The Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles meet in game two of their four-game AL East series from Camden Yards on Friday.

Red Sox Playing Out The String

The Boston Red Sox come into this game playing for pride at this point after a 2-0 loss in Thursday’s series opener. The loss dropped the Red Sox to 76-83 on the year as a result. Rafael Devers leads the Red Sox with 155 hits, 33 home runs and 98 RBIs while Masataka Yoshida has a .285 batting average. Alex Verdugo has a team-best 37 doubles and 5 triples while Justin Turner has 23 home runs and 96 RBIs as well this season. Nick Pivetta will start for the Red Sox here and is 9-9 with a 4.25 ERA and 173 strikeouts this season.

Orioles Clinch AL East

The Baltimore Orioles completed the task, clinching the AL East and the best record in the AL, earning home field through the ALCS after their 100th win on Thursday. The win pushed the record to 100-59 on the year. Anthony Santander leads the Orioles with 28 home runs and 93 RBIs as well as 150 hits and 41 doubles while Adley Rutschman has a team-high 161 hits and a .374 OBP. Austin Hays has a team-best .277 batting average and 143 hits and 36 doubles as well for the O’s. Gunnar Henderson also has a team-high 9 triples for the Orioles up to this point in the year. John Means will start for the Orioles here and is 1-1 with a 2.60 ERA and 6 strikeouts this season.

Chris’ Pick

I’m leaning towards the Orioles here. Part of me questions the level of motivation the Orioles have after clinching the top spot in the AL and if there’s a hangover effect here, but I’m certainly not backing the Red Sox, and I think this is a prime opportunity for John Means to log some innings if he’s going to be a key part of the Orioles staff during this playoff run. The Orioles are just flat out the better team and I think they get it done here.