Monday night’s matchup between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels on June 23, 2025, at Angel Stadium shapes up as a classic clash between a team looking to maintain wildcard relevance and a squad desperate to stay afloat. The Red Sox enter with a slightly better overall record and the benefit of a deeper lineup and more consistent pitching, while the Angels have fought to remain competitive despite multiple injuries and a streaky bullpen. Boston is expected to send veteran Walker Buehler to the mound, a right-hander still searching for rhythm in his return from injury, currently sitting at a 5–5 record with an inflated ERA over 5.90. Despite the lackluster ERA, Buehler’s fastball velocity is trending upward, and his strikeout rate suggests he’s close to turning a corner if he can limit early walks. The Angels counter with Jack Kochanowicz, a young righty who has been thrown into a larger role than expected and has been struggling to adjust, entering this game with a 3–8 record and an ERA in the 5.30s. Kochanowicz relies heavily on pitch-to-contact strategy, which may be dangerous against a Boston lineup that thrives on working counts and spraying the ball to all fields. Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu have quietly been two of Boston’s most dangerous hitters, both capable of putting pressure on defenses through speed and power.

Ceddanne Rafaela, whose bat has come alive lately, gives the Red Sox added lineup depth, while Rafael Devers remains a threat to change the game with one swing. Boston’s bullpen is more trustworthy than the Angels’, anchored by reliable arms in the seventh through ninth innings who have done well holding slim leads. Meanwhile, the Angels’ offense has been uneven, depending heavily on the OBP skills of Nolan Schanuel and the occasional spark from Zach Neto or Mickey Moniak, though their lack of power and consistency has hurt them in close games. Defensively, neither team is elite, but Boston has cleaned up its act recently, minimizing errors and making plays behind Buehler that will be crucial in Anaheim’s spacious outfield. The Angels’ biggest opportunity lies in forcing Buehler into high pitch counts early and taking advantage of any middle-inning fatigue, especially if Boston’s bullpen is overworked after a long series. The Red Sox will aim to score early, stretch at-bats, and test Kochanowicz’s command while leaning on their superior pitching depth and more polished lineup to grind out runs. If Boston can grab an early lead and hand the ball over to its setup and closer tandem with minimal stress, they should be in a strong position to pull out a narrow road win. However, if Kochanowicz can get through five innings without major damage and the Angels find ways to manufacture runs with speed and contact, an upset is not out of the question. Ultimately, the Red Sox have more reliable paths to victory, with sharper pitching, a deeper order, and the recent trend of performing well in road favorite spots suggesting they could leave Los Angeles with a low-scoring 5–3 or 4–2 win.