average (.237), slugging percentage (.342), hits (748), and home runs (60). Boston, on the other hand, leads the majors in runs and slugging percentage and is in the top four in the other three categories.
The Mariners offense has taken another hit recently with the injury of Russell Branyon. The Mariners’ top power threat has missed the last two games with back spasms and could be held out for at least one more.
Ryan Rowland-Smith (1-9, 6.18 ERA) will take the mound for Seattle. The left-hander is coming off of two poor starts in which he yielded six runs in each game. On Saturday, he gave up eight hits in 3 1/3 innings. For his career, he has a 2.70 ERA against Boston but no decisions in seven relief appearances.
