The Boston Red Sox are set to play a split-admission doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles today, following a rainout on Tuesday. This doubleheader provides the Red Sox with an opportunity to potentially extend their current 14-game winning streak, which was paused by the weather. The team is one win away from matching their franchise record of 15 consecutive victories, established in 1946.
The first game of the doubleheader, a makeup contest, is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. In this afternoon matchup, left-hander Jake Bennett is slated to pitch for the Red Sox, while right-hander Dean Kremer will start for the Orioles. The second game, the regularly scheduled series finale, will begin at 7:10 p.m.
Red Sox and Orioles Lineups for Game 1
For the afternoon game, the Orioles will feature a lineup that includes Taylor Ward in left field, Pete Alonso at first base, and Gunnar Henderson at shortstop. Tyler O’Neill will play right field, with Coby Mayo as the designated hitter. Leody Taveras is in center field, Christian Encarnacion-Strand at third base, and Jackson Holliday at second base. Sam Huff will be catching, and Dean Kremer is the starting pitcher.
The Red Sox‘ lineup for the first game will see Masataka Yoshida as the designated hitter, Ceddanne Rafaela in center field, and Wilyer Abreu in right field. Willson Contreras will play first base, Caleb Durbin at third base, and Romy Gonzalez at second base. Jarren Duran is in left field, Connor Wong will be behind the plate, and Tsung-Che Cheng is at shortstop. Jake Bennett is the starting pitcher.
Pitching Matchups and Player Notes
Dean Kremer, the Orioles‘ starter for the first game, will be looking to pitch deeper into the game than in his recent outings. He pitched four innings in Houston last Friday and five innings against the Cubs the week before. Historically, Kremer has performed well against the Red Sox, delivering 5.1 scoreless innings against them last season and 7.1 innings with one run allowed in 2024. He has limited Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela, but has faced challenges against Masataka Yoshida and Jarren Duran.
The Red Sox will give the ball to Jake Bennett, a 25-year-old left-hander who was a second-round pick in 2022. Bennett has had a strong start to his major league career, recording a 2.35 ERA in nine starts since his debut on May 1. With the Orioles facing a left-handed pitcher for the second consecutive game, they will use a similar lineup to the one deployed against Payton Tolle on Monday, with Jackson Holliday starting at second base.
For the nightcap, Kyle Bradish will make his second-half debut for Baltimore. The Red Sox‘ pitcher for the second game is yet to be determined. Originally, Ranger Suarez was expected to return from the injured list on Tuesday, but he was scratched due to moderate soreness and feeling unwell. If Suarez is not ready, the Red Sox may opt for a bullpen game, with Eduardo Rivera potentially starting and Brayan Bello available for long relief. The rainout on Tuesday could benefit the Red Sox‘ bullpen, as closer Aroldis Chapman and setup man Garrett Whitlock had pitched in three of the previous four days.
The Red Sox‘ current 14-game winning streak began when they were 37-48 and in last place in the AL East on July 1. The team was 14 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays at that time. On Monday, the Red Sox extended their streak to 14 games with a 6-5 victory over the Orioles at Fenway Park, a game that saw Tsung-Che Cheng make a game-ending out on a line drive from Tyler O’Neill.
Dean Kremer #64 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on July 17, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images” width=”960″ height=”640″ />First baseman Willson Contreras is still managing a bruised left foot, an injury sustained from a foul ball two weeks ago. Despite the discomfort, he has maintained strong offensive production in his last four games, hitting .385 with two home runs and a double, accumulating five RBIs. The Red Sox have a scheduled off day on Thursday.
Source: sports.yahoo.com