Jake Bennett returns for the Red Sox as they try to prevent a Rays sweep

The Boston Red Sox will call on Jake Bennett for his return to the major leagues as they try to avoid a three-game sweep against the Tampa Bay Rays in the finale of the series. The matchup matters beyond this specific rubber game, because Boston is trying to stabilize a season that has slid to a point where the club is 11 games under.500 for the first time in six seasons.

Bennett’s recall gives the Red Sox a fresh option on the mound for a day game that comes shortly before Boston heads back to Fenway Park. According to reports, Bennett is back after making his first two big-league starts and posting a 4.35 ERA across that initial stretch. While a pitcher’s early-run numbers never tell the whole story, that mark provides the basic benchmark Boston is working from as it evaluates how Bennett fits into the rotation plan.

For the Rays, the opposition will not be any kind of soft landing. Tampa Bay is expected to counter with Drew Rasmussen, who has been productive during the season’s first look, with a reported 3.00 ERA in 12 starts. Rasmussen’s effectiveness gives the Rays a clear identity to lean on, particularly against a Boston lineup that has been trying to find consistency while playing multiple games away from its usual home environment.

The context behind Bennett’s return is tied to what the Red Sox have been unable to do on this trip. Boston dropped a pair of low-scoring games during its first series at Tropicana Field since 2024, and that kind of losing pattern is what sets the tone for the next start. If Boston can keep the scoring gap from widening, it can prevent the series from becoming a momentum drain right before the schedule turns back toward Fenway’s familiar surroundings.

The sweep-avoidance objective also reflects where Boston’s long-term plan is headed in the standings race. Early in June, the difference between staying at or above.500 and sinking further can affect how quickly a club has to adjust its approach, whether that means tightening the roster mix, changing the risk tolerance in games, or prioritizing specific roles in the rotation and bullpen.

Bennett’s outing will be the most direct indicator of how much the Red Sox can trust a pitcher currently at the center of their near-term needs. If he can work through the early frames and hold the Rays to manageable damage, Boston’s offense may have a real chance to build pressure late. If it turns into another low-scoring grind, every efficiency play, from command to bullpen usage, becomes more consequential.

For Tampa Bay, a third straight win would extend a run that has already turned this series into something close to a statement. Against Boston, that would also reinforce the Rays’ ability to win games with strong starting pitching and enough run prevention to keep opponents from breaking through. Boston’s path to avoiding the sweep likely starts with limiting free passes and getting deep into counts without surrendering the first big swing. The most watchable factor will be whether Bennett can translate the early results of his major-league debut phase into another stable performance in a high-leverage spot.