In an anticipated rematch from earlier this season, the Boston Red Sox are scheduled to face off against the Los Angeles Angels at Fenway Park on Friday at 7:10 p.m. EST. Currently, the Red Sox hold the third position in the AL East with a 7-5 record. However, the division standings are tight, with just a two-game difference separating the 2nd place from the last place. On the other hand, the Angels find themselves in 2nd place in the AL West with a 6-6 record.

The Angels come into this game with a near.500 record, having recently lost to the Tampa Bay Rays by a score of 4-2. Noteworthy performances from Mike Trout, who went 2 for 3 with a walk, and Jo Adell, who hit a solo home run, weren’t enough to secure a victory. Zach Neto contributed an RBI, while Jose Soriano struggled as the starting pitcher, giving up four runs in four innings.

During the offseason, the Angels made several moves in free agency, primarily focusing on pitching acquisitions, with the majority of contracts lasting for just one year. Robert Stephenson notably received a three-year, $33 million deal, the only multi-year contract. Additionally, the team declined options for Aaron Loup and Eduardo Escobar to manage payroll. Notable trades included Max Stassi and David Fletcher being traded for Evan White and Tyler Thomas, and Trey Cabbage being exchanged for Carlos Espinoza. Minor league signings featured players like Miguel Sano, Willie Calhoun, Hunter Dozier, and Carson Fulmer. Despite these acquisitions, the team faced significant losses, notably Shohei Ohtani, Mike Moustakas, Gio Urshela, Randal Grichuk, and others.

Taking the mound for the Angels in the series opener is Reid Detmers, who has had an impressive start to the season with a 1.64 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP in 11 innings across two starts, boasting a 2-0 record with 19 strikeouts and only four walks. Despite his promising start, his career statistics show a different picture, with a 4.28 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Nonetheless, the Angels are optimistic that Detmers can maintain his strong performance and contribute to their success.