The set-up: LA Dodgers pitching ace Clayton Kershaw (herniated disk) went on the 60-day disabled list earlier this week and isn't expected back until September. Bud Norris, who was recently acquired from the Atlanta Braves in a trade, was put on the 15-day DL on Saturday with a mild back strain. The rotation took another hit Saturday before the team's game with Boston, when newly acquired starter Rich Hill was bumped from his scheduled start Sunday when "remnants" of another blister were found on his middle pitching finger after the left-hander played catch Friday, manager Dave Roberts said. However, the Dodgers took the field and bested the Red Sox 3-0, after losing 9-0 on Friday night. The Red Sox are two games back of first-place in the AL East and just a half-game out in the wild card race. The Dodgers have closed to within two games of the Giants in the NL West and own the NL's No. 1 wild card spot, four games clear of missing out on the postseason.

The pitching matchup: David Price (9-7, 4.30 ERA) gets the start for Boston and replacing Rich Hill for LA will be Brandon McCarthy (2-2, 2.76 ERA). Price was cruising through seven innings in his last outing (no runs thru seven innings) but then surrendered a leadoff HR in the eighth plus allowed three more runs in that inning without recording an out. The former Cy Young Award winner is just 9-7 (4.30 ERA) on the season and the Red Sox are now 11-12 in his 2016 starts, losing $937 at $100 per game (NOT what the team expected). McCarthy, coming off Tommy John surgery, didn't return to the mound in 2016 until July 3 and has made a modest six starts. He's taken the loss in each of his last two, failing to record an out in the fifth inning of either outing.

The pick: The Red Sox rank first in all of MLB in runs scored (5.44 per), batting average (.284) and OPS (.817). Coming off a shutout, they should be dangerous. As for Price, his "consistent inconsistency" is giving Boston management fits. The over/under number is too low. 10* play on the over.