Fueled by a pair of five-game winning streaks over the past two weeks, the Boston Red Sox are rolling into the All-Star break.
On Thursday afternoon, they will attempt to complete a perfect road trip and secure a sweep of the slumping Chicago White Sox.
Boston has opened its nine-game swing with a 5-0 record and has won 10 of its last 12 games overall. The Red Sox claimed a series victory with a 5-0 shutout on Wednesday night, while Chicago has dropped five of its last seven contests.
“Man, we’re having fun,” Boston third baseman Caleb Durbin said. “It definitely feels different in the clubhouse, different in the dugout. I mean, we’re clicking. So, it’s a lot of fun when you’re stringing some wins together and obviously feels the best it’s felt yet.”
The mood in the White Sox dugout stands in stark contrast. Despite holding a one-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians atop the American League Central, Chicago’s potent offense has gone cold to begin a six-game homestand.
Red Sox rookie left-handers Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett have combined to hold the White Sox to just eight hits in the series. Chicago, which ranks fourth in the majors in home runs, has been shut out for 11 consecutive innings.
“A couple tough arms, you know,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “These big lefties have really good fastballs and a lot of extension; these fastballs get on you a lot. We’ve just been seeing a lot of foul balls. … Just got to continue to compete.”
Shortstop Luisangel Acuna accounted for two of Chicago’s four hits in Wednesday’s loss. Colson Montgomery struck out three times and is 0-for-8 in the series.
Meanwhile, three Red Sox players recorded multi-hit games. Tsung-Che Cheng drove in two runs with a pair of singles, while Ceddanne Rafaela and Durbin each added two hits.
Left-hander Anthony Kay (6-3, 4.29 ERA) will take the mound for Chicago in an effort to salvage the finale and earn his first win since June 12.
Kay has failed to complete five innings in three of his last four starts. That includes a no-decision at Cleveland last Thursday, where he allowed one run on one hit over four innings with two walks and two strikeouts before a rain delay ended his outing; the White Sox went on to lose 6-5.
Kay is 1-0 with a 5.63 ERA in five career relief appearances against Boston, recording 10 strikeouts and allowing 10 hits over eight innings.
Opposing Kay will be Boston left-hander Patrick Sandoval, making his first major league appearance since June 21, 2024. Sandoval, activated from the 60-day injured list on Monday, has recovered from Tommy John surgery and additional setbacks.
“This whole process has been mentally draining and challenging, obviously,” Sandoval said. “The physical stuff, the setbacks and the pain, or whatever, but it took a toll mentally, for sure, and it just taught me a lot.”
Sandoval is 0-3 with a 7.63 ERA in three career starts against the White Sox, spanning 15 1/3 innings.
Red Sox infielders Willson Contreras (left foot contusion) and Anthony Seigler (right trapezius contusion) exited Wednesday’s game in the third inning due to injuries.
Interim manager Chad Tracy reported afterward that Contreras was able to put weight on his foot and Seigler was experiencing soreness. Contreras indicated he believes his injury is day-to-day.
