The Red Sox will try to end their home series on a better note when they face the Braves in a left-handed pitching matchup at Fenway Park. A win would give Boston only its second home series victory of the season, as the club enters the finale with a 1-6-1 mark at Fenway Park.
Boston will hand the ball to Payton Tolle, while Atlanta turns to Chris Sale in a familiar meeting for both clubs. Sale is in his third season with the Braves after spending the previous seven with the Red Sox, and the matchup adds another layer to a game already shaped by pitching and recent form.
Lineups for the finale
The Braves are set to open with Ronald Acuña Jr. in right field, followed by Mauricio Dubón in left, Matt Olson at first base, Ozzie Albies at second, Austin Riley at third and Michael Harris II in center. Ha-Seong Kim is listed at shortstop, Sandy León is at designated hitter and the lineup closes with León behind the plate in the reference order.
Atlanta enters with a 37-19 record, and Sale is listed as the starter with a 7-3 mark and a 1.89 ERA. The combination of a strong lineup and an experienced left-hander gives the Braves a stable look for the series finale.
Boston’s order starts with Ceddanne Rafaela in center field and Wilyer Abreu in right, with Willson Contreras at first base and Andruw Monasterio at designated hitter. Nick Sogard is at second, Isiah Kiner-Falefa at short, Carlos Narváez at catcher and Caleb Durbin at third base.
The Red Sox are 23-31, and Tolle is scheduled to start after posting a 2-2 record and a 2.45 ERA. Boston has leaned on him as one of its more effective arms this season, especially with the rotation trying to steady a team still searching for consistency at home.
What stands out about the pitching matchup
Tolle has been one of the better rookie starters in the majors by run prevention. His 2.45 ERA ranks second among MLB rookies with at least 35 innings pitched, behind Cleveland’s Parker Messick at 2.24.
The rookie also brings recent success against Atlanta into this start. He faced the Braves earlier this season and delivered a career-best eight innings on May 16, allowing two runs on four hits in a 3-2 win in Atlanta.
That outing fits a broader pattern for Tolle. He has allowed three runs or fewer in eight of his nine career starts, including all six of his starts this season.
Sale brings a different profile to the game, but his results remain strong. He is 4-1 with a 1.89 ERA in 12 appearances, including seven starts, against the Red Sox, and he has allowed one run or fewer in eight of his 10 starts this season.
His most recent start also went well. Sale threw seven innings against the Marlins on May 20 and gave up just one run in a win, continuing a stretch of efficient outings for Atlanta.
Recent trends and key notes
Boston has a few hitters producing at the right time, even as the team has struggled overall. Jarren Duran has homered in each of the last two games and is batting .357 with a .429 on-base percentage and a 1.191 OPS over his last 10 games.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa has also provided steady run production, with an RBI in four straight games to match a career-long streak. That kind of support could matter against a veteran pitcher like Sale, especially with Boston trying to convert recent offensive signs into a home win.
Atlanta’s lineup has been tough for opposing pitchers to navigate, and the club’s 37-19 record reflects that balance of power and depth. The Braves also have the benefit of Sale’s familiarity with the Red Sox, even though Boston’s lineup includes several hitters who have limited but notable past success against him.
The game is set for 4:10 p.m. and will air on NESN and WEEI-FM 93.7. With Tolle looking to build on one of the strongest rookie ERAs in the league and Sale aiming to keep Atlanta rolling, the finale at Fenway Park has the ingredients of a sharp pitching duel.
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