Bosox Board

After logging consecutive quality starts in his first two Oriole outings,
Hellickson followed with two shaky starts allowing a combined 13 runs in
his last 9 2/3 innings.  Last time out, he gave up a season-high five home
runs to the Angels.

The right-hander has won his past four starts and is starting to look
more like the pitcher who won the Al Cy Young Award last year than the
one who struggled he first three month of 2017.  Against the Orioles this
year, Porcello is 0-2 with a 3.75 ERA.

When the Red Sox and Orioles renew their American League East rivalry Friday for the start of a three-game series at Fenway Park, it will also be the first Players Weekend series for both teams.

"Obviously it's something that's different. It's cool to get further background on the individual [player]," Orioles outfielder Adam Jones (aka "Pappo") said of the jerseys. "People are going to have nicknames, patches, people they are representing that have helped push them in their career. I think it's beneficial to see what drives the individual, not just the game, but individuals that drive us to do what we do as people and baseball players."

The first-place Red Sox lead the AL East by 4 1/2 games. The O's are 11 games back, but are still in contention for one of the AL Wild Card spots.

Rick Porcello will get the ball for the Red Sox in the opener. Porcello (8-14, 4.48 ERA) -- who will be wearing "Veintidos," which represents his jersey number, 22, as his nickname on his jersey -- will be looking to record his fifth consecutive win.

After a four-start skid from July 8-18 that was mostly due to a lack of run support, Porcello has won his past four starts, dropping his season ERA from 4.70 to 4.48 and striking out 23 through those 24 1/3 innings.

"When a pitcher gets a win next to his name, there's a relaxation that takes over, an added confidence that grows," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "And it's shown how he's come out of the bullpen early on, and I thought has had very good command of his two-seamer in particular and particularly to his glove side, that's the pitch that locked him in last year for such a long period of time."

Picking up his fifth consecutive win won't come easy as Porcello has not always found success against the Orioles. The righty is 4-10 with a 4.75 ERA in 17 career starts against Baltimore and has allowed 17 home runs to the O's, which is the third highest of any opposing team he's faced.

The Orioles will send Jeremy Hellickson -- who will be sporting a shortened version of his last name, "Helly," on the back of his jersey -- to the mound on Friday. The righty is looking for his second win in an O's uniform and hoping to get back into the rhythm he had in his first two starts with Baltimore. In his two most recent outings, Hellickson has allowed 13 runs in 9 2/3 innings.

Friday will be Hellickson's first start in Boston since 2014. The right-hander has posted a 5.09 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts) at Fenway Park, holding Red Sox hitters to a .272 average.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GAME

• A red-hot Manny Machado (aka "Mr. Miami") has found success against Porcello in his career, hitting .303 (10-for-33) with two home runs and four RBIs.

• Although the Red Sox have not had much experience against Hellickson, Mookie Betts is 5-for-5 against the right-hander, while Mitch Moreland (aka "2-Bags") is batting .500 (4-for-8) with a home run and three walks.

• Two of the five home runs Hellickson allowed in his last start came on changeups, bringing his season total to an MLB-high 11. Only two other pitchers this year have allowed 10 or more homers on changeups, while Hellickson himself surrendered just three in 2016.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170823250141598/hellickson-looks-to-slow-hot-porcello-red-sox/?game_pk=492008