It’s going to be another lengthy day at Fenway Park on Friday as the Red Sox open a key four-game series with the Orioles.
Baltimore has been one of the sport’s biggest disappointments in 2025, and at 16-32, their season might already be over. Boston, meanwhile, has struggled to break through the .500 mark, but the woeful Orioles present an opportunity for Alex Cora’s club to build some momentum.
After a washout Thursday night, a doubleheader from Jersey Street is on tap. Right-hander Brayan Bello will take the ball in Game 1 for the Red Sox. Bello has been an apt representation of the Red Sox as a whole so far this season. He allowed just three total earned runs in starts between May 2 and May 13 but failed to get through the fifth inning in two of those contests. Then, his last time out, the Atlanta Braves made him pay, scoring seven runs on 10 hits before Bello exited after just 4 1/3 innings.
Lucas Giolito, who also got pounded his last time out to the tune of six runs on eight hits in four innings against Atlanta, will start the nightcap.
As for the lineup, Rob Refsnyder will start the opener in right field with the Orioles giving the ball to left-hander Cade Povich. Refsnyder has been a bright spot for Boston, perfectly filling the platoon role. He has a home run in two of his last four starts, and he’s hitting .304 with a .960 OPS against left-handers this season.
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And while it’s a very limited sample size, Refsnyder has tremendous numbers against Povich; he’s 4-for-7 off the southpaw with a home run.
Here’s how the two teams will start Game 1 on Friday afternoon.
RED SOX (25-26)
Jarren Duran, LF
Rafael Devers, DH
Alex Bregman, 3B
Rob Refsnyder, RF
Trevor Story, SS
Carlos Narvaez, C
Nick Sogard, 1B
Christian Campbell, 2B
Ceddanne Rafaela, CF
Brayan Bello, RHP (2-1, 4.02)
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ORIOLES (16-32)
TBA
