Previewing This Week's Red Sox-Rays Series

By Johnny Carey, CBS Boston

BOSTON (CBS) ---The Red Sox will begin their fourth consecutive series against an AL East opponent tonight when the Tampa Bay Rays come to town for a three-game set.

It's the first time Boston (6-6) and Tampa Bay (5-7) will square off this year, and surprisingly, it'll be the only time the two teams meet until late June.

Probable Pitchers (according to ESPN.com)

Game One: Tuesday @ 7:10 P.M.

Joe Kelly RHP ( 1-0, 10.13 ERA)

Kelly got the win in his last start against Baltimore - going 5.0 innings and allowing only two earned runs. He did struggle with control, however, walking five batters and pitching himself into far too many full counts. Kelly will look to build off the win, albeit making sure to keep the ball in the zone against a Tampa Bay lineup that is far less dangerous than Baltimore's.

Drew Smyly LHP ( 0-2, 4.61 ERA)

Smyly got rocked in his first outing of the season, allowing three home runs in a loss to Toronto. His last start went much better, as the lefty tossed seven innings, striking out eleven and allowing just two earned runs.

Smyly (3.28 career ERA) is a quality piece to the Tampa rotation who especially gives left-handed hitters a hard time. Given lefty opponents bat .192, against Smyly, it would make sense for Farrell to start Chris Young in the role he was signed to play.

Game Two: Wednesday @ 7:10 P.M.

Rick Porcello RHP ( 2-0, 5.11 ERA)

Porcello pitched well last Friday against Toronto, allowing only two hits over 6.1 innings. Unfortuntaley for Porcello, both of those two hits were home runs. The long ball has been an issue so far (four home runs through two starts) so in order for Porcello to prove that he's capable of pitching deep into a ballgame, it will be imperative for the sinker-baller to keep the ball down.

Chris Archer RHP ( 0-3, 5.87 ERA)

Archer is the ace of Tampa Bay's staff, but he hasn't pitched like it so far this season.

Archer hasn't gone more than 5.1 innings in any start, while the Tampa Bay bats haven't given him any support, either. Over his first three starts, the Rays have scored a total of four runs.

It'd be ill-advised to expect Archer to continue to struggle, as the 27-year-old has never finished a full season with an ERA higher than 3.33, but in 11 career starts against the Red Sox, he's 1-6 with a 5.14 ERA.

Boston is certainly not the team Archer wants to face while trying to end a skid.

Game Three: Thursday @ 1:35 P.M.

David Price LHP (2-0, 4.50 ERA)

Much has been said and written about Price, but it's only been three starts and the ace of the Red Sox staff is 2-0. He looked sharp against Toronto on Saturday, striking out nine and allowing two runs over seven innings of work.

Price is arguably the greatest pitcher in Rays history, recording the franchise's second most wins (trailing James Shields by 5), as well as the lowest ERA for any qualified Tampa bay starter (3.18).

He showed his most recent ex, Toronto, what it was missing last time out, and for a second consecutive start, Price will have the chance to shut down a former team.

Jake Odorizzi RHP (0-1, 2.41 ERA)

Odorizzi had a break-out season in 2015, posting a 3.35 ERA over the course of 28 starts. So far this year, he's off to prove it was no fluke.

Odorizzi has gone deeper in each start (5.1, 6.0, 7.0 innings, respectively) and has only walked three batters over those 18.1 innings.

What To Watch For: 

Will Betts and Bogaerts Heat Up?

Sitting at 6-6, there have been plenty of up's and down's (as one would expect) early on in the season. Most of the team's concerns have revolved around the pitching staff or Pablo Sandoval due to offseason story lines, but some big pieces to the Red Sox lineup have also undergone slow starts this season.

Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts haven't played up to their capabilities, hitting .222 and .220 respectively. Despite memorable moments including Betts's huge opening day, and Bogaerts's game-winning home run against Toronto, each player has lacked consistency at the plate. There's no real concern with either player, but in order for the Red Sox to win against quality Tampa Bay pitching, they will need their No. 1 and No. 3 hitters to contribute.

Bogaerts has had success against all three Rays projected starters (especially Odorizzi), so it'd be a good bet that he bounces out of his funk this week.

Betts is 5-12 in his career against Tuesday night's starter Smyly, but has struggled in limited at-bats against Archer and Odorizzi.

Is there actually an issue with Kimbrel?

Craig Kimbrel is a historically great major league closer, but early season struggles with command have some worried that the issue will linger throughout the season. It's unlikely considering how dominant Kimbrel has been for years, but it's Boston and early season struggles are always going to be over-analyzed.

With a good series against Tampa Bay, Kimbrel could at least quiet some of those early season questions.

Matchup of strength v. strength:

Something's got to give when the dangerous Red Sox lineup comes up to the plate against an impressive Tampa Bay pitching staff.

Boston's last ten games have been against Toronto and Baltimore, who rely on their lineups to make up for shortcomings in their rotations. Playing against those two teams can often lead to the feeling that it's going to take eight runs in order to win.

This series should have a different feel to it.

Tampa Bay's lineup is by far the weakest in the AL East on paper, while their rotation looks to be the strongest. In 2015, they scored the second-fewest runs in the AL, while recording the fourth best team ERA. That was good for the worst offense and best pitching staff in the AL East.

Boston, on the other hand, scored the fourth most runs in the league, while posting the sixth-worst team ERA.

It'll be interesting to see whether or not their lineup will be able to produce enough to back its starters, because if they do, Tampa Bay is built to win a lot of close, low-scoring ball games.

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