Dodgers’ Mookie Betts makes first return to Boston

Familiar faces will return to Boston when the Los Angeles Dodgers begin a three-game series against the Red Sox on Friday night.

The Dodgers last visited Boston in 2019 when a July weekend series marked the one other meeting between the teams because the 2018 World Series.

Highlighting the Dodgers‘ returnees is star outfielder Mookie Betts, the 2018 American League MVP who has never played in Boston as a visitor. He was traded to Los Angeles together 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.

“This will probably 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 have not been back in so long. It’s where I grew up, and I do not know what to expect. … I feel it’ll be fun.”

Betts enters the weekend scorching hot after going 5-for-5 within the completion of a suspended game in Cleveland on Thursday after which 2-for-3 within 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’re on the Dodgers‘ lively roster. Hernandez was just acquired from Boston on July 25.

“I’m sure Fenway goes 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 4 starts (25 innings) since joining the Dodgers from the Chicago White Sox in a July 28 trade.

The appropriate-hander, who has allowed a complete of 1 earned run over his past three outings, scattered 4 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 feel that is form of what we imagined initially of the season with what our staff is and what it has been since I have been here,” Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes said. “Lance fills up hitters through the game. He’s been doing it for a very 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 inside 3 1/2 games of a playoff spot.

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

Wilyer Abreu, Wong and Verdugo each had 4 hits, including a house run. For Abreu, it was the first long ball of his major league profession. He made his debut on Tuesday after socking 22 homers in 86 games for Triple-A Worcester this season.

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

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

Crawford pitched 5 1/3 no-hit innings before allowing a house run to the Yankees’ Aaron Judge in his latest start, on Saturday at Recent 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