Game 57: Red Sox at Brewers, Fitts vs. Civale

What rage inducing horrors can we expect tonight?

The Red Sox remain in Milwaukee for the middle game of this three game set with the Brewers, where they will try to prevent matching two ugly season lows:

1. Their longest losing streak of the year (four games)
2. Matching the most games under .500 they’ve been all year (three games)

Both of these unfortunate distinctions happened back on March 31st when the team fell to 1-4 out of the gate. Despite crossing the .500 mark nearly a dozen times since then, they haven’t fallen as low as they could with another loss tonight.

Returning to the mound tonight is Dick Fitts, who suffered a right pectoral strain injury back on April 12th. He pitched well in his first three starts, posting a 3.18 ERA in 17 innings, but the offense failed to score more than two runs in any of those games, so the team lost all three of them. He also might not be able to go very far in this one as he’s only made one rehab start and was pulled after 38 pitches. With Garrett Whitlock being the only guy used out of the bullpen yesterday and an off day looming on Thursday, I’d expect another heavy load for the bullpen.

Perhaps the offense can help out and score more than two runs tonight against Aaron Civale, who has allowed almost as many home runs (4) as he’s recorded strike outs (5) this season.

Lineup wise, the Red Sox apparently did not learn their lesson from yesterday as they are once again batting Carlos Narvaez directly behind Rafael Devers. This of course is problematic because if you pinch run for Narvaez, you take the bat out of Devers’ hands in any future high leverage situation as the Brewers will pass on him to face Connor Wong.

First Pitch: 7:40p.m (ET).

TV: NESN

Radio: WEEI