The Red Sox just endured the toughest portion of their schedule and lived to tell about it. Now, they start a 36-game sprint to the finish in which they must take care of business at home.
That begins Friday night when the Sox welcome the defending National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks to Fenway Park for a three-game series in Boston. Now would be a great time for the Red Sox to solve one of their most peculiar issues this season, having not taken full advantage of friendly Fenway. The Sox are just 29-32 at home this season, with 20 of their remaining 36 games in the Hub.
The D-Backs present a tough test to start. The Snakes are one of baseball's hottest teams. Arizona has won its last three and seven of its last 10. Since a loss to Kansas City dropped the Diamondbacks to one game above .500 on July 22, they have turned things around. The Diamondbacks are 21-6 since then, getting back in position to defend their pennant this fall.
It should help the Red Sox to have Brayan Bello taking the mound for the opener. The Sox have won each of his last five starts, including eight of nine. Bellow is 4-0 with a 3.78 ERA since the start of July and has allowed a run or less in each of his last two starts. Bello has held opponents to three runs or fewer in each of his last seven starts. Improving his command, however, remains a work in progress.
The Red Sox are getting some reinforcement in the bullpen, too. The club activated Joely Rodríguez ahead of the series opener while optioning Greg Weissert to Worcester and moving James Paxton to the 60-day disabled list.
Rodríguez hasn't pitched in the big leagues since April when he was designated for assignment and assigned to Triple-A. The left-hander battled some injuries with the WooSox, appearing in just 13 games. He's been good lately, allowing no earned runs on just three hits in 5 1/3 innings this month.
Here's how the Red Sox will start Friday's series opener. NESN's coverage begins at 5:30 p.m. ET.
BOSTON RED SOX (67-59)
Jarren Duran, CF
Wilyer Abreu, RF
Triston Casas, 1B
Rafael Devers, 3B
Tyler O'Neill, LF
Masataka Yoshida, D
Danny Jansen, C
David Hamilton, 2B
Cedanne Rafaela, SS
Brayan Bello, RHP (11-5, 4.80 ERA)
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (72-56)
Corbin Carroll, RF
Jake McCarthy, CF
Joc Pederson, DH
Josh Bell, 1B
Lourdes Gurriel, LF
Adrian Del Castillo, C
Eugenio Suarez, 3B
Luis Guillorme, 2B
Geraldo Perdomo, SS
Ryne Nelson, RHP (8-6, 4.35 ERA)
