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TL’s Sunday Sports Notebook | NCAA College Football in NYC & The Hub

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While We’re Young (Ideas) for September 3 

CHESTNUT HILL: The Boston College Eagles opened the 2023 NCAA/ACC Conference football season this weekend.

By TERRY LYONS

CHESTNUT HILL – If this column were to be written from hometown New York some 15 years ago, the opening of the College Football season would NOT have registered as a major sports weekend. New York City is not a college sports town. Yes, there are plenty of taverns that welcome college football fans to congregate for their school’s games – they call it LSU HQ or ACC Football Hub and dozens of other bars that establish themselves as the place to be if you’re from Faber College and you’re looking for your game.

To the extent of anything you might call Division I NCAA College Football in New York is few and far between. Columbia University provides the IVY League experience while Fordham University plays in the sub-division (FCS) and is a partial member (just for football) in the Patriot League. (Otherwise, for most sports, Fordham toils in the A-10).

After that, you’re looking at trips to Staten Island (Wagner), Long Island (Stony Brook), or points much further away and mainly Upstate NY (Albany, Buffalo, Cornell, Marist (Poughkeepsie), Colgate (Hamilton, NY) or Syracuse.

Here in Boston, the city’s College football fans face much the same problem. Although Boston is home for some 35 colleges and universities and more than. 154,320 students descend upon Boston every August/September, Boston remain a pro sports town with a lot of colleges. If you look at Massachusetts as a whole (as in counting the likes of Holy Cross in Worcester, Wellesley, Springfield, UMass in Amherst), the State’s population grows by some 483,488 from college students studting in the Commonwealth.

Yes, that’s a half-million Red Sox fans created every year.

Boston College rates highest in the Boston area college football meter, playing a highly competitive schedule in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). This weekend, Alumni Stadium in Chesnut Hill played host (and LOST) to Northern Illinois University in a non-Conference game vs FBS club with a devastating loss as the Eagles opened 2023 with high hopes but a realistic viewpoint when looking at a schedule that includes: No. 8 Florida State, and ACC tough Miami, Virginia, Louisville, Virginia Tech and Syracuse, among others. With a rotating ACC schedule, the Eagles were spared match-ups vs the likes of Clemson, North Carolina, Duke, NC State and Wake Forest.

Geez: Even next week’s opponent – Holy Cross – is a challenger.

Believe it or not, very soon, BC might face SMU, Cal or Stanford in the 2024-25 season as ACC school presidents and chancellors voted to allow the westward expansion Friday. That’ll make the ACC register 18 schools while the Pac 12 was reduced to the Pac 2 (Oregon State and Washington State), rendering the Pac 12 Network useless.

Looking elsewhere back in Boston, you can see Harvard compete in the IVY, or the UMass Minutemen play as an independent FBS school. Holy Cross plays in the Patriot League while Tufts always fields a competitive Division III team over in Somerville where you can see Bates, Williams, Colby and Wesleyan (New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is a proud alum).

Before Notre Dame defeated Navy over in Dublin, it was 32 weeks of the year without college football. This weekend, it’s open the floodgates.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: USA Today sprang a list of the “Ten best colleges for sports fans” this week. The paper touted, “From game day thrills to championship victories: Experience college sports like never before,” although every year, it’s sort of the same, isn’t it? The list (with commentary by WWYI):

  1. Connecticut – Guess they missed football?
  2. Florida State – Once upon a Time?
  3. Alabama – ‘Roll Tide
  4. Florida – Bad start this week
  5. Indiana – Fans, yes, BIG TEN football championships – Nada
  6. LSU – Should be #1?
  7. Wisconsin – Don’t the Sports get in the way of the Partying?
  8. Penn State – Called on the account of White Out.
  9. Michigan – Good enough for The Big Chill, Good Enough for the List
  10. Notre Dame – Should be No. 2

USA BASKETBALL UPDATE: The USA Basketball 5×5 Men’s senior national team, competing in the 2023 FIBA World Cup in Manila, will play its second round match vs Lithuania today, Sunday September 3 at 8:40am (ET). For you Saturday night bulldog edition readers, that means “Get Up” tomorrow and for you Sunday morning readers, “Turn on the TV.”

In their most recent game, the USA was losing to Montenegro, 39-38, at halftime, trailing for the first time in this World Cup tournament. A much-improved second half secured the win, as Anthony Edwards scored a team-high 17 points – all in the second half. Edwards leads the U.S. A. in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game. Improved team field goal shooting made the difference. The US shot 13-for-37 (.351) in the first half, but responded with a 17-for-36 (.472) performance in the final two quarters. The U.S. also shot 1-for-9 (.110) from “3” in the first half before going 4-for-10 (.400) in the second half.

The U.S. is seeking its sixth FIBA Men’s World Cup gold medal.

3×3: In addition to the senior men’s national team for 5×5, the 2023 USA 3×3 U18 national team finished atop Pool B at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Cup on Friday. The U.S.A. joins seven other nations who will play for the gold medal on Sunday. The Americans went 2-0 in pool play after defeating Brazil and Germany on Thursday.

Notice basketball isn’t only distinguished by “men’s and women’s” anymore? Now-a-days, you need the 5×5 (five on five) or 3×3 (three on three) to be added for FIBA ball.

USA FOUNDATION: The USA Basketball Foundation made an important announcement this week as the second Torch Leadership in Sport Mentoring cohort will be staged. A fully funded program, Torch Leadership will run from this September to May 2024.

Torch Leadership provides opportunities for minority students to be mentored by USA Basketball executive staff with the goal of empowering the next generation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) leaders in sport by introducing them to opportunities at USA Basketball and other sports-related entities.

“It is an honor to welcome our second Torch Leadership cohort to the USA Basketball family,” said Jennifer Lynne Williams, USA Basketball Foundation chief development officer. “The application process was extremely competitive with 130 students applying to be a part of this special program. The 120% increase in applications is a direct testament to the importance and value of Torch. I look forward to working with each student as they develop their leadership skills and learn more about the business of sport,” she added.

TIDBITS: Readers surely have heard the term, “Once in a Blue Moon.” That’s a true statement when it comes to this columnist receiving the No. 1 draft choice in the annual SWFL Fantasy Football League, known nationally as the best league with the best team captains and best rules which includes the game-changing, ultra-difficult requirement of TWO active quarterbacks and THREE wide receivers and/or tight ends. The challenge of the TWO QBs changes draft strategy, especially in the 1st and 2nd rounds, will make my No. 1 pick (this Tuesday night at 7pm ET) a choice between the quarterback trio of Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes or Philly’s Jalen Hurts – with Buffalo’s Josh Allen receiving consideration. … NFL Insider Adam Schefter has my club, the LOVETRONS (in honor of the late Darryl Dawkins residence on earth as it is in heaven), selecting Mahomes who was a clear 30 points higher than the others and the top overall scorer in the SWFL for multiple years. … Next week, I’ll list the club and that’s about all you’re gonna read about Fantasy Football, unless something is incredibly newsworthy.

A RARE – MUST WATCH – TV SPOT: The PepsiCo/Frito–Lay ad, certainly worthy of clearing the high bar as a Super Bowl-level commercial is seeing airtime this week as the NFL opens its 2023 regular season come Thursday night when Detroit travels to Kansas City for an 8:20pm (ET) tilt on NBC.

The theme of “retirement” is a great idea but “coming out of retirement” might not be so great idea for many players, including the inclusion of the show-stopper at the finish. Pepsi broke the bank by pulling some of the greatest recent stars together for the shoot (or series of shoots). No spoilers here in the intro. It’s a MUST WATCH!

Sox Season of 2023: “Swept Away”

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Houston Astros capped their first-ever series sweep at Fenway Park with a 7-4 win over the host Boston Red Sox Wednesday afternoon.

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Houston’s Jeremy Pena hit a double and a triple, scored two runs and drove in another to pace the Astros, which scored three runs in both the second and third innings, added another in the fourth and held on for its fifth consecutive victory. Houston’s Michael Brantley, just off the 60-day IL, had two hits, two RBIs and a run, while Alex Bregman and Martin Maldonado each added two hits and an RBI.

Astros starter Framber Valdez (10-9) struck out five across six innings of five-hit ball. He allowed four runs (two earned). Ryan Pressly threw a scoreless ninth to notch his 29th save. Red Sox starter Kutter Crawford (6-7) was tagged for six runs on seven hits across 2 2/3 innings.

Red Sox Can’t Climb Out of Rut

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – With August drawing to a close, the Boston Red Sox are seeing their playoff hopes fade.

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The Red Sox, who are now 6 1/2 games out of the final American League wild-card spot, will attempt to salvage the finale of a three-game series against the visiting Houston Astros on Wednesday afternoon.

In Houston’s 6-2 win on Tuesday, the Astros took advantage of a Boston error in the fifth inning after back-to-back home runs by Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez in the first set the tone.

Brayan Bello was the fourth straight Red Sox starter who failed to complete five innings.

“We are where we are because we’ve struggled in certain areas of the game,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “It’s catching up (with us) now.”

Right-hander Kutter Crawford (6-6, 3.65 ERA) will look to give the Red Sox a much-needed strong start today.

Crawford struck out seven and allowed just two runs on four hits across five innings in a no-decision against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

In his lone career start vs. Houston, Crawford allowed just one run on seven hits across six innings in a victory on Aug. 2, 2022.

The Red Sox, in the midst of a difficult week that also included call-up Kyle Barraclough being tagged for 10 runs on 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings on Monday, promoted top prospect Ceddanne Rafaela from Triple-A Worcester to make his major league debut.

Rafaela is the No. 3 prospect in the organization, according to MLB Pipeline.

“Obviously this is a different level, but we expect him to come in, and whenever he plays, just go out there and have fun playing center. He can play short. He can run,” Cora said. “He’s been hitting for power. Discipline has been a lot better the last few weeks, which is very important at this level.”

Rafaela recorded his first hit in Boston’s 13-5, series-opening loss on Monday but has yet to make a major league start.

Boston is also getting impressive production from center fielder Adam Duvall, who has hit seven home runs during his current nine-game hitting streak. He homered for the fourth game in a row on Tuesday.

The Astros have won four straight games, amassing 66 hits in that span to tie a franchise record. They climbed into a three-way tie for first place on Tuesday with the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.

Though he went 0-for-4 in the Tuesday win, Michael Brantley provided a boost to the Houston lineup in his return from right shoulder surgery.

Brantley last played in the majors on June 26, 2022. He went 14-for-47 (.298) with a homer and 12 RBIs in 16 rehab games for Triple-A Sugar Land.

“It’s great to have him back, he’s worked hard to get back to this point,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “He’s been as patient as any man can be. He’s the consummate team man, team player, team leader.”

Left-hander Framber Valdez (9-9, 3.40 ERA) will take the mound for Houston in the series finale.

Valdez no-hit the Cleveland Guardians on Aug. 1 before allowing 16 runs (15 earned) on 24 hits over his next three starts, but he bounced back for seven no-hit innings on Friday in a no-decision at Detroit.

Valdez worked around five walks and a hit batter vs. the Tigers.

“That was part of my plan, just mix a lot of my pitches,” Valdez said through an interpreter. “Mix them up, mix them around, try not to get predictable.”

In four career appearances (two starts) against the Red Sox, Valdez is 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Duran Out for Season

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – As the Boston Red Sox fight to remain in the hunt for a playoff spot, they’ll have to do so without center fielder Jarren Duran, who will undergo turf toe surgery Wednesday that will end his season, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters Tuesday.

“He’s gonna lose the season,” Cora said. “The expectations are for him to be back and ready to go for spring training.”

Duran had been on the 10-day injured list and hadn’t played since August 10.

Duran, who turns 27 on Sept. 5, started the season with Triple-A Worcester but was called up to Boston when fellow outfielder Adam Duvall went down with an injury in mid-April.

Since then, he’s collected career highs across the board, slashing .295/.346/.482. He also blasted eight home runs and knocked in 40 RBI while collecting a team-leading 24 stolen bases and 34 doubles in 102 games.

Red Sox: Can Bello Bounce Back?

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BOSTON – Two of baseball’s best young pitchers face off when the Boston Red Sox host the Houston Astros in the middle game of a three-game series on Tuesday night.

The Red Sox will turn to 24-year-old right-hander Brayan Bello (10-7, 3.56 ERA) after he recorded his team-leading 10th win on Thursday in Houston, pitching seven innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts.

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Bello’s mound opponent that day, in a contest the Red Sox won 17-1 to gain a four-game series split with the Astros, was J.P. France (9-5, 3.51 ERA). The same two pitchers will clash on Tuesday.

Bello is 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA against the Astros in his career over one relief appearance and the one start last week.

The Thursday blowout was crucial for Boston, which is attempting to chase down on American League wild-card spot.

“It was very important for us to split (last week’s) series,” Bello said through an interpreter. “When we lost the first two games, I talked to Chris Sale. I told him, ‘It’s up to us to try to split the series and try to win these two games.’ And we did it.”

Three losses in four games have since followed, including a 13-5, season-opening setback to the Astros on Monday in Boston.

Another strong start from Bello will be vital. He is 3-1 with a 3.26 ERA over five games in August.

The Red Sox are 15-7 this season in Bello’s starts.

“He’s good against everybody,” Boston manager Alex Cora said earlier this month. “I think we get caught up sometimes on (him giving up) three runs in six innings. The lefties are hitting him and all that, but it’s part of the progression. He’s still learning and he’s good.”

Another Boston player who has been very good of late is Adam Duvall. The reigning American League Player of the Week has homered six times over his past eight games, including a long ball on Monday.

The Astros’ offense is hot, too, having matched the single-game franchise record with 25 hits in a 17-4 win at Detroit on Sunday and then scoring 10 of its 13 runs in the sixth through eighth innings the following night.

Houston has also set a franchise record for most hits in consecutive games (43) and in a three-game span (57).

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Monday’s highlight was Jose Altuve becoming the first Astro since 2013 to hit for the cycle. Altuve and Yordan Alvarez each had four hits, including Alvarez’s first home run since Aug. 6.

On the mound, France will look to rebound from the shortest and worst outing of his rookie season. The 28-year-old allowed 10 runs on 11 hits in 2 1/3 innings on Thursday in his first career meeting with the Red Sox.

“It seemed like everything I threw they were hitting, whether it was cutters away, heaters in, heaters away,” France said. “Just one of those days.”

–Field Level Media

New England’s Pena Returns to Fenway

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros will switch locations for their second meeting in as many weeks, beginning a three-game series Monday night at Fenway Park. After splitting last week’s series with Boston, the Astros swung their way to back-to-back wins to end the weekend in Detroit, including recording 25 hits in Sunday’s 17-4 win.

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Reigning World Series MVP Jeremy Pena went 5-for-6 with three RBIs and three runs to lead the way. He has reached base at a .426 clip in August.

“When you perform well, it breeds confidence,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “There was a time (when Pena) was struggling, but that’s behind him and it’s time to look forward.”

Pena is a former Rhode Island resident and University of Maine product, meaning the 25-year-old star shortstop has extra confidence entering the series at Fenway.

“I always say it’s home,” Pena said. “I grew up going to Pawtucket games, Triple-A for the Red Sox, seeing all those guys before they were in the big leagues. I’m going to have a lot of friends, a lot of family. So I always look forward to that series.”

Houston’s Cristian Javier (9-2, 4.52 ERA) will make his second straight start against the Red Sox after taking the ball last Monday and working five, three-run innings. The right-hander tied his season high of 105 pitches in that outing.

Javier will face Boston for the fifth time in his career (third start). He is 1-1 with a 3.50 ERA in the previous meetings.

Despite homering in 16 consecutive games, the Red Sox have lost four of their last seven after losing two of three to the Dodgers this past weekend after the series in Houston. Thursday’s final game of the Astros series was a 17-1 Boston win.

Boston left-hander Chris Sale (5-3, 4.68) will make his fourth start since returning from the 60-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation.

The Red Sox are 10-4 in Sale’s starts this season and 5-1 in his last six after he retired the last nine batters he faced in a no-decision in Houston last Wednesday. He allowed four runs on six hits but struck out nine over five innings.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora is expecting more out of his rotation over the final month of the season, with Tanner Houck and Sale having recently returned from injuries.

“That’s part of 162. Guys are going to go six or seven, and then they are going to grind through it. We’ve just got to find a way. We got to get better,” Cora said. “We’ve been facing some good hitters, tough lineups just like ours that they’re gonna keep grinding with you.”

Sale allowed all four earned runs in the first three frames before settling in for the remainder of his most recent outing.

“Obviously didn’t get off on the right foot but just grinded,” Sale said of that effort. “Sometimes you’ve got to do that. It’s not always going to be pretty.”

Sale is 5-3 with a 2.56 ERA in 10 career starts against the Astros, whom he had not faced since 2019 before last week.

–Field Level Media

Betts, Freeman Out-Slug Red Sox

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – LA Dodgers all-stars Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman each went 3-for-5 as the 1-2 punch in the lineup as the visiting Dodgers posted a 7-4 win over the Boston Red Sox in the finale of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon.

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Betts scored twice and drove in three runs, matching James Outman with a home run for Los Angeles, which won the series and moved to 6-2 in its last eight games.

Freeman and Miguel Rojas each hit two doubles. Freeman’s second double was his 50th of the season.

Outman and Max Muncy also had two hits apiece. The Dodgers totaled 14 hits on the afternoon.

Gavin Stone (1-0) relieved opener Caleb Ferguson, pitching six innings to earn the decision. All four runs he allowed came on three home runs.

Stone’s day ended after Justin Turner and Adam Duvall hit back-to-back homers to start the eighth for the Red Sox.

Triston Casas also left the yard for Boston. Duvall and Casas were both 2-for-4 and combined for three RBIs and three runs.

Red Sox Try to Slow 20-3 Dodgers

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Los Angeles Dodgers will look to continue their hot August when they play the middle contest of a three-game road series against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon. Los Angeles is 20-3 this month after registering a come-from-behind, 7-4 win Friday in the series opener.

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While Freddie Freeman had four hits and three runs, the return of Mookie Betts for his first-ever road game in Boston was the major story. The former Red Sox star doubled and scored twice.

“I had the time of my life playing here. I think a lot of people do,” said Betts, who was traded to the Dodgers in February 2020 after winning a World Series and an American League MVP trophy with the Red Sox in 2018. “I knew every day you put the uniform on, you’ve got to play well, no matter what. Or the fans, the people, will let you know. … That’s why I enjoyed it.”

Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias (11-6, 4.15 ERA) will aim for his fifth consecutive win when he takes the ball on Saturday. He is 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA in five starts since his last loss, on July 19 at Baltimore.

Urias, the reigning National League ERA champion, has pitched seven innings in back-to-back outings, matching his career high. Last Saturday against the Miami Marlins, he yielded one run on five hits and no walks with five strikeouts.

The southpaw’s hot streak also includes a 12-strikeout performance against the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 13.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “You can really finish strong and make it a great year. There’s still plenty of baseball left.”

Urias has made just one career regular-season appearance against Boston, pitching two perfect innings of relief on July 13, 2019. He also pitched three times out of the bullpen against the Red Sox in the 2018 World Series, giving up one run in three innings.

The Red Sox had won five of their past seven games before falling on Friday, a stretch that featured a 17-1 win at Houston in which they set season-high marks for runs and hits (24).

On Friday, Alex Verdugo and Trevor Story homered to help Boston’s 14-hit attack, but it wasn’t enough.

“Obviously, there for like a month and a half, we struggled in the power department,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “But lately some of the big boys are finding their stroke and hitting the ball in the air and out of the ballpark.”

For Story, it was his first homer of the season in his 14th game. He missed the first 112 games while recovering from right elbow surgery.

“I feel like we’re at the point where we’re playing a lot of really good teams,” he said. “We’re going to find out who we are and if we’re going to be in the postseason.”

Boston southpaw James Paxton (7-4, 3.79 ERA) will make the start on Saturday. He has pitched at least five innings in 13 of his 17 starts this year, but he took a loss after allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits across four frames on Monday against the Astros.

Paxton has been excellent at home this season, pitching to a 2.58 ERA in 38 1/3 innings. In two career starts against the Dodgers, HE is 1-0 with a 4.85 ERA in 13 innings.

–Field Level Media

Mookie, Dodgers Down Red Sox, 7-4

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – LA’s Freddie Freeman went 4-for-5 with a go-ahead RBI double and three runs scored to lead the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers to a come-from-behind, 7-4 win over the Boston Red Sox in Friday night’s series opener.

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Dodgers’ third baseman Max Muncy had two hits and three RBIs, while former Red Sox OF Mookie Betts doubled and scored twice in his first game as a visitor in Boston, helping the Dodgers to their third straight win and 20th of 23 in August games.

L.A. starter Lance Lynn (10-9) won despite working around 10 hits and three earned runs in six innings.

Evan Phillips notched his 20th save with a scoreless ninth.

Five Red Sox got multiple hits, including OF Alex Verdugo (who was traded for Betts) and SS Trevor Story who both homered.

Verdugo deposited the first pitch of the bottom of the first inning into the bullpen for his second homer in three games.

The Red Sox lead increased to 3-0 in the second as Story hit a two-run homer into the first section of Green Monster Seats. It was Story’s first this season after he missed the first 112 games (right elbow UCL repair).

After allowing a leadoff single in the third, Boston starter Kutter Crawford struck out four straight and five of the next six batters to help him complete five innings of two-run, four-hit ball.

Crawford moved through a 1-2-3 fifth before the visitors struck for three runs in the sixth. A Betts double off the Monster and Freeman’s knock to left started the rally, ending the Boston starter’s day.

With Nick Pivetta (9-7) in, Will Smith’s line double to left got L.A. on the board. Muncy’s RBI grounder made it 3-2, and former Red Sox Enrique Hernandez lined a game-tying base hit to center.

The Dodgers took the lead in the seventh when Freeman ripped a double into left-center that rolled towards the warning track. Two batters later, Muncy lined a two-out, two-run double to plate two more for a 6-3 lead.

Lynn departed with no outs and two on in the seventh, and Brusdar Graterol worked out of the jam. He allowed just one run to score caused by a Muncy throwing error on Justin Turner’s force out.

David Peralta’s sacrifice fly gave the Dodgers another insurance run in the ninth.

–Field Level Media

It’s Raining on Mookie’s Return

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FENWAY – The rain might wash out Mookie Betts‘ return to Fenway Park.

In better weather, thousands of familiar faces would return to the Fens when the Los Angeles Dodgers begin a three-game series against the Red Sox tonight. The Dodgers last visited Boston in 2019 when a July weekend series marked the only other meeting between the teams since the 2018 World Series.

Highlighting the Dodgers’ returnees is star outfielder is Betts, the 2018 American League MVP who has never played in Boston as a visitor. He was traded to Los Angeles along with pitcher David Price in February 2020. The Red Sox got back three players, two are still regulars for them, outfielder Alex Verdugo and catcher Connor Wong.

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“This will be my first time going back since 2019. I’m really nervous,” Betts said on his Bleacher Report podcast this week. “It’s more just that I haven’t been back in so long. It’s where I grew up, and I don’t know what to expect. … I think it will be fun.”

Betts enters the weekend scorching hot after going 5-for-5 in the completion of a suspended game in Cleveland on Thursday and then 2-for-3 in the series finale that followed. The Dodgers won 6-1 and 9-3, respectively.

Right-hander Ryan Brasier and utility man Enrique Hernandez are two other former Red Sox players who are on the Dodgers’ active roster. Hernandez was just acquired from Boston on July 25.

“I’m sure Fenway is going to show up for (Betts),” Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale said.

The Dodgers will give the ball to 36-year-old Lance Lynn (9-9, 5.60 ERA) on Friday. Lynn is 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA in four starts (25 innings) since joining the Dodgers from the Chicago White Sox in a July 28 trade.

The right-hander, who has allowed a total of one earned run over his past three outings, scattered four hits across seven shutout innings in a no-decision on Aug. 17 against the Milwaukee Brewers. The eventual 1-0 win capped the Dodgers’ 11-game winning streak.

“I think this is kind of what we imagined at the beginning of the season with what our staff is and what it has been since I’ve been here,” Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes said. “Lance fills up hitters during the game. He’s been doing it for a long time.”

The Red Sox return home after dominating in a 17-1 win at Houston on Thursday, splitting a four-game series while earning their fifth victory in seven games.

The recent run has lifted Boston within 3 1/2 games of a playoff spot.

“A lot of people thought this season was over three days ago,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said, “but that’s not the case.”

Wilyer Abreu, Wong and Verdugo each had four hits, including a home run. For Abreu, it was the first long ball of his major league career. He made his debut on Tuesday after socking 22 homers in 86 games for Triple-A Worcester this season.

“There’s a reason he’s here,” Cora said. “(Worcester manager) Chad Tracy was very happy with the way he had been playing. He’s a good runner. He’s a good defender. He’s a good hitter.”

Boston right-hander Kutter Crawford (6-6, 3.66 ERA) is slated to make his first career appearance against the Dodgers.

Crawford pitched 5 1/3 no-hit innings before allowing a home run to the Yankees’ Aaron Judge in his latest start, on Saturday at New York. He wound up yielding just the one run and one hit while walking two and fanning five in six innings en route to an 8-1 win.

–Field Level Media