By Morris Phillips

Talk about a whole lot crammed into one two-game series, that’s the meeting of the Red Sox and Giants starting at AT&T Park on Tuesday.

Boston trails Baltimore by a half-game in the AL East while the Giants have a four-game lead in the NL West. Both teams currently have the third best record in their league, and with the success and financial wherewithal both teams possess, the Red Sox and Giants clearly have their eyes set on the post-season and possibly a meeting with each other come October.

We are talking about baseball’s most successful franchises in terms of championships since 2000. The Giants appeared in the World Series in 2002, then won it 2010, 2012 and 2014. The Red Sox have won three titles as well—in 2004, 2007 and 2013—after their legendary, hard-to-fathom 86-year drought.

But while both teams have big post-season aspirations, they also have current, pressing personnel issues in their outfields that have to be addressed. The Giants have been without left fielder Angel Pagan for a couple of weeks, and announced on their just-completed road trip that right fielder Hunter Pence will miss up to two months to recover from surgery on his detached hamstring.

The Red Sox are without both of their left fielders—Brock Holt and Blake Swihart—and have plugged in veteran Chris Young to field the void for now.

Speculation persists that both teams will seek relief on the trade market, making the Dodgers’ release of former Red Sox Carl Crawford interesting in that the aging speedster could be of sought by both clubs once he clears waivers, and his acquisition won’t be burdened by his massive contract, which still has two seasons to go.

For now, the Red Sox turn to Young, and the Giants have veteran Gregor Blanco and rookies Mac Williamson and Jarrett Parker to man their two, vacated outfield spots. While Blanco has thrived with the increased playing time, the two rookies have had their struggles. But Parker did homer in the Giants’ 6-3 loss in St. Louis on Sunday.

For now, manager Bruce Bochy, has stated his preference to keep utility man Kelby Tomlinson in a bench role even though he has shown the acumen and ability to possibility assume the team’s third base job where incumbent Matt Duffy has struggled, or be in the left field mix, where he might be the team’s best offensive option.

Boston’s Swihart has an ankle injury that will likely take longer than a stay on the 15-day disabled list to overcome. Holt has concussion symptoms making it difficult to predict when he might be ready to return.

With all the personnel issues, both teams struggled in the past week with the Giants dropping two of three in St. Louis, and the Red Sox dropping a big weekend series to Toronto.

Rick Porcello (7-2, 4.00 ERA) will face the Giants’ Albert Suarez in Tuesday’s opener. The marquee matchup comes on Wednesday when Boston’s David Price will face Madison Bumgarner.