It will be a matchup of lefthanders in Friday’s opener. Garrett Crochet gets the nod for the Sox after allowing just four runs across his last three starts. That includes his most recent outing in which he allowed just one run in seven innings while striking out nine and scattering seven hits in a 10-1 win at Kansas City.

The Braves will counter with Chris Sale, who will make his first start at Fenway since being traded from Boston to Atlanta before the 2024 season. Sale struck out eight in 5⅔ innings on Sunday at Pittsburgh after fanning 10 in each of his two prior starts.

Here is a preview.

BRAVES (22-22): TBA

Pitching: LHP Chris Sale (1-3, 3.97 ERA)

RED SOX (22-23): TBA

Pitching: LHP Garrett Crochet (4-2, 1.93 ERA)

Time: 7:10 p.m.

TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

Braves vs. Crochet: Ozzie Albies 0-3, Orlando Arcia 1-2, Stuart Fairchild 1-2, Michael Harris II 0-3, Matt Olson 0-3, Marcell Ozuna 1-3, Austin Riley 0-3, Alex Verdugo 0-1

Red Sox vs. Sale: Wilyer Abreu 0-2, Alex Bregman 2-11, Rafael Devers 0-3, Jarren Duran 1-3, Ceddanne Rafaela 1-2, Rob Refsnyder 2-8, Trevor Story 1-3, Abraham Toro 0-2, Connor Wong 2-3

Stat of the day: The Red Sox have lost eight consecutive one-run games, dating back to April 24.

Notes: In one appearance against the Braves as a member of the White Sox, Crochet allowed just one run in seven innings and struck out eight to get the win on April 2, 2024. … Rafael Devers is 13 for 36 with two home runs and nine RBIs over the past 10 games. … The Red Sox are 4-12 in one-run games. … Their 12 one-run losses lead MLB. … 10 of their last 12 losses have been by three runs or fewer, and eight of their last 11 have been by one run. … In his one start against the Red Sox since being traded to Atlanta, Sale struck out 10 in six scoreless innings in a 5-0 home win on May 8, 2024. For his entire career against the Sox, Sale is 3-1 with a 1.99 ERA in 11 appearances (six starts).

Material from Field Level Media was used in this report.

Follow Andrew Mahoney @GlobeMahoney.