The Red Sox head into Thursday’s finale trying to avoid a sweep after another frustrating loss left them with little margin for error in the series. They were shut out 3-0 on Wednesday and stranded 13 runners for the second straight game, a stretch that has exposed how hard it has been to finish scoring chances.
Interim manager Chad Tracy said the club is creating opportunities, but not cashing them in. “We took some walks, we got some baserunners,” Tracy said, adding that the Sox need to “drive a ball with two outs, one out and find a gap.”
Gray Brings Strong Recent Form
The finale features a right-hander matchup, with Sonny Gray set to start for Boston against Toronto’s Trey Yesavage. Gray has been one of the brighter spots for the Red Sox, and he enters the game with an 8-1 record and a 3.03 ERA.
His recent stretch has been even better. Gray is 6-0 with a 2.36 ERA over his last eight starts and has won three straight outings, including a six-inning, one-run performance in a 10-1 win over the Rangers last Friday.
| Matchup | Starter | Record | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Jays | Trey Yesavage | 3-3 | 3.78 |
| Red Sox | Sonny Gray | 8-1 | 3.03 |
Lineups For The Finale
The Blue Jays will open with George Springer at DH, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base, and Jesús Sánchez in right field. Toronto’s lineup also includes Anthony Piñango in left, Ernie Clement at second, Nathan Lukes in center, and Andrés Giménez at shortstop.
Boston will send out Gasper at DH, Ceddanne Rafaela in center, Wilyer Abreu in right, and Willson Contreras at first. Jarren Duran is in left, Isiah Kiner-Falefa at shortstop, and Moisés Durbin at third.
| Blue Jays | Red Sox |
|---|---|
| Springer DH | Gasper DH |
| Guerrero Jr. 1B | Rafaela CF |
| Sánchez RF | Abreu RF |
| Piñango LF | Contreras 1B |
| Clement 2B | Duran LF |
| Lukes CF | Kiner-Falefa SS |
| Okamoto 3B | Durbin 3B |
| Valenzuela C | Wong C |
| Giménez SS | Monasterio 2B |
What The Numbers Say
Boston’s offense has been one of the least productive in the majors, with a .695 OPS that ranks 25th, a .314 on-base percentage that ranks 21st, and a .381 slugging percentage that ranks 26th. The Sox also left at least one runner on base in every inning from the first through the eighth in Wednesday’s shutout loss.
Gray has handled Toronto well over his career, going 4-4 with a 2.91 ERA in 15 appearances, including 14 starts, against the Blue Jays. Yesavage has already seen Boston once, pitching 5⅓ innings in a 3-0 win on April 28.
Game Information
The game is set for 1:35 p.m. and will air on NESN and WEEI-FM 93.7. After the finale, Boston heads west for a six-game trip to Seattle and Colorado that begins Friday against the Mariners.