The Boston Red Sox will have an opportunity to make history when they play two games against the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.
Boston, which has won 14 consecutive games, had a chance to tie the club record for consecutive victories when it was scheduled to play Baltimore on Tuesday, but that game was postponed by rain and rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader. If the Red Sox win both games Wednesday, they will break the team record of 15 consecutive victories set in 1946 (April 25-May 10).
“You try not to (think about it), but I want it,” Boston third baseman Caleb Durbin said. “I can’t speak for anyone else because we haven’t really talked about it, but shoot, yeah, I want to make history here.
“A lot of really good ballclubs that have come through here, too. When it’s all said and done — and hopefully it’s not done for a little while — we’ll look back on it and look at how cool of a run it was.”
Boston’s 14-game winning streak is the longest in Major League Baseball this season and is tied for the longest winning streak in the American League since Seattle won 14 in a row in 2022.
“It would mean a lot, for sure,” Boston first baseman Willson Contreras said. “We are trying to play the same way every day. We are thriving and trying to win as much as we can because we know we have to take advantage of anything.
“We are relentless. We are resilient. We’re looking forward to keep going this way. … If it happens it would be great for us and we’ll have to celebrate that. If it doesn’t, we have to keep going.”
The Orioles are thin at the catching position. Rookie Samuel Basallo didn’t play in Monday’s loss to Boston because of a sore right shoulder, and he wasn’t scheduled to start Tuesday’s game. Adley Rutschman, Baltimore’s starting catcher, was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday with wrist inflammation.
“(Basallo is) dealing with it, maintaining it,” Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz said in his pregame media conference Tuesday. “He’s feeling a little bit better today. We’re very hopeful with him. We’re going to support him and make sure he gets the treatment he needs and see where he’s at each day.”
Boston will send left-hander rookie Jake Bennett (5-3, 2.35 ERA) to the mound in Game 1 on Wednesday. It’ll be his first career appearance against the Orioles.
Right-hander Dean Kremer (1-2, 4.15) is scheduled to start for Baltimore. Kremer is 3-4 with a 5.04 ERA in 10 career starts against Boston.
Righty Kyle Bradish (6-9, 3.61) is slated to start the nightcap for Baltimore, per MLB.com. In 10 starts against Boston, Bradish is 1-6 with a 6.75 ERA. He is coming off an impressive 6-1 home win over the Kansas City Royals, giving up just one run on two hits over 6 2/3 innings on July 11.
Boston had not named a Game 2 starter as of late Tuesday night.
Following Monday’s 6-5 victory, Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said lefty Ranger Suarez (4-3, 3.15 ERA) would be activated and start Tuesday’s game, but that plan was scrapped and the team planned to start rookie lefty Eduardo Rivera on Tuesday instead.
Suarez hasn’t pitched since July 5 because of a groin strain, but Tracy said the All-Star could be activated and start Wednesday’s second game.
“We’ve just gotta wait and see how he feels tomorrow,” Tracy said.
–Field Level Media
