On Sunday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers will take on the Boston Red Sox in the final game of a three-game series at Fenway Park. The teams split the first two meetings, both of which were blowouts. The Dodgers are 61-33 on the year while the Red Sox are 50-42.
Last Time Out
The Dodgers piled up 14 hits en route to an 11-2 victory on Saturday. Los Angeles starter Ross Stripling went five innings, allowing one run on four hits and no walks while striking out seven. The bullpen came in and allowed just one run on two hits and a walk while striking out three. The Dodgers got four home runs in this one, and Justin Turner led the way. He went 3 for 5 with a home run and a double and drove in two runs.
Max Muncy went 3 for 5 with a home run and scored twice to go with an RBI. Cody Bellinger and AJ Pollock both went 2 for 4 with two RBI and a home run. Kike Hernandez went 2 for 3 with two runs scored, and David Freese and Austin Barnes each recorded one hit.
Chris Sale was horrible in this one, and his record fell to 3-9 on the season. He went 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out seven. The bullpen struggled as well, going 4 1/3 innings and allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five.
The offense was terrible too, and Xander Bogaerts was the only hitter with an extra-base hit. He went 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBI. Brock Holt went 2 for 2 with two singles. Mookie Betts went 1 for 4 with a run scored and Rafael Devers went 1 for 3. The rest of the team went 0 for 20, and the Red Sox combined for 10 strikeouts.
Pitching Matchup
Hyun-Jin Ryu will be on the mound for the Dodgers on Sunday. He has had an incredible year and is the front runner for the NL Cy Young award. He is 10-2 with a 1.73 ERA in 109 innings with 99 strikeouts and a 0.91 WHIP.
The Dodgers do not have much experience against David Price as only two players have faced him. Russell Martin has the most at-bats by far and is just 5 for 29, and Chris Taylor is 0 for 4.
Price will get the start for the Red Sox and is having a solid year as well. He is 7-2 with a 3.24 ERA in 83.1 innings with 95 strikeouts and a 1.14 WHIP.
There is only one player on the Red Sox with any experience against Ryu. J.D. Martinez is 1 for 4 against Ryu while the rest of the team has never faced him during the regular season. This favors Ryu as the Red Sox will not be comfortable facing him for the first time.
Prediction
The Red Sox are -106. This game will be a good one and looks like it will be a pitchers duel. Both pitchers have had great years, and basically none of the hitters have faced them. The Dodgers are possibly the best team in baseball once again and are absolutely loaded. The Red Sox have a solid team as well but are underachieving this season and are looking to figure it out in the second half. With that being said, the Dodgers are the better team, and Ryu is definitely the better pitcher. Ryu will shut down this Red Sox lineup en route to a Dodgers victory. Take the Dodgers -104.
