Red Sox vs Guardians Preview: Big Pitching Showdown Saturday

The Boston Red Sox landed in Cleveland down one game after Friday's heartbreaker. Cleveland exploded early, scoring four runs in the first inning alone. Boston fought back with three runs of their own, but it wasn't enough. Now the Red Sox hope to even things up on Saturday. Sonny Gray takes the mound for Boston with a tough challenge ahead. Gray's ERA sits at 6.75 this season. The Red Sox need their bats to wake up and help their pitcher survive.

The Guardians are humming right now. They won their last two games, including that dominant first-inning performance Friday. Cleveland's record sits at 34-25, and they're 17-12 at home. That's solid baseball. The bats came alive early against Boston, with multiple hits and smart baserunning. Steven Kwan has been finding his rhythm again after some struggles. Parker Messick gets the start for Cleveland on the mound. The Guardians know they have momentum, and home field gives them real advantage.

Boston's ace Garrett Crochet won't be available yet. His shoulder still needs rest, though he's getting closer to returning. That leaves Sonny Gray holding down the fort. Gray will need to pitch well because Boston's bullpen has been stretched thin. The Red Sox are only 23-33 this season. They're losing more games than they're winning. Cleveland's pitching staff is built to last. If Boston can't slow down Cleveland's bats, Saturday could be another tough day at Progressive Field.