MLB Game Preview - Baltimore at Boston

Fri Aug 25, 2017 7:10 PM EDT

BOSTON -- It will be "Helly" against "Veintidos" when the Baltimore Orioles begin "Players Weekend" against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday night.

Those are the monikers that will be on the back of the starting pitchers' jerseys. Jeremy Hellickson goes for Baltimore against Boston's Rick Porcello, whose nickname is the Spanish translation of his number -- 22.

"Obviously, it's something that's different," center fielder Adam Jones said before his Orioles flew to Boston. "It's cool to get further background on the individual (player).

"People are going to have nicknames, patches, people they are representing that have helped push them in their career. I think it's beneficial to see what drives the individual, not just the game, but individuals that drive us to do what we do as people and baseball players."

Jerseys aside, this is another huge series for the Orioles, who are trying to hang on in the chase for an American League wild card. Baltimore (62-65) sits three games behind Minnesota in the battle for the league's last postseason berth, but five other teams are between the Orioles and the Twins.

Despite Manny Machado being on fire, the Orioles have lost three of their past five, and they haven't won consecutive games since Aug. 6-7.

Machado is batting .340 with 10 homers and 31 RBIs this month, including three homers and seven RBIs on Aug. 18, when he ended the game against the Los Angeles Angels with a walk-off grand slam.

Hellickson (7-7, 5.00 ERA overall) is familiar with the Red Sox and Fenway from his days in the American League East with the Tampa Bay Rays (plus one start vs. Boston earlier this season with the Philadelphia Phillies). He comes in off two straight poor starts, and he allowed five home runs to the Angels his last time out.

Meanwhile, Porcello (8-14, 4.48 ERA) is turning around what had been a miserable season. The reigning Cy Young Award winner, 22-4 last season, started 4-14 in 2017. However, he is getting more run support -- he got more than any pitcher in baseball last year -- and has won four straight.

Porcello defeated the Yankees on Sunday after losing three straight to New York. He comes into this start 0-2 against the Orioles this season, allowing five runs in 12 innings.

"The numbers show that he's winning more games," Red Sox manager John Farrell said after the victory over the Yankees, "but that's been a combination of a few things. He's maintained the strike zone. He's been better to the overall quality in the strike zone with command. And we've scored runs for him."

Baltimore's Seth Smith is 10-for-25 (.400) with a home run against Porcello, while Machado is 10-for-33 (.303) with two homers, and Mark Trumbo has three homers against him. Adam Jones is 11-for-51 (.216) and like Chris Davis (9-for-41, .220, 12 strikeouts) also has three homers versus Porcello.

The Red Sox split a four-game series in Cleveland this week, and they come home 4 1/2 games ahead of the New York Yankees in the AL East.

Hellickson might want to be a bit careful against Mookie Betts, who he is 5-for-5 with a homer against the right-hander. Mitch Moreland is 4-for-7 with a homer and Xander Bogaerts 4-for-9 while Eduardo Nunez is 2-for-11 and newcomer Rajai Davis 2-for-10.

Betts sustained a right knee contusion Thursday in Boston's 13-6 loss to the Indians and was officially listed as day-to-day.

"Two impacts tonight, one up against the wall and another where he made a diving play," Farrell said. "Little bit of swelling in there. Day-to-day right now. He's gone through a number of physical examinations in the training room, and nothing is limiting him. Still, some soreness there, and we'll see if he's available tomorrow."

The Orioles blew a five-run lead and Zach Britton saw his save streak end at 60 straight but Machado hit another walk-off to beat the Oakland A's 8-7 on Wednesday night.

Baltimore leads the season series with Boston 7-6.