Opposite dugout: Sale, tensions headline four-game series in Boston

Manager: John Farrell (5th season)

Record: 13-11

Last 10 games: 4-6

Who to watch: CF Andrew Benintendi (.333/.392/.478 with 14 RBIs), RF Mookie Betts (.293/.363/.439 with 11 RBIs), 3B Xander Bogaerts (.315/.375/.356), LHP Chris Sale (1-2, 1.17 ERA, 0.77 WHIP), RHP Craig Kimbrel (1.59 ERA with 8 saves)

Season series vs. Orioles: 2-3

Pitching probables:

May 1: RHP Dylan Bundy vs. RHP Rick Porcello, 7:10 p.m., MASN
May 2: RHP Alec Asher vs. LHP Chris Sale, 7:10 p.m., MASN
May 3: RHP Kevin Gausman vs. LHP Drew Pomeranz, 7:10 p.m., MASN
May 4: RHP Ubaldo Jiménez vs. RHP Steven Wright, 7:10 p.m., MASN

Inside the Red Sox:

The Red Sox are 2-3 with a postponed game against the Yankees on their current homestand since they lost two out of three in Baltimore the weekend before last. The Yankees won the two games they did play at Fenway Park, and the Cubs took one out of three over the weekend in the so-called Theo Epstein World Series.

Despite the recent struggles at home, the Sox are 9-5 in Boston this season. But a sluggish start to this homestand could turn worse with a four-game series against the homer-happy Orioles. And then of course there are other things to keep an eye on besides the scoresheet ...

Dustin Pedroia will face the Orioles for the first time since leaving a game at Camden Yards on April 21 with a knee injury after Manny Machado slid into him at second base. The incident, of course, created even more tension between the two American League East rivals, which resulted in Matt Barnes throwing at Machado's head two days later. Words and text messages were exchanged, and Barnes received a four-game suspension. We'll have to wait and see if there is any carryover into this series.

As for what's happening relative to baseball, Chris Sale's first start against the Orioles as a member of the Red Sox headlines this Fenway Park series. In case you don't recall, Sale come over to Boston in a blockbuster trade with the White Sox during last December's Winter Meetings and has somehow managed to avoid the O's powerful lineup until his start Tuesday night. Don't let the 1-2 record fool you: The big lefty has been stellar this season, posting the most strikeouts (52), the second-best ERA (1.19) and third-best WHIP (0.77) in the majors. Having played for the AL Chicago team, Sale does have a short history against Baltimore. He's 2-2 with a 3.41 ERA in 11 games (five starts) against the Birds.

Rick Porcello will also be making his first start against the Orioles this season, when he takes the mound for the series opener. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner went 1-1 with a 3.13 ERA in three starts against the Birds last year, but is off to a rough start with a 1-3 record and 4.75 ERA over his first five starts in 2017. The final two Red Sox starters this series, on the other hand, are getting too familiar with the Orioles, each making a third start against the O's. Wednesday's starter, Drew Pomeranz, has a win and a loss against the Birds in his first two outings, but has posted a respectable 2.38 ERA over 11 1/3 innings. Meanwhile, Steven Wright might be terrified to face the Orioles for a third time. The knuckleballer is 0-2 with an abysmal 21.60 ERA in his first starts against Baltimore, having given up 17 hits, 12 runs and six homers in just five innings.

Craig Kimbrel is continuing his dominance at the back end of the Red Sox bullpen. He has a 1.59 ERA and an AL-best eight saves on the season. After his lone blown save of the season, he came back to record one out and the save on April 23 against the Orioles.