Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
First pitch: 7:10 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
The Guardians lead the AL Central and enter on a six-game winning streak after a 3-2 victory in the series opener. The Red Sox have clinched a wild-card berth but are struggling (three straight losses, five of last seven) as they prepare for the postseason. This is the fifth meeting of the season (series tied 2-2 entering Wednesday).
Probable Pitchers
Guardians: LHP Foster Griffin (15-5, 3.67 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 151 K in 166.2 IP). Overall solid season, but his numbers have declined since joining Cleveland (5.79 ERA in limited Guardians starts). First career appearance against the Red Sox. Road splits remain respectable.
Red Sox: RHP Sonny Gray (17-5, 2.82 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 146 K in 163 IP). One of Boston’s most reliable starters; the Red Sox are 20-8 in his starts. Career vs. Guardians: 8-5, 3.12 ERA in 21 starts. Recent outing: solid 6.1 innings vs. Texas.
Current Weather Forecast
Mostly sunny to clear, cool conditions. High near 63°F, temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s around first pitch, northeast winds 13–20 mph (gusts up to 28–30 mph), low humidity, and near-0% chance of precipitation. Breezy conditions may affect fly balls at Fenway.
Injury Reports
Guardians:
RP Colin Holderman (15-day IL, wrist)
1B Rhys Hoskins (10-day IL, back)
RP Shawn Armstrong (60-day IL, leg/calf)
Red Sox:
CF Ceddanne Rafaela (10-day IL, quadriceps — expected to be activated Wednesday)
1B Willson Contreras (day-to-day, hand — not expected in Wednesday’s lineup but close)
3B Curtis Mead (10-day IL, wrist/hand)
DH Masataka Yoshida (10-day IL, hamstring)
RP Aroldis Chapman (day-to-day/probable, lat)
Multiple longer-term absences: SP Tanner Houck, SP Johan Oviedo, SP Garrett Crochet, SP Kutter Crawford, 1B Triston Casas, and others (Zack Kelly, Justin Slaten, etc.).
Key Rosters / Notable Players
Guardians: 3B José Ramírez (consistent producer with doubles and power), INF Travis Bazzana (hot recently with multi-homer form), SS Brayan Rocchio, OF Chase DeLauter (.292), and a balanced lineup emphasizing contact and speed (142 SB). Strong recent bullpen work (long scoreless stretches).
Red Sox: CF Ceddanne Rafaela (expected back, .282 AVG), 1B Willson Contreras (power when healthy), and supporting pieces filling gaps left by injuries. Offense has been quieter of late (.219 AVG in last 10). Pitching remains a strength behind Gray.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Griffin (lefty) faces a Red Sox lineup that ranks well against southpaws (sixth in xwOBA). Boston’s right-handed bats gain the platoon edge.
Gray’s experience and command will challenge Cleveland’s contact-oriented group, including Ramírez’s switch-hitting ability and Bazzana’s recent power surge.
Fenway’s unique dimensions and the northeast wind could influence extra-base hits and home runs.
Recent Team Forms
Guardians: Excellent (8-2 in last 10, .265 AVG, 3.24 ERA, outscoring opponents by 19 runs). Six-game win streak. Solid road record (41-35).
Red Sox: Struggling (4-6 in last 10, .219 AVG, 3.03 ERA). Three-game losing streak and 8-12 in last 12. Even home record (38-38). Strong overall pitching has kept them competitive.
Series History
Fifth meeting of 2026 (tied 2-2). Competitive AL matchups; Cleveland took the series opener 3-2. Historical results between the clubs have been close, with both sides capable of low-scoring, bullpen-driven games.
Betting Trends
Boston has hit the Under frequently in recent games (14 of last 18 in one report). Guardians’ streak and road form create value as underdogs. Gray’s strong season and home advantage support the favorites, while Griffin’s recent dip adds caution for Cleveland.
Game Odds
Cleveland Guardians 6.5
Boston Red Sox – 130
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, September 22, 2026
