The headline-grabbing game this week from the Red Sox was a dubious loss, but they've otherwise won two straight series, including taking down the Astros. Those same Astros were the hottest team in baseball before the series started. Now the Red Sox get the road-weary Mariners. The Mariners are 8-14 on the road and generally get worse as road trips continue, given their grueling travel schedule. They are 1-5 so far in the final leg of road trips this year. This is the final leg. Thanks to the Mariners starting stud youngster George Kirby, the odds are very workable here. Kirby won't last deep into the game and Rich Hill will give the Red Sox a very good start in his own right.

The Mariners bat .204 versus lefties (29th) with a .351 slugging percentage (20th). They're 1-6 in their last seven games against southpaws and 6-15 in their last 21 games overall. Tonight they face lefty Rich Hill, who's 4-0 with a 2.64 ERA in 13 career appearances against Seattle. The Red Sox are better than their record and, having won four of six, perhaps have begun turning things around. While Mariners rookie George Kirby has electric stuff, I'll back Boston to improve to 8-3 in the past 11 meetings.

The starting pitchers tonight couldn't be much different: 24-year-old flame-throwing George Kirby for the Mariners and 42-year-old soft-tossing Rich Hill for the Sox. I'm gonna back the old guy at home simply as you know he'll give us 4-5 good innings -- should be piggybacked by Tanner Houck -- and Kirby has only made two starts so he could be great or shelled. The Boston bats seemed to wake up a bit the last series vs. Houston.

George Kirby has been very good for the Mariners in his first two starts but he is still a rookie making his first career start in Fenway against a Red Sox team that has suddenly started to hit. The Red Sox bullpen is also completely rested after the Nick Pivetta complete game yesterday. The Mariners are 6-15 in their last 21 games and 8-14 on the road. Rich Hill has actually pitched really well lately only allowing 2 ER in his last 19 IP. The Mariners are also much worse against lefties this season. Take the Red Sox to stay hot at home.