Opposite dugout: Red Sox looking to stay hot in August

Manager: John Farrell (5th season)

Record: 73-54

Last 10 games: 6-4

Who to watch: RF Mookie Betts (.263/.339/.441 with 18 HR, 77 RBIs), SS Xander Bogaerts (.281/.341/.408 with 47 RBIs), LF Andrew Benintendi (.278/.356/.445 with 18 HR, 71 RBIs), LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (4-3, 4.01 ERA), RHP Craig Kimbrel (1.33 ERA, 29 saves)

Season series vs. Orioles: 6-7

Pitching probables:

Aug. 25: RHP Jeremy Hellickson vs. RHP Rick Porcello, 7:10 p.m., MASN
Aug. 26: RHP Kevin Gausman vs. LHP Eduardo Rodriguez, 4:05 p.m., MASN
Aug. 27: LHP Wade Miley vs. RHP Doug Fister, 1:35 p.m., MASN

Inside the Red Sox:

It's that time of year when the dog days of August are finally coming to a close, major league rosters will soon expand and the final stretch run through September to the playoffs begins. And, boy, do the Red Sox hope stay as hot as the late-summer heat en route to defending their American League East crown. Boston has posted a 15-5 record this month while extending its division lead over the Yankees from a half-game to 4 1/2 games. And the Red Sox haven't just been beating up on cupcake teams this month. They've beaten solid contenders in the Yankees, Indians and Cardinals. In fact, the Sox have taken advantage of the few weaker opponents they've faced, with their only five losses in August so far coming to the Yanks and Indians. And having not played each other since the beginning of June, this series against the Orioles marks the start of a long stretch of AL East foes for the Red Sox, with 25 of their last 35 games coming against division rivals. Boston will need to improve on its 27-24 record against the East, including a 6-7 mark against Baltimore, to further create space atop the division.

The Red Sox will be without Dustin Pedroia and Jackie Bradley Jr. for this three-game set at Fenway Park. Pedroia is on the 10-day disabled list with a knee injury and isn't expected back until sometime in September, and Bradley landed on the DL on Wednesday with a sprained left thumb. Expect Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi to carry the load offensively, though Betts has been diagnosed with a knee contusion after running into the outfield wall and being removed from the game in Thursday's finale against the Indians.

Rick Porcello gets the start for the Red Sox to begin this series. This year has been a struggle for the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, posting an 8-14 record and 4.48 ERA. But after losing four straight decisions to end July, Porcello has gone 4-0 in August with quality starts in each of his last three times out. But the Orioles might not be a sight the right-hander wishes to see, as Porcello is 0-2 with a 3.75 ERA against the Birds this season. Saturday's starter, Eduardo Rodriguez, hasn't been so lucky with decisions. The lefty is 0-1 with a 4.78 ERA and has only finished the sixth inning twice in seven second-half starts. It will be interesting to see what Rodriguez has in store for his third time facing the Orioles, as he is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA over his first two starts against the O's. Doug Fister will make Sunday's start coming off one of the best outings of his career. After giving up a leadoff home run to the Indians' Francisco Lindor, Fister went on to pitch a complete-game gem, with the home run being the only hit allowed. He will be making his first start against the Orioles as a member of the Red Sox with a career 4-2 record and 4.47 ERA against Baltimore.

While Craig Kimbrel continues to dominate the ninth inning, the Red Sox will need to find help setting the right-hander up after Matt Barnes was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with a lower back strain. Look for right-hander Heath Hembree to fill in setting up for Kimbrel in late-inning situations.