The 80-67 Boston Red Sox had a well-deserved day off yesterday and will be recharged when they open a 3-game set tonight with the 65-82 Kansas City Royals at Fenway. The Red Sox lost their last two to the bottom feeding Los Angeles Angels, but they were tapped and get a pass after playing 14 games in 13 days. Their ace Sonny Gray is expected to be called upon to throw strikes and that is what he does. Gray leads the majors in wins with 17, has only 4 losses, owns an ERA of just 2.69, and a 1.16 WHIP. He last face the Royals on May 18th and delivered, allowing only 1 run on 5 hits, striking out 9, and Boston went on to a 3-1 victory. Seth Lugo is expected to get the start for KC and Boston should be able to put up some runs against the right-hander. Lugo is upside down at 6-8, has an elevated 5.04 ERA, and a 1.44 WHIP. The Red Sox swept the Royals in a 3-game set back in May in Kansas City and could easily do the same in this series.
TONIGHT’S PICK: BOSTON RED SOX