MLB Game Preview - Tampa Bay at Boston

Sun Apr 28, 2019 1:05 PM EDT

The Boston Red Sox are winless for the first five times Chris Sale has taken the mound but they are feeling some encouragement about the left-hander in the form of improved velocity and strikeouts.

The Red Sox hope Sale can put both together and get his first win of the season Sunday afternoon in the finale of an abbreviated two-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park.

Sale heads into his sixth start with an 0-4 record and a 7.43 earned run average. His four-seam fastball is averaging 92.5 mph, down from the 95.2 mph last season but in the last two starts against the Yankees and Tigers, Sale has flashed velocities of 98 and 95 mph, respectively, at various points.

"Just putting it all together. Having everything working at one time," Sale said. "Command, the stuff. I need to clean some things up around the edges, but we'll get there."

After allowing four runs in an 8-0 loss at New York on April 16, Sale said he "stunk" and labeled his performance as an "embarrassment." On Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader against Detroit, Sale struck out a season-high 10 hitters, allowed two runs on five hits in five innings while throwing 97 pitches and generating 26 foul balls.

"I'd definitely say this is a step in the right direction," Sale said. "Not exactly where we want to be, but better."

Sale is 9-5 with a 2.96 ERA in 18 career appearances (16 starts) against the Rays. He was 1-0 with a 0.66 ERA in two starts against Tampa Bay last season when he fanned 18 in 13 2/3 innings.

Boston will attempt to win for the sixth time in nine games after its offense struggled in Saturday's 2-1 loss. The Red Sox struck out 11 times and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position Saturday. Mookie Betts doubled and homered but the rest of the lineup was quiet and they also played without J.D. Martinez, who may sit out again due to back spasms after being a late scratch Saturday.

The Rays will try to get a fourth win in five games after getting swept by Boston last weekend.

The Rays opened their nine-game road trip by getting a leadoff homer from Yandy Diaz, six shutout innings from Charlie Morton and a bases-loaded strikeout of Jackie Bradley Jr. by Jose Alvarado to end the eighth.

Yandy Diaz homered on the game's second pitch in the first inning while catcher Mike Zunino had an RBI single and blocked four pitches in the eighth. Both players also continued their recent hot streaks as Zunino is hitting .382 (13-for-34) over his last nine games while Diaz is hitting .333 (11-for-33) in his last seven games.

"You always want to beat these guys, it's a great ballclub," Zunino said. "You know it's going to be a lot of one-run games with them so to be on the other end is nice. It will be a challenge tomorrow but we're looking forward to it.

After Morton's solid outing, Tyler Glasnow starts for Tampa Bay and attempts to remain unbeaten after getting a no-decision last Sunday against Boston. He allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings while throwing a season-low 76 pitches.

Glasnow will make his 17th start since being acquired from Pittsburgh for Chris Archer and has allowed two runs or less 11 times.

Glasnow is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts against Boston.

--Field Level Media