The Boston Red Sox find themselves in a tough spot heading into Wednesday's series finale against the Minnesota Twins. After dropping the first two games, the Sox are staring down the barrel of a sweep and are in desperate need of a momentum-shifting performance.

Boston's pitching staff has struggled mightily in Minneapolis, with starters surrendering 15 earned runs over the first two contests. The offense hasn't provided much relief either, getting shut out for the first time this season on Tuesday. To spark the lineup, manager Alex Cora is shaking things up, moving the speedy Ceddanne Rafaela into the coveted No. 2 spot behind leadoff man Roman Anthony.

The pressure now falls on rookie left-hander Connelly Early to stop the bleeding. Early has been a bright spot in the rotation so far, posting a solid 2.63 ERA, but the Red Sox will need him to work deeper into the game to give their bullpen a rest. Standing in their way is a red-hot Twins team that boasts the best record in the American League at 11-7, with Simeon Woods Richardson getting the start as they push for the sweep.

It's a classic early-season test of resilience for the Red Sox. Can they salvage the final game and head home with some positive energy, or will the Twins complete their dominant homestand? First pitch is set for an afternoon showdown at Target Field.