Boston at Detroit

Comerica is a big park, which is tough on hitters. Streaky Boston plays its seventh straight road game on a grueling 11-game trek that has already included a makeup game wiping out an off-day. The Red Sox scratched their scheduled starter and are forced to bring up soft-throwing wild man Henry Owens (5.11 ERA). The kid has major control trouble, walking 39 in 75 career innings along with 75 hits allowed. Owens had a disastrous three-game stint in Boston early this season -- seven runs, 13 hits, 13 walks in 12.1 innings. He has also walked 74 batters in 119.1 minor league innings, nearly six free passes per nine innings. He faces a Detroit offense that is #12 in runs scored, #11 in slugging and #13 in on-base percentage. The Red Sox are 3-8 against a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15 and face Tigers' ace Justin Verlander (12-7, 3.44 ERA). He has a 3.05 ERA in 14 career starts against the Red Sox. Detroit is 43-20 when Verlander is at home against a team with a winning record. The Tigers are also 11-5 against the AL East, plus 20-7 at home vs. a team with a winning road record. Back Detroit.