The Dodgers have also gone 2-4 since the All-Star break, after having gone 2-7 leading up to it, but still hold a five-game lead atop the National League West.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Mookie Betts might not be available for the opener as he tends to a personal matter.
“Everything is OK with him, but yeah, we’ll see,” said Roberts.
4:05 p.m.: Betts is not in the lineup.
Brayan Bello will get the ball for the Red Sox. He went six innings in his most recent start, allowing three runs in a 6-0 loss to the Cubs.
The Dodgers will counter with Emmet Sheehan, who was selected by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2021 draft out of Boston College.
Here is a preview.
DODGERS (60-43): Ohtani DH, Smith C, Freeman 1B, Hernandez RF, Pages CF, Conforto LF, Edman 3B, Kim 2B, Rojas SS
Pitching: RHP Emmet Sheehan (1-1, 4.41 ERA)
RED SOX (55-49): Duran CF, Bregman 3B, Anthony LF, Story SS, Yoshida DH, Rafaela 2B, Abreu RF, Toro 1B, Wong C
Pitching: RHP Brayan Bello (6-4, 3.23 ERA)
Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
Dodgers vs. Bello: Freddie Freeman 1-2, Teoscar Hernández 3-12, James Outman 0-2, Andy Pages 0-2, Miguel Rojas 0-3, Will Smith 0-3
Red Sox vs. Sheehan: Alex Bregman 0-1
Stat of the day: Shohei Ohtani has homered in each of his last five games, joining Babe Ruth as the only player to do so while also starting one of those games as a pitcher.
Notes: The Red Sox have won seven of their last 10 one-run games. … It will be a matchup of lefthanders for Saturday’s game featuring Garrett Crochet vs. Clayton Kershaw. Walker Buehler and Dustin May will get the nod in the series finale Sunday. … Eight of the Sox’ last 10 games have been decided by three runs or fewer, including five one-run games. … Bello allowed three runs on five hits in six innings in his only appearance against the Dodgers, which came last season. … Wednesday’s 9-8 win in 11 innings at Philadelphia was the first time the Red Sox won in extra innings on the road this season. They had dropped their previous seven. … The Red Sox have lost back-to-back series after ending the first half with a season-high-tying four-series winning streak. … Sheehan has never faced the Red Sox. … The Red Sox are 19-14 against the National League and 16-17 in series openers.
Follow Andrew Mahoney @GlobeMahoney.
