Orioles-Red Sox series preview: Near the end in Fenway

After losing two of three to the Yankees in New York, the Orioles travel to Boston for the penultimate series of the season. Baltimore comes into this matchup with a 2-14 record against the Red Sox this year.

The O’s have no hope of playing spoiler in this series, seeing as Boston has already clinched the AL East division title. The Red Sox own the best record in baseball at 105-51, but they come into this series on a two-game losing streak and they’re 5-5 in their last 10 games.

The Orioles, having already set a team record for most losses in a season, are 45-110 overall. This year, the O’s have a -256 run differential, compared to Boston’s +216. It’s remarkable how the Red Sox are basically the opposite of the Orioles in many ways.

As we enter the second to last series of the year and the offseason draws closer, speculation continues to grow over the future of the team. What young players have carved out a role for themselves heading into next year? Will Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette be back? If not, who will be in charge? So many questions for a team ready to turn the page on the 2018 season.

Game One: Monday, 7:10 PM

RHP Dylan Bundy (8-15, 5.37 ERA) vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (5-7, 3.98 ERA)

Dylan Bundy will open the series for the Orioles. This year he is 0-2 with a 4.38 ERA in four total starts against the Red Sox. Those two losses may have both come at Fenway Park, but Bundy’s ERA is 3.86 while pitching there this season. The right-hander took a loss his last time to the mound, against the Toronto Blue Jays. In that game, he allowed five runs (two earned) in 6.2 innings.

The Red Sox will counter with Nathan Eovaldi, who was a midseason trade acquisition from the Tampa Bay Rays. In 10 games with the Rays, he had a 4.26 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP. In nine starts with Boston, he has a 3.64 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. In his lone start against the Orioles this year, he allowed eight runs (four earned) in 2.2 innings.

Game Two: Tuesday, 7:10 PM

TBD vs. LHP David Price (15-7, 3.53 ERA)

The Red Sox will send lefty David Price to the mound for the middle game of the series. In three September starts, he has a 2.89 ERA and a .149 batting average against. He’s won both of his starts against the Orioles this year, carrying a minuscule 1.20 ERA in those 15 innings pitched, which included a complete game. Price has enjoyed pitching at home this year, as evidenced by his 2.85 ERA in 15 starts at Fenway Park.

The Orioles have yet to announce a starter for this game.

Game Three: Wednesday, 7:10 PM

RHP Yefry Ramirez (1-7, 6.07 ERA) vs. LHP Chris Sale (12-4, 2.00 ERA)

Yefry Ramirez gets the call in the series finale for the O’s. He will try to erase the memory of his last start, when he allowed six runs to the Yankees in 3.2 innings. His outing before that was one of his better starts of the year. Despite taking a loss against the White Sox, he went a season high 5.2 innings and allowed only one run. But against New York this year, Ramirez has a 9.19 ERA in four appearances.

Boston’s Chris Sale has been able to post his typically dominant numbers while missing a big chunk of the season due to injury. He missed most of August and the beginning of September due to left shoulder issues, but he doesn’t seem bothered by it now. In three September starts, he has a 2.45 ERA. He’s also 2-0 in three starts against the O’s this year with a 1.13 ERA.