First pitch: Monday, 7:10 p.m. ET
Line: Detroit +125, Boston -135, Total: 9.5

The Tigers will be looking to avoid a third straight loss when they face the Red Sox in Boston on Monday.

The Tigers have playoff hopes, but the team is really struggling right now. Detroit comes into this game after having lost two straight contests and four of its past six. It will need to find a way to turn things around and earn a victory or two in this series in Boston. The Red Sox, meanwhile, are coming off of an 8-7 victory over the Twins on Sunday. They did, however, lose two games in that three-game set, but it’s not too bad considering they have won six of their past nine. One thing this Boston team has been doing all season is scoring, as the team has put up eight or more runs in four of its past five games. These teams have not yet met this season, but Detroit is 4-2 when playing Boston at Fenway Park over the past three seasons. The starters in this one are set to be RHP Justin Verlander (9-6, 3.74 ERA, 139 K) for the Tigers and LHP Drew Pomeranz (8-7, 2.83 ERA, 119 K) for the Red Sox. It’s worth noting that the Sox are 3-11 against the money line after scoring seven or more runs in two straight games this season. OF Mookie Betts (Knee) is listed as questionable for Boston in this game as well.

The Tigers can use a victory on Monday and Justin Verlander will be the guy tasked with shutting down an explosive Red Sox lineup. Verlander might just be up to the task, as he has pitched extremely well recently. The righty just pitched a brilliant game against the Twins, allowing just one earned run in eight innings of work on Jul. 20. He struck out nine batters in that game and has now fanned eight or more batters in three of the past four starts he has made. Verlander has also been solid against Boston over the years, as he has a 2.37 ERA in his past three starts against the team. Offensively, two Tigers that have had some success against Pomeranz are OFs Cameron Maybin (.325, 2 HR, 26 RBI) and Justin Upton (.235, 11 HR, 40 RBI). The two of them are a combined 4-for-9 with Pomeranz and it’d be big if they could provide something on Monday. A few hits from each of them would come a long way in helping the Tigers win this game, as the rest of Detroit’s lineup would surely be able to drive them in.

Drew Pomeranz was awful in his first start with the Red Sox, allowing five earned runs in just three innings of work against the Giants on Jul. 20. He’ll be hoping to rebound on Monday, but it won’t be easy against the Tigers. One thing Pomeranz is going to need to do is stay poised. He walked two batters in his three innings that game and must locate his pitchers better. He should, however, be just fine moving forward, as he was really pitching well before the deal. On offense, the Red Sox will be counting on guys like DH David Ortiz (.332, 24 HR, 81 RBI), SS Xander Bogaerts (.333, 11 HR, 61 RBI) and 3B Aaron Hill (.272, 8 HR, 31 RBI). Ortiz has dominated Verlander in the past, going 11-for-29 with four doubles, two homers and four RBI against the pitcher in his career. Bogaerts and Hill, meanwhile, have combined to go 7-for-22 with three doubles and two RBI against him. It’d be big if all three can get it going on Monday, but it should be expected that Ortiz will produce in some way in this one.