The Boston Red Sox are set to hit the road after a successful series against the Texas Rangers, with their next destination being the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals have made significant strides this season, showing potential for contention with a solid roster, especially with the young talent of Bobby Witt Jr. at the forefront. Having won six consecutive games and nine out of their last ten, they currently boast a record of 23-16, placing them third in the American League Central, while also showing a competitive +16 run differential that rivals the Red Sox’s +19.
Despite their recent success, the Royals’ offense has struggled at times. Outside of standout performances from Bobby Witt Jr. (.308/.380/.507) and Maikel Garcia (.323/.392/.496), most regular players have not managed an OPS above .700. Notably, Hunter Renfroe, who has a history of hitting 30+ home runs, has yet to find the long ball this season. Similarly, Trevor Story of the Red Sox has been in a slump, posting a daunting batting average of just .111 over his past 13 games.
As the teams prepare for their three-game series, the pitching matchups are as follows:
– Friday, May 9: Hunter Dobbins (3.78 ERA / 4.17 FIP) will face Michael Lorenzen (4.23 ERA / 5.18 FIP).
– Saturday, May 10: Garrett Crochet (2.02 ERA / 2.83 FIP) takes on Cole Ragans (3.79 ERA / 2.36 FIP).
– Sunday, May 11: Lucas Giolito (8.38 ERA / 4.85 FIP) will go against Seth Lugo (2.84 ERA / 4.37 FIP).
Fans can catch the action on NESN with games scheduled at 7:40 PM ET on Friday, 7:10 PM ET on Saturday, and 2:10 PM ET on Sunday.
The Royals’ recent form offers a promising outlook, suggesting they might be turning a corner in their pursuit of a competitive season. With both teams having their highs and lows offensively, this series could be a showcase of pitching prowess and potential playoff aspirations.