Forward-thinking Red Sox take momentum into series vs. Cardinals

Finally, the Boston Red Sox have a turn in the right direction.

Back-to-back victories over the Milwaukee Brewers have the Red Sox feeling good as they turn their attention to another National League Central opponent, with the opener of a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.

Strong pitching performances set the stage for Boston's two latest victories, as left-hander Garrett Crochet and right-hander Sonny Gray each pitched 6 1/3 innings en route to their respective 3-2 and 5-0 decisions. Now, manager Alex Cora looks to southpaw Connelly Early (0-0, 2.89 ERA) to continue the trend.

"We will pitch. We're going to be better," Cora said. "And for this team to make it to October, we have to pitch. And we will."

Though the Red Sox lost his first two starts of 2026 by 3-2 scores, Early has picked up where he left off as a rookie last September. The 24-year-old has allowed just three runs and struck out 10 through 9 1/3 innings, including four innings of two-run ball in his start Saturday against the San Diego Padres.

Across four starts late last season, Early was 1-2 with a 2.33 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 19 1/3 frames.

"Stuff-wise, he's really good," Cora said earlier this season. "He slows down the moments, and he's getting better."

Like Gray did after Crochet, Early will look to help the Red Sox continue building momentum from their first series win. There were more positive signs, too, as Wilyer Abreu continued his hot start (.383 average) with a 2-for-4 effort on Wednesday, and Trevor Story erased an 0-for-16 funk with a four-game hit streak and three straight multi-RBI performances.

"(The slow start is) already in the past. We've got to move forward," catcher Carlos Narvaez said. "We won the series. That's all that matters now. We've got six on the road."

The Cardinals return home with momentum themselves, having followed up a 7-6, 10-inning triumph on Tuesday with a convincing 6-1 effort on Wednesday against the Washington Nationals.

It has been a stretch to remember for 23-year-old outfielder Jordan Walker, who homered in all three games against Washington and four of the last five, giving him 12 RBI and a 1.049 OPS for the season.

"Man, I always feel like I can do it," Walker said. "But just working with the guys all day ... (my confidence) is just going through the roof right now and I've got to get it to stay there."

On top of Walker continuing his recent exploits, Alec Burleson went 3-for-4 with three RBI and starter Michael McGreevy (1-1) pitched six solid innings to lead to Wednesday's win. It was just the second of seven St. Louis victories that did not require a comeback effort.

"It's a very complete team. That's how it feels," McGreevy said. "Everything you want out of a baseball team. You've got great defenders behind you. You've got great offense. I never felt like we were out of any game on this road trip."

Manager Oliver Marmol agrees.

"The style of play, how we're winning these ballgames, has been consistent," he said. "More proud of that than anything."

However, the struggles of Dustin May (0-2, 15.95) have been a sore spot for St. Louis thus far, as the veteran righty has been touched up for 13 runs on 17 hits in just 7 1/3 innings. He lasted just 3 1/3 and allowed seven runs last Saturday in an 11-6 setback to the host Detroit Tigers.

May made six appearances (five starts) for the Red Sox late last season. His only career appearance against them was a five-inning losing effort on July 27, just four days before the Los Angeles Dodgers traded him to Boston.

--Field Level Media