Kansas City at Boston

Boston's bats exploded last week when manager John Farrell had to take a leave of absence and now they make another move to change course with the hiring of Dave Dombrowski as GM. Fans are interested too, as Red Sox slugger David Ortiz (492) needs one home run to tie Lou Gehrig and Fred McGriff for #27 on the all-time list and is closing in on 500. Boston has been playing better and now has a winning home record at 7-3 in their last 10 home games. Boston is 4-1 as a dog and 6-2 as a home underdog. Starter Wade Miley has good stuff and beat Felix Hernandez his last start, allowing four hits and 2 runs in seven innings with eight strikeouts. The Red Sox are 7-1 at home against a team with a winning road record and into town comes Kansas City. Royals lefty Danny Duffy (4.03 ERA) is struggling with his consistency. He's winless against Boston the last four years where the Red Sox hit .295 off him, 0-2 all-time against Boston with a 5.23 ERA in four career starts. The Royals are 2-8 against Boston, plus 1-4 when Duffy faces the AL East, so grab home field and play the Red Sox.