Red Sox vs. Orioles lineups: Great shot at a sweep

The Red Sox can sweep the Orioles this afternoon behind Nate Eovaldi and give themselves a much-needed booster as they push for a wild card bid (1:10 p.m., NESN).

Getting Baltimore on the schedule is just what the doctor ordered for Boston as the de facto playoffs have already begun, more or less. The Sox have withstood jab after jab since August began only to come through it all in relatively strong postseason position, leaving us all to breathe a little easier. A loss to Baltimore, however, could once again leave us gasping for air.

So it’s incumbent on Nathan Eovaldi to be the leader this team needs right now and continue his quixotic Cy Young Award candidacy, whatever the temporary pain it brings to his arm. It’s time to make Baltimore take their medicine.

Alexander Wells starts for the ailing Orioles, a lefty from whom the Sox shouldn’t have much problem drawing blood. Same lineup as yesterday except the catcher has been swabbed out. I mean swapped out. Anyhow here they are: