Overview

• Richard Fitts (1-4, 4.86 ERA) will make his 10th start against Twins rookie Simeon Woods Richardson (5-4, 4.14 ERA) in Monday’s opener.
• Boston’s 57-50 record gives the Red Sox a half-game lead for the second AL wild-card spot with a one-game gap behind the Yankees.
• Minnesota has dropped its last two games to fall five games below .500 at 50-55, sparking speculation about potential trade-deadline moves.
• All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton remains day-to-day with cartilage irritation in his rib cage, avoiding placement on the injured list.
• The Red Sox have posted a 2.78 ERA in July, holding opponents to three or fewer earned runs in 14 of 21 games.