Venue: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
First Pitch: 6:45 PM ET
Watch Live: ESPN, NESN, NBC Sports Philadelphia, MLB.TV
Boston enters the series having won 8 of their last 10 games, including a 6–1 win over the Cubs to avoid a sweep. Philadelphia, meanwhile, has dropped 6 of their last 10, including an 8–2 loss to the Angels on Sunday.
This marks the first meeting of the season between the two clubs. Boston won the 2024 season series 2–1 and has taken four of the last six matchups overall.
Starting Pitchers – July 21, 2025
| Team | Pitcher | Record | ERA | WHIP | K/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Sox | Walker Buehler (RHP) | 6–6 | 6.12 | 1.56 | 7.3 |
| Phillies | Zack Wheeler (RHP) | 9–3 | 2.36 | 0.86 | 11.4 |
- Walker Buehler has struggled in 2025, allowing 53 earned runs in 78 innings. He owns a 6.48 career ERA vs. Philadelphia.
- Zack Wheeler has been dominant, allowing 1 earned run or fewer in 6 of his last 7 starts. He leads qualified NL pitchers in WHIP (0.86) and opponent batting average (.181).
Players to Watch
Boston Red Sox
- Jarren Duran: .257 AVG, 25 doubles, 10 triples, 8 HR, 50 RBI, 16 SB
- Wilyer Abreu: 2 HR, 6 RBI in last 3 games; .261 AVG, .530 SLG
- Ceddanne Rafaela: 21 doubles, 14 HR; elite defensive center fielder
- Alex Bregman: 3 RBI vs. Cubs; veteran bat heating up
Philadelphia Phillies
- Kyle Schwarber: 32 HR, 14 doubles; ranks top 5 in MLB in home runs
- Bryce Harper: 13-for-38 with 7 doubles, 4 HR, 7 RBI over last 10 games
- Trea Turner: .288 AVG, 11 HR, 25 SB; key catalyst at the top of the lineup
- Otto Kemp: Solo HR vs. Angels; emerging power bat
Team Comparison – Key Stats
| Category | Red Sox | Phillies |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Avg | .260 (last 10 games) | .241 (last 10 games) |
| Team ERA | 2.25 (last 10 games) | 3.76 (last 10 games) |
| Home Record | — | 31–18 |
| Road Record | 22–27 | — |
| Last 10 Games | 8–2 | 4–6 |
| Run Differential (last 10) | +24 | +7 |
Boston’s pitching has been elite in July, while Philadelphia’s offense has cooled. The Red Sox have scored 4+ runs in 5 of their last 7 games, while the Phillies have scored 4 or fewer in 7 of their last 10.
Game Odds
Boston Red Sox 8.5
Philadelphia Phillies – 210
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Sunday, July 20, 2025
