The Boston Red Sox return to Fenway Park on Tuesday with a 29–32 record, looking to capitalize on home field to reset after an up-and-down road trip and regain their footing in the crowded American League East. While the Red Sox have been inconsistent at times, their performance at home remains relatively strong, going 15–12 ATS in their last 30 games at Fenway and regularly putting themselves in position to win with timely offense and a competent bullpen. The lineup has shown signs of coming together more cohesively in recent weeks, with Trevor Story settling into a rhythm, Jarren Duran providing high-contact energy at the top of the order, and Abraham Toro and rookie Kristian Campbell offering important middle-to-bottom depth. The return of Rafael Devers to the heart of the lineup adds much-needed power and stability, while the team continues to get valuable contributions from veterans like J.D. Martinez and Alex Verdugo when healthy. On the mound, manager Alex Cora is expected to go with one of three starters—Lucas Giolito, Brayan Bello, or Yusei Kikuchi—all of whom have shown flashes of dominance but also possess some volatility.

Regardless of who gets the nod, Boston’s game plan will center around controlling the early innings, keeping pitch counts manageable, and minimizing long-ball damage against an Angels lineup that has struggled to consistently capitalize on scoring opportunities. The Red Sox bullpen, anchored by Kenley Jansen and reinforced with dependable setup options, has been a strength this season and will be leaned on if the starter can get through five or six innings with the lead. Offensively, Boston has been most dangerous when working deep counts, forcing walks, and stringing together hits rather than relying solely on home runs. Their ability to take advantage of Fenway’s hitter-friendly dimensions—particularly the Green Monster in left and the quirky right-field corner—makes them a constant threat to put up crooked numbers at home. Defensively, the Red Sox have tightened up after a shaky start to the season, turning more double plays and executing situational defense effectively in recent weeks. Against an Angels team that struggles to miss bats and often fades in late innings, Boston has a chance to set the tone early, pile on runs with contact-heavy innings, and ride the crowd momentum to a much-needed win. This series presents a prime opportunity to get back to .500 and start pushing toward playoff relevance, and with the AL East still within reach, the Red Sox know the urgency is growing. Tuesday’s opener is not just a chance to add a win—it’s a litmus test for whether this team can stay in the fight through the summer stretch, and it starts by taking care of business against a vulnerable Angels squad on home turf.