MLB: Red Sox chase record win streak against Orioles

The Boston Red Sox will have a chance to make history when they face the visiting Baltimore Orioles in a doubleheader on Wednesday.

Boston has won 14 consecutive games and was one victory away from tying the franchise record for the longest winning streak when its scheduled game against Baltimore on Tuesday was postponed because of rain. The game was rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader.

If the Red Sox sweep both games on Wednesday, they will set a new team record by surpassing the 15-game winning streak achieved by the 1946 club from April 25 to May 10.

"You try not to (think about it), but I want it," Boston third baseman Caleb Durbin said. "I can't speak for anyone else because we haven't really talked about it, but shoot, yeah, I want to make history here.

"A lot of really good ballclubs have come through here, too. When it's all said and done -- and hopefully it's not done for a little while -- we'll look back on it and see how cool of a run it was."

Boston's 14-game winning streak is the longest in Major League Baseball this season and matches the longest winning streak by an American League team since the Seattle Mariners won 14 straight games in 2022.

"It would mean a lot, for sure," Boston first baseman Willson Contreras said. "We are trying to play the same way every day. We are thriving and trying to win as much as we can because we know we have to take advantage of every opportunity.

"We are relentless. We are resilient. We're looking forward to keeping this going. ... If it happens, it would be great for us and we'll have to celebrate that. If it doesn't, we have to keep going."

The Orioles enter the series dealing with injuries at the catching position. Rookie Samuel Basallo missed Monday's loss to Boston because of a sore right shoulder and was not expected to start Tuesday's game. Baltimore's starting catcher Adley Rutschman was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday due to wrist inflammation.

"(Basallo is) dealing with it, maintaining it," Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said Tuesday. "He's feeling a little bit better today. We're very hopeful with him. We're going to support him, make sure he gets the treatment he needs and see where he's at each day."

Boston will send rookie left-hander Jake Bennett (5-3, 2.35 ERA) to the mound in the opening game Wednesday. It will be his first career appearance against the Orioles.

Baltimore will counter with right-hander Dean Kremer (1-2, 4.15 ERA), who has a 3-4 record with a 5.04 ERA in 10 career starts against Boston.

Right-hander Kyle Bradish (6-9, 3.61 ERA) is expected to start the second game of the doubleheader for the Orioles, according to MLB.com. In 10 career starts against Boston, Bradish is 1-6 with a 6.75 ERA. He enters the game after a strong outing in Baltimore's 6-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on July 11, allowing one run on two hits over 6 2/3 innings.

The Red Sox had not announced their Game 2 starter as of late Tuesday night.

After Monday's 6-5 victory, Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said left-hander Ranger Suarez (4-3, 3.15 ERA) would be activated and start Tuesday's game. However, those plans changed, and rookie left-hander Eduardo Rivera was expected to start instead.

Suarez has not pitched since July 5 because of a groin strain, but Tracy said the All-Star could be activated and start the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader depending on how he feels.

"We've just got to wait and see how he feels tomorrow," Tracy said.

-Field Level Media/Reuters