As one might expect, the Rays are surging back in the wild-card race, and as usual they are doing it with pitching. Until Friday night, the Rays hadn’t given up more than 3 runs in 8 straight games. The Red Sox, Saturday’s opponent, are the reverse, not having given up less than 3 runs (and often much more) in their last 10 starts.

A pair of lefties start in the 2nd game of the series. Springs, a young reliever turned starter, struggled somewhat in July but has returned to his earlier form with 3 wins and a 1.66 ERA so far in August. He has been very solid on the road this year, and usually pitches into the 6th.

He faces the veteran, Rich Hill, who has spent a lot of time on the IL this season. Since returning in early August, he has 3 starts, allowing 10 ER over 12 innings. His last start vs the Pirates was a 5 inning 2 run affair. Hill has not pitched well at home.

The Rays are 15-7 in August, the Sox, 9-13. With some injured players returning, the Rays’ bats have woken up, and have been very good at generating runs lately. Not so the Sox, scoring 4.1 and allowing 7 runs, and that bullpen has been an adventure.

The Sox squeaked out a win in a high-scoring affair on Friday night. I don’t expect a repeat on Saturday. Take the Rays to bounce back and win.