The Boston Red Sox head to Los Angeles on Friday, July 31, to take on the Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, with first pitch set for 10:10 PM ET. Ranger Suarez gets the ball for Boston against Dodgers right-hander Edgardo Henriquez in what figures to be a late-night West Coast test for a Red Sox club looking to build on whatever momentum they're carrying into August. Red Sox fans can catch the action on NESN and WEEI 93.7 FM back home in New England.

Pitching Matchup: Suarez vs. Henriquez

Ranger Suarez draws the assignment for the Sox in this one. The southpaw has been part of Boston's rotation picture, and a road start against a loaded Dodgers lineup is about as meaningful a litmus test as you'll find in late July. How Suarez manages the Dodgers' deep, right-handed-heavy order will be worth tracking from the first inning on.

On the other side, Edgardo Henriquez gets the nod for Los Angeles. The young Dodgers arm is an interesting assignment against a Red Sox club making the trip across the country, and Boston would love nothing more than to spoil his evening at the mound.

Dodgers Lineup Is a Genuine Challenge

There's no sugarcoating it — the Dodgers are presenting one of the most formidable batting orders in baseball on Friday night. Los Angeles is rolling out a lineup that features some of the biggest names in the game, and Suarez will need to be sharp from pitch one.

• Shohei Ohtani leads off as the designated hitter — arguably the most dangerous hitter in baseball batting first is not a comfortable situation for any starting pitcher.
• Andy Pages follows in center field, with Miguel Rojas slotted third at second base.
• Freddie Freeman anchors the cleanup spot at first base, one of the premier run producers in the National League.
• Mookie Betts — yes, that Mookie Betts, the one Red Sox fans know all too well — bats fifth at shortstop. That storyline never gets old at Fenway, but in L.A., it's a straight-up threat Boston has to neutralize.
• Teoscar Hernández in left, Kyle Tucker in right, and Enrique Hernández at third round out a lineup with very few soft spots.
• Eliezer Alfonzo catches and hits ninth, giving the Dodgers a lineup with legitimate run-scoring potential at every turn.

Keys to the Game for Boston

Keep Ohtani Off the Bases

Simple in theory, brutally difficult in execution. Ohtani leading off means every inning could start with one of the game's best hitters stepping in. Suarez has to attack him with conviction and not let walks set the table for Freeman and the heart of this order.

Make Contact Against Henriquez

Without a confirmed Boston lineup in hand, the Red Sox approach at the plate against Henriquez is an open question — but the objective is always the same on the road: grind out at-bats, work counts, and make a young pitcher earn every out.

Bullpen Management Matters Late

A 10:10 PM ET first pitch on the West Coast means this game could bleed deep into the night. How Boston manages its bullpen in the later innings against a lineup that does not quit will be a critical factor in the final outcome.

Prediction

The Dodgers' lineup is a genuine challenge on any night, and facing it on the road at 10:10 PM with Ohtani, Freeman, Betts, and Tucker waiting is not an easy assignment. That said, Suarez on a good night can keep Boston competitive against anyone. This figures to be a tight, low-scoring game if Suarez is locked in early. The Red Sox have enough to steal one here, but the Dodgers' firepower at home makes them the team to beat. Dodgers 4, Red Sox 2.