Baltimore Orioles vs Boston Red Sox: 5 players to watch

Mookie Betts, RF

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Martinez may be raking, but he isn’t the best hitter on the Red Sox. That distinction belongs to Mookie Betts, the speedy right fielder who looks well on his way to posting an all-time great season.

Through Wednesday, Betts’ slash line is a robust .353/.428/.733, good for the AL lead in batting average and slugging percentage. He also leads the league in home runs, runs, adjusted OPS and total bases, and his 2.9 WAR puts him third, behind only Mike Trout and Francisco Lindor.

Betts showed the full extent of his talents on May 2, when he hit three home runs against the Kansas City Royals — his second such game of the year. All three were solo shots, but that’s hardly a consolation for the pitchers who have to face him.

Take a look:

Combined, Betts and Martinez have compiled 4.8 WAR this year — that’s more than the Orioles’ entire hitting corps put together, even if you ignore the players who are below replacement level. With a nugget like that, perhaps it’s no wonder that the Birds are 15.5 games behind the Sox in the AL East.

Next: The top 5 strikeout pitchers in Orioles history

How many games will the Birds take from the Red Sox this week? Let us know on social media, and keep it here at Birds Watcher for more updates on the Baltimore Orioles.