Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Dodgers Preview
Today's Starting Matchup
Today's starting pitching matchup features Boston Red Sox's Jake Bennett (6-4, 2.74 ERA) against Los Angeles Dodgers's Emmet Sheehan (4-7, 4.95 ERA).
Boston Red Sox's Jake Bennett posts an solid 2.74 ERA this season, while Emmet Sheehan has been shaky at 4.95. There is a clear gap in starting pitching quality.
Advanced metrics: Jake Bennett — FIP 3.28, K% 18.0%, 65.7 IP / Emmet Sheehan — FIP 4.41, K% 26.3%, 92.7 IP
Team Season Comparison
2026 season record: Boston Red Sox 59-51 (.536), Los Angeles Dodgers 69-42 (.622).
Los Angeles Dodgers holds the edge in the season standings, though Boston Red Sox can't be counted out based on head-to-head matchups.
Run differential: Boston Red Sox +56, Los Angeles Dodgers +154. Los Angeles Dodgers boasts superior run production.
Recent form: Boston Red Sox on a 4-game win streak, Los Angeles Dodgers on a 2-game losing streak.
Based on starting pitching, Boston Red Sox holds the edge.
Bullpen Analysis
Boston Red Sox bullpen: 13 relievers on the active roster. Key arms: Aroldis Chapman (Closer) 1.72 ERA, 49K in 36.2IP, Brayan Bello 5.30 ERA, 57K in 74.2IP, Garrett Whitlock (Setup) 2.03 ERA, 42K in 40.0IP.
Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen: 13 relievers on the active roster. Key arms: Alex Vesia (Setup) 2.68 ERA, 52K in 37.0IP, Edgardo Henriquez (Setup) 2.72 ERA, 43K in 43.0IP, Edwin Díaz (Closer) 9.00 ERA, 12K in 8.0IP.
Win Probability
Projected win probability: Boston Red Sox 57% vs Los Angeles Dodgers 43%
Factors: Boston Red Sox's starter owns the lower ERA, Los Angeles Dodgers's home-field advantage. Of course, baseball's inherent randomness means actual results may differ.
Key Tactical Points
Workload comparison: Jake Bennett averages 6.0 IP per start vs. Emmet Sheehan at 4.9 IP. Getting six-plus innings from the starter significantly eases the bullpen burden.
Emmet Sheehan has allowed 17 HR this season — a concern against a lineup with extra-base power.