Boston @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2019 ) Boston 17, Baltimore 6

The 2019 Boston Red Sox are a showcase in inconsistency and are showing that off this weekend at the Baltimore Orioles. The Red Sox will try to put together back-to-back solid performances and earn a series win when they visit the Orioles for the rubber match of the three-game set on Sunday.

Boston, which would miss the playoffs if the season ended today, dropped the series opener 11-2 on Friday but bounced back with a 17-6 triumph on Saturday as the offense came alive, highlighted by a pair of three-run homers from Jackie Bradley Jr. The one consistent thing for the Red Sox between the two games was the struggles of the starting pitchers, with David Price getting knocked around on Saturday and Rick Porcello serving up six runs in five innings on Saturday. The Orioles own the worst record in the majors (30-67) but looked like a different team in a pair of lopsided victories before dropping back down to earth on Saturday. Boston will try to coax a quality start out of Andrew Cashner when he goes up against his former team opposite Orioles righty Asher Wojciechowski.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Andrew Cashner (9-4, 4.09 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Asher Wojciechowski (0-3, 5.74)

Cashner was traded from Baltimore to Boston last weekend and struggled in his first start for his new team on Tuesday, when he was knocked around for six runs - five earned - on eight hits and a pair of walks over five innings against Toronto. The veteran Texan surrendered a total of five earned runs in 32 innings over his last five starts for the Orioles. Cashner is 4-0 with a 3.47 ERA in six starts at Camden Yards this season.

Wojciechowski was acquired from Cleveland at the beginning of the month and is making his fourth start - fifth appearance - since joining Baltimore. The 30-year-old served up a pair of home runs against Washington on Tuesday but limited the damage to three runs over 5 1/3 innings while striking out seven in a loss. Wojciechowski made one previous appearance against Boston, tossing two scoreless innings in relief as a member of the Cincinnati Reds in 2017.

WALK-OFFS

1. Orioles OF Anthony Santander recorded his first four-hit game on Saturday and is 8-for-12 with six runs scored over the last three contests.

2. Boston activated RHP Nathan Eovaldi (elbow) off the injured list on Saturday.

3. Boston rookie INF Michael Chavis left Saturday's game with back tightness and is day-to-day.

PREDICTION: Red Sox 4, Orioles 2