The Boston Red Sox return to Fenway Park on Friday, August 21 for a 7:10 PM ET showdown with the San Francisco Giants. Sonny Gray gets the ball for Boston against San Francisco's Logan Webb in what figures to be a pitchers' duel between two veterans who know how to mix their offerings and keep lineups off-balance. With a Giants lineup that includes some recognizable names — and one very familiar face in the two-hole — this one carries real intrigue for the Fenway faithful.

Pitching Matchup: Sonny Gray vs. Logan Webb

Gray is a seasoned right-hander who relies on command and a deep arsenal to generate weak contact and keep the ball in the park. Webb is one of the more quietly dominant starters in the National League, a sinker-heavy workhorse who makes his living inducing ground balls and keeping pitch counts low. Neither guy is going to overpower a lineup, which means defense and sequencing matter enormously in a matchup like this. Expect a game that stays tight through the middle innings.

The Rafael Devers Factor

It would be impossible to preview this game without addressing the elephant — or rather, the third baseman — in the room. Rafael Devers, the longtime Red Sox cornerstone, is now in San Francisco's lineup batting second as the designated hitter. Devers at Fenway Park in a Giants uniform is a storyline that will draw every bit of attention it deserves. The Fenway crowd will have opinions, and Devers will hear them. How he responds at the plate against Gray could be the defining moment of the evening.

Boston Lineup: Keys to Watch

• Nick Sogard (2B, leadoff): Sogard sets the table at the top. His ability to work counts and get on base is critical against a pitcher like Webb who thrives when he can dictate pace.
• Ceddanne Rafaela (CF): Batting second, Rafaela's speed and contact skills make him a handful when Webb's sinker catches too much of the plate.
• Wilyer Abreu (RF): The three-hole is a significant spot against a ground-ball pitcher. Abreu needs to stay disciplined and look for balls he can elevate.
• Willson Contreras (1B): Cleanup duties fall to Contreras. His experience against veteran starters makes him a credible run-producing threat.
• Adley Rutschman (C): Batting fifth, Rutschman brings patient at-bats and the ability to work Webb deep into counts — exactly what Boston needs to get into the Giants' bullpen.

San Francisco Lineup: Threats to Monitor

• Willy Adames (SS): Batting third, Adames is the kind of middle-of-the-order presence who can do damage against both fastballs and breaking balls.
• Bryce Eldridge (1B): The young first baseman hits cleanup for San Francisco and represents a legitimate power threat that Gray cannot take lightly.
• Jung Hoo Lee (RF): Batting fifth, Lee is a contact-oriented hitter who can find gaps and create problems on the bases.

Three Keys to the Game

• Control the Devers at-bats: Gray needs a plan against his former — or in this timeline, potentially current — AL East rival. Give him nothing to drive to left.
• Get Webb's pitch count up early: The Giants starter is most dangerous when he works efficiently. Boston's lineup needs to battle, take pitches, and force Webb to work through his offerings.
• Defense behind Gray: A sinker specialist like Webb isn't the only one who benefits from clean defense. Gray's ground-ball tendencies mean Sogard, Monasterio, and Durbin need to be sharp up the middle and at third.

Prediction

This is a low-scoring game waiting to happen. Two pitchers who know how to limit damage, two lineups that will need to manufacture runs — it has the feel of a 3-2 or 4-3 final. The Fenway crowd will be electric for the Devers homecoming, and that kind of atmosphere tends to energize the home side. Give the edge to Gray holding the Giants in check long enough for the Boston lineup to scratch out the runs it needs. Red Sox 4, Giants 2. Catch it on NESN or listen on WEEI 93.7.