The Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds will square off on Tuesday for just the third time since battling on the national stage in the epic 1975 World Series. The Reds will visit Fenway Park for the first time since 2005 as they take on the defending champions for a quick midweek two-game series.
Homer Bailey (2-2) of the Reds will oppose the Red Sox’s Felix Doubront (1-3) in the series-opener. Bailey is fresh off his finest pitching performance of the season, hurling eight innings with just three runs allowed in a victory over the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers. Faltering in each of his past three starts, Doubront has yet to make it through seven innings in 2014. The left-hander has been unable to record a victory since earning a win in his first start of the year.
The Red Sox do not have much experience against Bailey. The only players with more than two career at-bats against Bailey are Grady Sizemore (2-for-10) and Shane Victorino (4-for-11, HR).
Jake Peavy will look for some run support when he takes the mound for the series-finale. Peavy has been an imposing force in the Red Sox’s rotation, posting a 2.87 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings pitched. Peavy’s pedestrian 1-1 record does not reflect the season the right-hander has had thus far.
On the opposite side, Mike Leake, who knows what it feels like to be a hard-luck loser, will take the hill for the Reds. Leake (2-3) is coming off a dominant start in which he surrendered just two runs in eight innings, yet was hooked for the loss in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Brewers.
Receiving positive news on the injury front was Red Sox relief pitcher Edward Mujica, who dealt with discomfort in his right oblique as he warmed up in the bullpen in Saturday’s contest versus the Oakland A’s. Mujica will avoid a trip to the disabled list, according to Red Sox manager John Farrell.
“This isn't a DL situation as a result of the exam this morning," Farrell said, via MetroWest Daily News. "Likely unavailable today. Give him today and tomorrow ... to continue to receive treatment and see where we are when we open up against Cincinnati (on Tuesday)."
The Red Sox and Reds will both get a day off on Thursday, before each squad hits the road for its respective weekend series. These two clubs will meet again this year in Cincinnati for a two-game series on Aug. 12-13.
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