Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Pick & Prediction APRIL 3rd 2025
Preview and Prediction
The first week of the season had its fair share of hiccups for the Boston Red Sox, but they are heading into their Thursday afternoon game with a positive mindset.
After breaking a four-game losing streak, the Red Sox will face off against the Baltimore Orioles in the final game of their three-game series.
Despite starting the season with an 0-for-19 slump, designated hitter Rafael Devers remained calm and collected. He finally broke his streak with a run-scoring double in the fifth inning and a single in the eighth during the Red Sox's 3-0 victory over the Orioles on Wednesday.
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"I had faith that things would turn around," Devers stated. "I received a lot of concerned messages, but I wasn't worried."
His teammates were thrilled to see him break out of his slump.
"It's great to see that reaction," Devers said. "It shows that my teammates are paying attention to my at-bats and supporting me."
Boston's Trevor Story also had a strong game, hitting a home run for the first run of the game and finishing with a 3-for-4 performance to raise his batting average from .133 to .263.
"We have a talented group of players and a strong team," Devers said. "We knew things would turn around eventually."
Story also noted that the Red Sox have a deep lineup, which was evident in their win against the Orioles on Wednesday.
The Orioles struggled to get any offense going, with just four singles and two walks. Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet dominated on the mound for eight innings, and Aroldis Chapman closed out the game in the ninth.
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"We had a tough time putting pressure on them," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde admitted.
There is a possibility that the Orioles may have a different lineup for the series finale. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk, may make an appearance in Thursday's game after playing four games and hitting two home runs.
Boston will have Tanner Houck (0-1, 6.35 ERA) on the mound for Thursday's game. In his first start of the season, he allowed four runs, including two home runs, in 5 2/3 innings against the Texas Rangers.
Houck has a career record of 4-3 with a 3.50 ERA in nine games against the Orioles, including five starts.
The Orioles will have Charlie Morton (0-1, 10.80 ERA) on the mound, looking to bounce back from a rough first outing with the team. In his Orioles debut, he lasted just 3 1/3 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Morton has a career record of 8-2 with a 4.21 ERA in 15 starts against the Red Sox. He has struck out 88 batters in 83 1/3 innings, and his eight wins against the Red Sox are the second most he has against any team.
The Orioles have had a mixed start to the season, with three wins and three losses. They have shown that they are capable of a strong offensive performance, scoring 29 runs in their three victories.
"Our goal is to win the series tomorrow," said Zach Eflin, who took the loss for the Orioles on Wednesday.
This will be the last road game for the Red Sox before their home opener on Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles Recap APR 3TH 2025
Alex Bregman, Kristian Campbell and Triston Casas slugged two-run home runs and the Boston Red Sox strung together back-to-back victories for the first time this season, defeating the host Baltimore Orioles 8-4 on Thursday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series.
Bregman, who added a run-scoring double in the ninth, finished with three hits.
Cedric Mullins homered for the Orioles, who dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season.
Zack Kelly (1-0), the first of four relievers, was the winning pitcher with one inning of relief for the Red Sox. Boston starter Tanner Houck went four innings, giving up three runs on five hits with six strikeouts.
Baltimore starter Charlie Morton (0-2) took the loss, working five innings and allowing five runs on six hits with 10 strikeouts. He reached a double-figure strikeout total for the first time since August 2023, when he was pitching for the Atlanta Braves.
Morton struck out the side in the fifth, including two batters who had earlier homered off him. By then, much of the damage had been done.
Bregman smacked his first home run with the Red Sox in the first inning. Campbell connected for his second homer of the year in the second.
Baltimore trailed 4-2 through three innings, using Mullins' second-inning homer and Jordan Westburg's run-scoring single in the third. The blast from Mullins marked the first homer in three home games for the Orioles this season. Baltimore had gone three straight games without a home run.
After Jarren Duran's sacrifice fly for Boston in the fourth was matched by Urias' RBI single in the bottom of the inning, neither offense struck until Casas smacked his first home run this season in the seventh off reliever Keegan Akin for a 7-3 lead.
Campbell and Casas each had two hits and teammates Rafael Devers and Wilyer Abreu each scored two runs.