Baltimore Orioles Vs. Boston Red Sox: Lineups, preview, and prediction (May 17, 2018)

(Photo credit: Keith Allison)

The Orioles got to Boston after a 4-1 loss in Philadelphia. They had trouble finding any success against Phillies pitcher Nick Pivetta. The registered just two hits on him, and while one was a homer by Adam Jones, that was all the run support the lineup could provide. O's starter Andrew Cashner allowed three runs, including a homer, and the bullpen couldn't stop the rot either.

Boston are coming into this series off a surprising series loss to the Oakland A's. They were able to salvage a win last night, with a 6-4 victory behind the efforts of Chris Sale. The ace gave up a two-run homer, but he also struck out nine and allowed just two hits before handing over a solid lead to the bullpen, which nearly coughed it up. JD Martinez and Xander Bogaerts both went deep.

Kevin Gausman (RHP) Vs. David Price (LHP)

Gausman comes into today with a 3.18 ERA and 1.20 WHIP on the season. That ERA has dropped by nearly a run in the month of May after a complete game shutout against the A's and a two-run start against the Rays. He does give up a lot of hits, 8.6 per nine innings, but he has controlled his walks and isn't allowing too many homers so far, leading to much better results than in previous years.

Price's form has dried up almost entirely since the start of the season. He had a dreadful start against Texas at the beginning of May, giving up seven runs in 3.2 innings, and then was barely ok against the Blue Jays last time out. His ERA of 4.89 is incredible given that he went seven scoreless in each of his first two starts. The Sox are very much not getting their money's worth at the moment.

Projected lineups

Who's hot, and who's not

Danny Valencia is Baltimore's hottest hitter right now, with two homers and a .391 average in the last two weeks. The power has come from Manny Machado and Adam Jones, who have seven homers between them in the last two weeks, while Trey Mancini also has three dingers. Chris Davis has been a black hole in the lineup of late, hitting just .188.

Mookie Betts and JD Martinez have been hitting like MVPs of late. The pair are both hitting over .350 in the last two weeks, and Betts has five homers and five steals in that time period while Martinez has seven homers and 14 RBI. Mitch Moreland and Andrew Benintendi have also hit well. On the flip side, Hanley Ramirez, Eduardo Nunez, and Rafael Devers have all hit under .220 over the last two weeks, though Ramirez and Devers do have three homers each.

Prediction

The Orioles have a definite advantage on the mound, but the Red Sox also have a much more in-form lineup. It will take something special for Kevin Gausman to keep Betts and Martinez quiet tonight, but if his own lineup can get after Price then the Orioles have a real chance of winning. I'll take Boston by one, just because there is a lot of power in the lineup right now, but don't be too surprised if Baltimore win.