MLB Game Preview: Detroit Tigers (11-10) vs. Boston Red Sox (8-12)

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Boston Red Sox logo

Venue: Fenway Park — Boston, MA

Start Time: 4:35 PM ET (moved from 1:35 PM due to rain threat) Weather: Rain threat earlier in the day; game moved to avoid early‑afternoon storms. Cool Boston evening conditions expected.

Injury Report

Detroit Tigers

Justin Verlander — 15‑Day IL (hip)

Zach McKinstry — 10‑Day IL (hip/abdominal)

Parker Meadows — 60‑Day IL (head/arm)

Trey Sweeney — 60‑Day IL (shoulder)

Bailey Horn — 15‑Day IL (elbow)

Reese Olson — 60‑Day IL (shoulder)

Jackson Jobe — 60‑Day IL (elbow)

Troy Melton — 60‑Day IL (elbow)

Beau Brieske — 60‑Day IL (groin)

Boston Red Sox

Johan Oviedo — 60‑Day IL (elbow)

Justin Slaten — 15‑Day IL (oblique)

Patrick Sandoval — 15‑Day IL (elbow)

Kutter Crawford — 15‑Day IL (wrist)

Triston Casas — 10‑Day IL (knee)

Romy Gonzalez — 60‑Day IL (shoulder)

Tanner Houck — 60‑Day IL (elbow)

Team Records & Statistical Profile

Detroit Tigers (11–10)

Road Record: 3–9

Team ERA: 3.35 (Top‑5 MLB)

Recent Form: Outscored opponents by 14 runs over last 10 games

Offense: 4.4 runs/game, .245 AVG, 80 RBI, .329 OBP

Boston Red Sox (8–12)

Home Record: 4–4

Team ERA: 3.68 over last 10 games

Recent Form: Outscored opponents by 6 runs over last 10 games

Offense: .226 AVG over last 10 games; inconsistent power production

Recent Team Form

Tigers — Last 5

W 4–1 @ BOS

L 2–1 @ BOS

L 10–9 @ DET

L 2–1 @ DET

L 2–1 @ DET Detroit enters having split the first two games of the series.

Red Sox — Last 5

L 4–1 vs DET

W 2–1 vs DET

L 11–4 vs LAA

W 5–4 vs LAA

L 7–1 vs LAA

Probable Pitching Matchup

DET — Framber Valdez (LHP)

Record: 1–1

ERA: 3.75

WHIP: 1.29

IP: 24.0

K/BB: 13 / 7

HR Allowed: 0

Notable: Has never allowed a HR at Fenway in 21 career innings.

BOS — Garrett Crochet (LHP)

Record: 2–2

ERA: 7.58

WHIP: 1.58

IP: 19.0

K/BB: 22 / 7

HR Allowed: 3

Context: Coming off a disastrous outing (10 ER in 1.2 IP vs MIN).

Key Player Matchups

Detroit Tigers

Dillon Dingler: 4 HR, 14 RBI, .259 AVG

Colt Keith: .317 AVG, .348 OBP

Kerry Carpenter: 4 HR, 12 RBI

Boston Red Sox

Willson Contreras: .281 AVG, 2 HR, 11 RBI

Wilyer Abreu: .311 AVG, .514 SLG

Trevor Story: 17 RBI (team leader)

Series History & Context

Teams have split the first two games of the series.

Sunday’s game time was moved due to rain threat.

Detroit’s pitching has been significantly stronger (3.35 ERA vs BOS 4.00+ season ERA).

Boston is 3–9 when allowing a home run.

Betting Trends

Tigers bullpen: 71.4% save rate, strong WHIP (1.27).

Red Sox offense inconsistent; reliant on Abreu and Story.

Tigers pitchers have allowed only 12 HR all season (Top‑5 MLB).

Boston is 3–9 when allowing a HR — a key vulnerability.

Game Odds

Detroit Tigers                    7

Boston Red Sox                 – 136

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, April 18, 2026