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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 1, 2022 3:31:36 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Astros Monday, 1rst August 2022 8pm @ Minute Maid Park
Eovaldi 4-3/4.43
Garcia 8-6/3.81
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 1, 2022 3:33:51 GMT -5
Probables
Tuesday....8pm....Hill 4-4/4.20 vs Javier 6-6/3.26
Wednesday....2pm....Crawford 2-3/4.15 vs Urquidy 9-4/3.86I screwed that up, actually was just changed
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 1, 2022 3:44:32 GMT -5
J.D. able to 'soak it all in' as Deadline looms Martinez doubles twice, fuels key 5-run 5th in potential Fenway finale with Sox July 31st, 2022 Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
BOSTON -- On the last day of July, a sun-splashed Sunday afternoon, it finally felt like summer at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox, silenced for most of an 8-19 month, went on a doubles spree, belting eight of them to the various nooks and crannies of MLB’s oldest ballpark. Four of them came in succession during a wild five-run bottom of the fifth.
In this 7-2 victory over the Brewers, two of those doubles were scorched off the bat of J.D. Martinez, the latter of which drove in the run that put the Red Sox ahead for good.
This was not insignificant. Not only did Martinez break out of an 0-for-25 drought with that pair of two-baggers, but there was the chance he was playing his final home game at Fenway Park.
At 51-52, Boston is 3 1/2 games back in the hunt for an American League Wild Card. Of the seven teams vying for the three spots, the Red Sox rank seventh.
With the Trade Deadline looming on Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET, Martinez is fully aware of the rumors that surround him. He is a free agent at season’s end.
“I’m not blind,” Martinez said. “I know what’s going on.”
Though his five years in Boston have generally been what the club had hoped, the right-handed hitter, who turns 35 on Aug. 21, might not fit into the team’s future plans.
The circumstances that surrounded Sunday led Martinez to soak it all in.
“I appreciate everything. I appreciate the love,” Martinez said. “Just the constant energy every time you come in here. It’s something, if I do get traded, I’m definitely going to miss. These fans are as hard on me as I am on myself and I appreciate everything.”
When Martinez got to the Red Sox in February 2018, he and his new club were a perfect match.
Boston didn’t fill the void left by David Ortiz during the ’17 season and the club was knocked out by the Astros in the AL Division Series. Martinez was the missing piece, and he was thrilled to play in a big market for the first time in his career.
At the height of his powers in ’18, Martinez helped the Sox add 15 wins to their regular-season win total from the previous year. A 108-54 juggernaut ran through the postseason at an 11-3 clip and won it all. Martinez has been one of the best free-agent signings in club history.
In ’21, Martinez helped get the Sox within two games of the World Series, posting a 1.135 OPS in nine playoff games.
But these are different times for Boston. As the record shows, the club has holes. Meanwhile, chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom is always trying to deepen the farm system. Trading Martinez could help with one or both of those issues.
Martinez isn’t alone on Boston’s trade block. Nathan Eovaldi and Christian Vázquez, two other core players from the 2018 title run, are also in walk years. Bloom indicated he won’t deal All-Stars Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers.
“We're still here,” Vázquez said. “We control what we can control. We’re here fighting together. We are family and we’re going to continue until we see what happens in these couple of days. We’re still here with this uniform and I hope we can stay here.”
The narrative entering the homestand was that the Red Sox needed to win to become buyers instead of sellers. The homestand concluded at 3-7, and you wonder if the players pressed too much in hopes of keeping the team together.
“I feel like the pressure has been like that since we came back from the All-Star break,” Martinez said. “Everybody feels like you’re fighting for your life, fighting to keep the band together. I think that’s what has hurt us honestly. But it is what it is.”
The Red Sox next head to Houston on Monday to begin a three-game series against the Astros at Minute Maid Park.
As they left Fenway Park, there was a feeling of uncertainty of what the team would look like at the start of the next homestand on Aug. 8. That feeling stretched from the stands to the clubhouse.
“We’ll stay together,” Vázquez said. “We’ll fight together to the end.”
Martinez hopes this isn’t the end. But if it is, he will cherish these five years.
“It’s a first-class organization,” Martinez said. “And you look at it and think about winning.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 1, 2022 3:46:53 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Kiké should return in August July 31st, 2022
Keep track of the Red Sox’s recent transactions and injury updates throughout the season. LATEST NEWS
July 31: INF/OF Kiké Hernández shooting for August return The Red Sox have badly missed Hernández's elite defense in center field. It appears the veteran is finally making solid progress from the right hip flexor injury that has kept him out since June 8. Hernández got a platelet-rich plasma injection two weeks ago and he has been feeling better since. Hernández has resumed swinging a bat. Manager Alex Cora thinks that Hernández will rejoin the Red Sox at some point during the month of August.
"Obviously we’re not going to put a [specific] timetable on it," Cora said. "That’s not fair for the player. But the way things are going and the way he’s feeling, it looks like at one point this month he’s going to be part of this."
LHP Matt Strahm (left wrist contusion) Expected return: Mid-to-late August Strahm was hit on the left wrist by a line drive on July 12 against the Rays, but X-rays were negative. According to manager Alex Cora, Strahm has been able to play catch, but the wrist remains stiff, though not as sore as it was before. Strahm was eligible to be activated on July 27, but he doesn't appear close to a return. He's still experiencing soreness and stiffness in his wrist. (Last updated: July 31)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 1, 2022 3:57:54 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK With his name swirling in trade rumors, Nate Eovaldi ready for important start vs. AstrosBy Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated July 31, 2022, 7:16 p.m. Nate Eovaldi’s start on Monday against the Astros will be one of the most scrutinized outings in baseball. According to major league sources, the Red Sox are open to moving the righthander — but not driven to do so given the team’s position on the fringes of the Wild Card race. On one hand, there’s a chance he could fetch a strong return given his credentials as a top-five AL Cy Young finisher last year and a past postseason force. On the other hand, his trade value could be diminished by his drop-off in stuff — his last four starts have seen him post the lowest average four-seam fastball velocity of the last five seasons — and vulnerability to hard contact. He’s allowed 18 homers this year, his most since 2016. Monday’s start could give some indication of his potential value to the Red Sox and other teams moving forward in 2022. Eovaldi is aware of the swirl, but trying to dismiss it. “I understand my name’s coming around,” said Eovaldi. “My job is to go out there and perform whether it’s the Red Sox or not, whether interested teams are watching or not. I’m not thinking about going out there and trying to do better or anything else. It’s just, go out, focus on mechanics and executing pitches.” Eovaldi, who will be making his third start since coming off the injured list with a lower back injury, feels like his stuff improved both in his most recent outing last week against the Guardians and in his between-starts bullpen. “I definitely feel confident. Everything feels really good,” said Eovaldi, who noted his need to be precise against an Astros team that scored nine runs and hit five homers against him in 1⅔ innings on May 17. “I feel like I finally found that missing part. I’m hoping everything is going to click.” Getting Story straight Second baseman Trevor Story said there was a measure of relief in learning that the reason for his deliberate recovery from a right hand injury was a hairline fracture at the top of the hand. “You certainly never want to hear something like ,” said Story, who will go 10-14 days without swinging. “But it’s just nice to have a little clarity on why it wasn’t getting better . . . Obviously the situation sucks, but I can live with knowing and having a plan, having something that we can point out and be like, ‘This is what we’re going to do.’ ” Related: With roster changes looming, Red Sox overcome distractions and right ship for a day with win vs. Brewers
Story said that part of the difficulty diagnosing the injury came because the fracture occurred in a different area from where he was hit by a pitch on July 12. The ball hit him just above the knuckles on his lower hand, an area where there was swelling but no fracture. The fracture was found a few inches above that, just below the wrist.
“We’re glad we finally got the diagnosis,” said Story.
Those around the Sox describe the loss of Story as huge, the absence of his power and run production in the sixth spot in the order and the massive falloff in the team’s defense.
Through July 12, the Sox held opponents to a .238 average on groundballs. Since his injury, that mark has jumped to .268.
“Trevor is very valuable for us,” said Sox manager Alex Cora. “We miss him.”
The loss of Story was made more drastic by the simultaneous absence of Christian Arroyo. But Arroyo returned on Saturday, going 3-for-4, then reached base in all four plate appearances (2-for-2 with a double and two walks) in Sunday’s 7-2 win in the series finale against the Brewers.
“I’m not going to sit here and say I’m proud of [the strong return] because I’d rather not have been out,” said Arroyo. “[But] sometimes you just have to take a step back and reset . . . Since I came back, it’s been easier to relax.” Hill to climb
Rich Hill is slated to start for the Red Sox in Houston on either Tuesday or Wednesday, barring a trade. As much as Hill — a Milton native and resident — would love to stay in Boston, the 42-year-old lefthander is prepared to move. “I completely understand that side of it. Business is business,” said Hill. “It’s a great game. It’s a difficult business. It’s a really difficult business” . . . Rafael Devers (right hamstring) remains on track to be activated on Tuesday. Michael Wacha (right shoulder) and Matt Barnes (right shoulder) are both traveling to Houston and are expected to be activated during the upcoming seven-game road trip . . . Kiké Hernández (right hip) swung a bat on Saturday for the first time since receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection during the All-Star break. The Red Sox are optimistic he’ll return to the roster in August. He’ll remain in Boston during the upcoming road trip to continue his rehab . . . Rob Refsnyder, one of the most productive hitters in baseball this year against lefties (.413/.451/.630), was out of the lineup against Brewers southpaw Aaron Ashby due to a knee injury. In his absence, Jaylin Davis started in right and led off, going 1 for 4 with an RBI, walk, and pair of strikeouts . . . James Paxton is throwing in Fort Myers but has not progressed to the point of facing hitters in live batting practice.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 1, 2022 7:28:23 GMT -5
Dominant Astros turn to Luis Garcia against Red Sox FLM
Dominant Astros turn to Luis Garcia against Red Sox
The Houston Astros own 99.9 percent odds to win the American League West, a figure (via FanGraphs) so gaudy that their 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday did little to move the needle.
But from a practical standpoint, the Astros felt better about completing their season series with Seattle by claiming six of seven games over the past 10 days.
Houston, which will host the Boston Red Sox for a three-game set starting Monday night, won 12 of 19 games overall against the Mariners this season and extended its division lead to 12 games over second-place Seattle.
"They were hard-fought games," Astros manager Dusty Baker said. "They're a quality team. They're hurting a little bit (Sunday), but every time that you beat somebody in your division, that's a two-game gain. That was huge."
"Big difference between 10 and 12 (games up). We're happy we won that game today."
Right-hander Luis Garcia (8-6, 3.81 ERA) will start the series opener for Houston on Monday. He had his five-game winning streak snapped in a 5-3 road loss to the Oakland Athletics on July 26, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks with seven strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings.
Garcia recorded a 3.74 ERA during his winning streak, spanning six starts.
Garcia is 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA in two career starts against the Red Sox. He allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts over four innings in a 5-1 loss at Boston on May 18.
Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (4-3, 4.43) is the scheduled starter for the Red Sox.
He is winless over his last three starts, going 0-1 with an 11.08 ERA, including a 7-6 loss to the Cleveland Guardians in which he allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits with one strikeout over six innings on July 27.
Eovaldi is 1-3 with a 5.17 ERA over seven career starts against the Astros. He surrendered nine runs (six earned) on eight hits while recording five outs in a 13-4 home loss to Houston on May 17.
The Red Sox completed a ragged 10-game homestand, their longest of the season, with a 7-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. Boston averted a series sweep by riding a five-run fifth inning to just its sixth win in its last 23 games yet finished 3-7 on the homestand.
A series loss on the road against the Chicago Cubs to open the month started the Red Sox's slide, one that included a stretch of nine defeats in 10 games against divisional opponents punctuated by a 28-5 home loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 22.
Boston tumbled from the thick of the AL wild-card picture to last place in the East, a drop that certainly tests resolve.
"One thing for sure is nothing has changed as far as preparation and going about the game the right way," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "Sometimes it doesn't look great, but we were very proud of how we have stayed the course."
"It was a tough month, a very tough month ... but we finished the month on a positive note."
--Field Level Media
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Post by Kimmi on Aug 1, 2022 7:35:41 GMT -5
Needless to say, it's going to be another tough series. Maybe there will be some reverse lock mojo in play. LOL
IMO, the Astros are the team to beat in the AL, not the Yankees, despite their slightly better record.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 1, 2022 7:50:33 GMT -5
On deck: Boston Red Sox at Astros
Steve Schaeffer , Staff writer Aug. 1, 2022 Comments With contracts that expire at season’s end, Christian Vazquez, left, and J.D. Martinez might be trade-deadline commodities for a Red Sox team that stands a game under .500.
With contracts that expire at season’s end, Christian Vazquez, left, and J.D. Martinez might be trade-deadline commodities for a Red Sox team that stands a game under .500.
When/where: Monday and Tuesday at 7:10 p.m., Wednesday at 1:10 p.m.; Minute Maid Park.
TV/radio: ESPN on Monday, ATTSW on Tuesday and Wednesday; 790 AM and 1010 AM all three games, 740 AM on Monday and Tuesday.
Pitchers: Monday, RHP Luis Garcia (8-6, 3.81) vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (4-3, 4.43); Tuesday, RHP Cristian Javier (6-6, 3.26) vs. TBD; Wednesday, RHP José Urquidy (9-4, 3.86).
Astros (67-36) update: After taking three of four from Seattle, Houston has a 12-game lead in the American League West and is two games behind the Yankees (69-34) for the AL’s best record. … Yordan Alvarez’s game-winning single Sunday was the third walkoff hit of his career and gave the Astros six walkoff victories this season. … Alvarez leads the majors with an OPS of 1.087. He is second in the AL with 30 home runs (behind Aaron Judge’s 42) and third with 70 RBIs (behind Judge’s 91 and Jose Ramirez’s 84). … Jose Altuve reached base in 23 of his 26 games in July, hitting .294 for the month. … In his last 32 games, Yuli Gurriel is batting .298 with 11 doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs. … Urquidy has made eight consecutive quality starts, going 4-1 with a 2.60 ERA in that span.
Red Sox (51-52) update: As Tuesday’s 5 p.m. trade deadline approaches, Boston, which lost to the Astros in last year’s ALCS, stands 3½ games out of the third AL wild card and is looking increasingly like a seller. … Could catcher Christian Vazquez be attractive to the Astros as a complement to Martin Maldonado? The free agent to be is slashing .282/.327/.432, is a solid defender, and has a lot of postseason experience. … Many believe J.D. Martinez, who also has an expiring contract, will have a new address come Tuesday. The DH, whose 32 doubles rank fourth in the majors, is slashing .288/.354/.462 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs in 87 games. … Third baseman Rafael Devers, whose .981 OPS ranks fourth in MLB, has been on the injured list since July 23 with right hamstring inflammation … Shortstop Xander Bogaerts is hitting .316 with a .392 on-base percentage. Both would be career highs. … With 149 home runs and 298 doubles, Bogaerts is on the verge of becoming the eighth Red Sox player to reach 150 and 300, respectively. Those who preceded him: Bobby Doerr, Dwight Evans, David Ortiz, Jim Rice, Jason Varitek, Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 1, 2022 13:21:33 GMT -5
Chandler Rome @chandler_Rome · 2h Reminder that tonight's game is on ESPN
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 1, 2022 13:36:52 GMT -5
Game 104: Red Sox at Astros lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated August 1, 2022, 2 hours ago The Red Sox ended their 10-game homestand with a 7-2 win over the Brewers Sunday. J.D. Martinez and Christian Vázquez led the way in what could be their final game at Fenway Park as members of the Red Sox ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline. With the victory, the Sox avoided a sweep at the hands of Milwaukee. Next up is a seven-game road trip to Houston and Kansas City, beginning with a three-game series with the Astros. Nate Eovaldi, another candidate to be moved at the deadline, will be on the mound for the Sox. Here is a preview. Lineups RED SOX (51-52): 1. Jarren Duran (L) CF 2. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 3. Alex Verdugo (L) LF 4. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 5. Christian Vazquez (R) C 6. Christian Arroyo (R) 3B 7. Franchy Cordero (L) RF 8. Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B 9. Yolmer Sanchez (S) 2B Pitching: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (4-3, 4.43 ERA) ASTROS (67-36): 1. Jose Altuve (R) 2B 2. Yuli Gurriel (R) 1B 3. Yordan Alvarez (L) DH 4. Alex Bregman (R) 3B 5. Kyle Tucker (L) RF 6. Aledmys Diaz (R) LF 7. Jeremy Pena (R) SS 8. Jake Meyers (R) CF 9. Martin Maldonado (R) C Pitching: RHP Luis Garcia (8-6, 3.81 ERA) Time: 8:10 p.m. TV, radio: ESPN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Garcia: Xander Bogaerts 1-5, Franchy Cordero 0-2, Bobby Dalbec 0-1, J.D. Martinez 0-5, Alex Verdugo 2-5, Christian Vázquez 2-5 Astros vs. Eovaldi: Jose Altuve 7-21, Yordan Alvarez 4-4, Alex Bregman 3-8, Mauricio Dubón 0-2, Aledmys Díaz 0-1, Yuli Gurriel 2-8, Martín Maldonado 3-5, Jeremy Peña 1-1, Kyle Tucker 2-4 Stat of the day: Bogaerts has reached base safely multiple times in 12 of his last 19 games, batting .358 with a .941 OPS over the span. Notes: Eovaldi is winless over his last three starts, going 0-1 with an 11.08 ERA. … He is 1-3 with a 5.17 ERA over seven career starts against the Astros. He surrendered nine runs (six earned) on eight hits while recording five outs in a 13-4 home loss to Houston on May 17. … Garcia is 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA in two career starts against the Red Sox. Song of the Day: Everclear - Everything To Everyonewww.youtube.com/watch?v=D1vQJFF2TKQ
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 1, 2022 14:41:04 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 35m Kutter Crawford will start tomorrow in Houston, leaving Rich Hill in line for Wednesday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 1, 2022 14:43:05 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 47m Alex Cora said on @mlbnetworkradio that Michael Wacha will have a 4-inning rehab start this week as a likely prelude to activation next week. (Likely Prelude to Activation would be a terrible band name.)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 1, 2022 17:05:20 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 10m Red Sox will likely see Trey Mancini this week but maybe not Alex Bregman.
Chandler Rome @chandler_Rome · 12m Alex Bregman will go on the paternity list. Maximum of a three-day stay.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 1, 2022 17:34:44 GMT -5
Jeff Passan @jeffpassan · 5m The Houston Astros are finalizing a deal to acquire catcher Christian Vázquez from the Boston Red Sox, sources tell ESPN.
The Red Sox are playing in Houston tonight, so Vázquez presumably will just walk around the stadium to join his new teammates. And the Sox's sale begins.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 1, 2022 17:35:55 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 17m Rich Hill is not starting Wednesday No word when he will be. Which is a little odd.
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