Red Sox vs Mariners Preview: Clash of Cy Young Hopefuls

You watched Boston explode on Friday night, 6-2. The Red Sox bats came alive in the seventh inning—Durbin's two-run single sparked the rally. Then Mayer doubled to left and scored Durbin again in the ninth. Boston's riding a two-game winning streak into Sunday. That means this Red Sox team is dangerous right now. They're hungry to keep winning. Seattle's lost two straight games. The Mariners want to bounce back at home. This matchup sets up perfectly—Boston's hot, Seattle's desperate to stop the bleeding.

Logan Gilbert is Seattle's starter Sunday, and he's been solid this season. Gilbert sits with a 3.88 ERA and 28 strikeouts. He's the anchor Seattle needs right now. Boston sends Payton Tolle to the mound—a chance for the young arm to prove himself. The Mariners rotation is deep and balanced. Gilbert and Luis Castillo lead the charge. George Kirby, Bryce Miller, and Bryan Woo follow behind them. This staff is one of baseball's best. Sunday's matchup comes down to who throws strikes and limits damage early.

Boston's got problems in the lineup. Roman Anthony's finger still hurts when he swings. Trevor Story's recovering from surgery on his abdomen. Isiah Kiner-Falefa's out with forearm inflammation. Garrett Crochet, the ace, won't return until after the All-Star break. These injuries pile up fast. The Red Sox need role players to step up. Andruw Monasterio might get extra infield starts. Anthony Seigler's coming up from Triple-A to help. Seattle's dealing with injuries too—Randy Arozarena's hamstring is sore. Luke Raley's still recovering from the flu. Both teams are limping forward. Who stays healthy enough to win matters most.