Red Sox Finally Getting Healthy and the Rays' Pitching Dominance Is About to Face a Real Test

The Boston Red Sox are hot right now, and they're about to walk straight into one of the toughest pitching matchups in baseball. After a rough start to the season, Boston is riding a five wins in six games surge heading into Sunday's rubber game against Tampa Bay, and they just got a massive boost to their bullpen back from injury.

Here's the situation: the Red Sox are still scrapping to stay out of the cellar in the AL East alongside Baltimore, but their pitching has been absolutely locked in lately. Over their last 13 games, Boston's staff has allowed three runs or fewer nine times and posted a 2.79 ERA during that stretch. Then on Saturday, before rain postponed the game, the Red Sox activated reliever Justin Slaten from the injured list after he missed over a month with an oblique strain.

The Bullpen Just Got Deeper

Slaten is coming back sharp too. He's got a clean 0.00 ERA with five strikeouts in just 3 1/3 innings across four appearances this season. Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy knows exactly what this means for the stretch run.

"It's like adding an extra guy into a lineup," Tracy said. "When Slaten's healthy and in there, between him, Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman, we're going to rely on those guys at the back end of the bullpen. Having all three available, you feel like you can make it really, really difficult on a team for the last nine outs."

Slaten struggled last year with a 4.24 ERA in 36 appearances, but in his rookie season in 2024 he posted a 2.93 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings. This is the version of Slaten Boston needed to get back.

But Tampa Bay's Pitching Might Be Even Better

The problem for Boston is that Tampa Bay is pitching on another level entirely. The Rays just set a franchise record by going 15 consecutive games without allowing more than three earned runs. That streak ended Friday night when Boston beat them 2-0, snapping Tampa's seven-game winning streak.

Sunday's matchup features right-hander Nick Martinez for the Rays (3-1, 1.71 ERA), who has won his last three starts and given up just two runs in 20 innings. Boston counters with lefty Payton Tolle (1-1, 2.04 ERA) making his first career start against Tampa Bay.

The first two games of this series were split between the teams, with Saturday's rainout being rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader on July 17. The Red Sox are feeling good, but they're walking into the buzzsaw that is Tampa Bay's pitching staff.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.