Most dangerous Red Sox opponents down stretch

The Red Sox are clinging to their lead in the AL East as they play six games on a road trip through San Francisco and Los Angeles this week. It’ll be September before we know it, and every game matters in a tight race for the division and a playoff spot.

The Sox ran into a retooled Yankees team over the weekend that featured Alex Rodriguez and Alfonso Soriano, and down the stretch several more nemeses will attempt to keep Boston out of the playoffs. Here’s a look at the schedule and the opponents to be most wary of.

Giants, Aug. 19-21: Buster Posey

The Sox don’t get to face the Giants often, so there isn’t a lot of personal history here. Still, most Red Sox fans know that 26-year-old catcher Buster Posey is the real deal. Last year’s National League MVP is hitting .303 with 14 home runs. The Giants are having a down season, but Posey remains dangerous. Better to pitch to Brandon Belt, Pablo Sandoval, and Hunter Pence.

Dodgers, Aug. 23-25: Hanley Ramirez

The Dodgers are 42-9 in their last 51 games, the best in baseball. While many attribute the recent surge to unpredictable rookie Yasiel Puig, it has also coincided with the return of third baseman Hanley Ramirez. Ramirez has been limited to 59 games this season because of injuries, but when he’s been in the lineup, he has compiled a .356 batting average and an OPS over 1.000. There are several former Red Sox on the Dodgers (anyone heard from Adrian Gonzalez lately?) but Ramirez is the most dangerous.

Orioles, Aug. 27-29: Chris Davis

When he came out of the gates on fire earlier this season, many questioned whether Orioles slugger Chris Davis would be able to maintain his power numbers. He has. Davis leads all of baseball in home runs (45 through Monday) and is the best power hitter on one of Boston’s biggest rivals. The teams play nine more times this season.

White Sox, Aug. 30-Sept. 1: Chris Sale

The White Sox are in last place in the AL Central, so these are games the Red Sox should win. One pitcher Boston must hope to avoid is Chicago starter Chris Sale. An All-Star this season, Sale has four complete games and averages more than a strikeout per inning. The Red Sox need every game, and Sale could steal one from them.

Tigers, Sept. 2-4: Miguel Cabrera

It’s tough to pick just one dangerous player for Detroit, with Justin Verlander, Prince Fielder, Max Scherzer, and Victor Martinez on the roster, but Miguel Cabrera is the best all-around hitter in baseball. Cabrera has been banged up, but is threatening to lead the league in average, slugging, OPS, home runs, and RBIs for the second year in a row. The Sox are lucky they have only one series left vs. the Tigers.

Yankees, Sept. 5-8: Alfonso Soriano

Alfonso Soriano has been on a tear since joining the Yankees from the Cubs on July 26. In a recent four-game span, Soriano went 13 for 18 with five home runs, tying a major league record with 18 RBIs. He had five hits in two games vs. the Red Sox over the weekend before going 0 for 6 Sunday. He adds a dangerous bat to an improving Yankees lineup.

Rays, Sept. 10-12: David Price

Tampa Bay is in the thick of the American League playoff race, and one way or another, the Sox are going to have to get through the Rays. One reason that may be difficult is Rays ace David Price. Price owns a 2.98 ERA and 10-5 record vs. the Red Sox in his career. The Sox don’t have an ace to match him.

Yankees, Sept. 13-15: Alex Rodriguez

While we’re at it, Alex Rodriguez, despite being a villainous opponent in theory, should also be able to do some real damage vs. the Sox down the stretch. Rodriguez had five hits over the weekend as the Yankees took two of three at Fenway Park. Rodriguez is a lifetime .285 hitter vs. the Red Sox.

Yankees, Sept. 13-15: Curtis Granderson

The Yankees struggled to put together a salient lineup in the early part of the season, but things are coming together. Curtis Granderson came back Aug. 2, and the outfielder’s return could have a huge impact on New York’s biggest rivals. Granderson has 19 home runs in 79 career games vs. the Red Sox with the Tigers and Yankees.

Orioles, Sept. 17-19: Manny Machado

There has to be more than one Oriole on this list, right? Manny Machado is one of the most exciting young players in baseball, and in his short career, he has fared very well vs. the Red Sox. In 19 games, Machado has a .338 average with 3 home runs and 14 RBIs.

Blue Jays, Sept. 20-22: Jose Bautista

The Blue Jays aren’t very good, but slugger Jose Bautista absolutely owns the Red Sox. Bautista has 25 home runs in 82 games against the Red Sox, with a slugging percentage of .524. The Jays come to Fenway for the third-to-last series of the season.

Rockies, Sept. 24-25: Troy Tulowitzki

The Sox have an oddly placed series with the Rockies before concluding the season vs. the Orioles. Colorado isn’t a good team, but shortstop Troy Tulowitzki could shatter Boston’s playoff dreams with a big hit or two in the last week of the season. Tulo has just nine career at-bats vs. the Red Sox.