Red Sox-Royals Preview: Friday night

Game 122 of 162 in another lost season for the Red Sox.  The Red Sox, however, have won three consecutive games and are 6-4 over their last 10.  The Red Sox offense is red hot as of late.  The Royals lead the American League Central by 14 games and are certainly preparing for a long run into October.  The Sox send rookie phenom Henry Owens to the mound to face half year rental Johnny Cueto.   Cueto is set to make his first start at Fenway Park.  The Royals acquired Cueto from the Cincinnati Reds prior to the trade deadline to bolster their starting pitching with a playoff run in mind.

Henry Owens’ last start came against Seattle on Sunday.  He gave up 7 runs in the first few innings before finding his groove late.  He ended his 6 inning outing with one walk and 10 strikeouts.  Owens does not have overpowering stuff; its important for him to make good pitches and avoid mistakes.  In his prior outing against Detroit, Owens went 5 innings surrendering 1 run to get his first career major league victory.

The Royal’s showed that they are all in on winning the World Series in 2015 by trading for Johnny Cueto.  Cueto, who is a free agent at the end of the season, will demand big money for his services.  In 2015, Cueto has a 2.46 ERA and is 2-1 since being traded from Cincinnati.  Johnny Cueto is rumored to be interested in signing with the Red Sox after the season meaning Friday’s start could be a 2016 preview.  The Red Sox are in dire need of frontline pitching and signing Cueto via free agency could fill this void.  


By Matt Nadworny @MattNadworny