Game 86 Preview: Marlins at Red Sox

With a win tonight, the Red Sox can win their 4th game in a row for the first time this season. To put that in perspective, the Phillies, the worst team in the league have won 4 in a row. None of this really matters unless Rick Porcello can finally put together a quality start and attempt to get his first win in almost 2 months. Porcello (4-9 6.08) was questionable to make another start before the All Star break after another tough outing last week, but Manager John Farrell decided against the extended layoff for the Sox starter. During his prolonged struggles, he's gone 0-7 with a 8.18 ERA and in his last start only lasted 2 innings while giving up 7 runs.

But we're trying to stay positive around here and look at the upside. If the Sox win tonight, they will have won 4 straight series during the most important part of their season and will have their final series of the first half against the Yankees with hopes to get within 5 games of the division leader. But before we look forward to the weekend, the Marlins will turn to Tom Koehler (7-4 3.52) tonight and will attempt to halt the 4th attempt the Sox have had at winning 4 in a row.

Here is tonight's Red Sox lineup:

Betts (CF)
Holt (2B)
Bogaerts (SS)
Ortiz (1B)
Ramirez (DH)
Sandoval (3B)
Victorino (RF)
De Aza (LF)
Hanigan (C)

Quick Hits:

- Porcello has the worst ERA of any AL starter this year
- Ichiro Suzuki is hitting .387 against Porcello in his career, with over 30 at-bats against him
- The Sox have now won 6 straight games against the Marlins
- Mike Napoli sits again in favor of David Ortiz who makes his 2nd start at first this week

Have a question for Mike during the game or whenever a baseball discussion is going on, reach out via Twitter: @86flynn