The Red Sox are back home on Friday following a road trip in which they went 2-4 against two teams leading their divisions, San Diego and Houston.
The Red Sox enter the weekend in second place in the American League East, five games behind the Blue Jays. The Sox are also second in the chase for one of three wild-card spots.
Righthander Lucas Giolito will be looking to rebound from a poor performance in his last outing when he takes the mound Friday vs. the Marlins. Giolito was 7-1 with a 2.03 ERA in his previous 10 starts, but was roughed up by the Padres on Saturday and at one point walked four consecutive batters, two of which forced in runs.
“I lost feel. Lost feel for my mechanics. I just couldn’t make the adjustment. It’s inexcusable. I truly believe that if I had just gotten out of that fifth inning, made the adjustment, then we would have won that game,” Giolito said.
It is Players’ Weekend across MLB. Players are allowed to use custom cleats and bats to showcase their personalities, hobbies, and causes important to them.
Here’s a preview.
MARLINS (58-63): Edwards 2B, Stowers LF, Ramírez C, Hicks DH, Lopez SS, Marsee CF, Wagaman 1B, Pauley 3B, Myers RF
Pitching: RHP Sandy Alcantara (6-11, 6.55 ERA)
RED SOX (66-56): Anthony DH, Bregman 3B, Duran LF, Story SS, Abreu RF, Gonzalez 2B, Toro 1B, Rafaela CF, Narváez C
Pitching: RHP Lucas Giolito (8-2, 3.77 ERA)
Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
Marlins vs. Giolito: Derek Hill 1-3
Red Sox vs. Alcantara: Jarren Duran 0-3, Trevor Story 3-8, Abraham Toro 1-2, Connor Wong 0-3
Stat of the day: Of Boston’s 40 remaining games, 24 are against teams with a sub-.500 record.
Notes: Giolito will be making his second career appearance against Miami. On June 11, 2023, he gave up a run on six hits, struck out eight and walked one in seven innings during a no-decision … Miami starter Sandy Alcantara is 1-1 with a 1.38 ERA in two career starts against the Red Sox. In two starts this month, Alcantara is 0-2 with an 8.25 ERA … The Marlins ended a four-game losing streak by winning at Cleveland on Wednesday, but then dropped the rubber game Thursday … Brayan Bello is Boston’s scheduled starter on Saturday, and Garrett Crochet gets the ball on Sunday … The Red Sox plan to host a Jarren Duran lookalike contest at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The winner receives a pair of tickets to a future game and a baseball signed by Duran.
Material from Stats and Field Level Media was used in this report.
Matt Pepin can be reached at matt.pepin@globe.com.