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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2023 2:32:36 GMT -5
Twins @ Red Sox Tuesday, 18th April 2023 7pm @ Fenway
Gray 2-0/ 0.53
Sale 1-1/ 11.25
Written by Chris King
A pair of teams from the American League open up a series on the diamond in Beantown. The Minnesota Twins are on the road as they play the first game of a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox Tuesday night. Minnesota ended up with a split of their four-game series in the Bronx against the Yankees as they were blanked 2-0 in the series finale Sunday afternoon. Boston closed a four-game series with the Angels at home Monday looking for a sweep of the series. The Red Sox earned a 2-1 win in the third game of the set Sunday afternoon. Last season, the Twins won the season series 4-3, including taking two of three at home in the most recent series August 29-31, 2022.
Minnesota Twins Hoping to Bounce Back in Boston Minnesota won the first two games of their series with the Yankees in the Bronx before getting stifled in the final two games of the series to end up with a split. The Twins entered Monday 10-6 and held a one-game lead over the Guardians for the top spot in the AL Central race. On Sunday, Minnesota finished with just two hits as Donovan Solano and Michael A. Taylor each singled. The Twins were zero for one with runners in scoring position as they were handcuffed all afternoon by Gerrit Cole. Pablo Lopez (1-1) turned in a quality start but took the loss as he allowed two runs on seven hits with one walk and seven strikeouts over six innings of work.
Sonny Gray is on the mound for his fourth start of the season for the Twins in this contest. He comes in 2-0 with a 0.53 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP, seven walks and 19 strikeouts over 17 innings of work on the year. Gray earned the win in his last start, which came Wednesday at home against the White Sox. He threw five innings, allowing no runs on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts in a game Minnesota went on to win 3-1. Gray makes his 11th career appearance and 10th start against the Red Sox in this contest. He comes in 1-7 with a 6.80 ERA, a 1.443 WHIP, 14 walks and 38 strikeouts over 43.2 innings in 10 career appearances, nine starts, against them. Gray is 0-4 with an 8.02 ERA, a 1.828 WHIP, nine walks and 12 strikeouts over 21.1 innings in six career appearances, five starts, at Fenway Park.
Boston Red Sox Looking to Build Momentum Boston won the first three games of their series against the Angels ahead of the Patriots’ Day early start to close the series Monday. The Red Sox entered Monday’s game 8-8 on the season and sat in the basement of the AL East, six games behind the Rays for the top spot in the division. On Sunday, Boston finished with seven hits as Alex Verdugo (run) and Justin Turner (run, two RBI) each had a pair to lead the way. Turner hit his first homer of the season in the third inning to give the Red Sox the lead for good. Garrett Whitlock (1-1) earned the win as he threw seven innings, allowing one run on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts, before departing. Ryan Brasier worked a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out one, for his first save of the year.
Chris Sale is on the mound for Boston as he takes the mound for his fourth start of the year in this contest. He comes in 1-1 with an 11.25 ERA, a 2.083 WHIP, seven walks and 19 strikeouts over 12 innings of work. In addition, Sale has given up five homers already this season. Sale took the loss in his last start, which came against the Rays on the road Wednesday. He threw four innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts in a game the Red Sox lost 9-7. Sale makes his 30th career appearance and 22nd start against the Twins in this contest. He is 11-6 with two saves, a 3.91 ERA, a 1.094 WHIP, 29 walks and 176 strikeouts over 138 innings of work against them. Sale is 19-10 with one save, a 3.35 ERA, a 1.076 WHIP, 67 walks and 392 strikeouts over 277 innings in 50 career appearances, 47 starts, at Fenway Park.
Twins at Red Sox Tuesday, at 7:10 PM EST Partly Cloudy It's expected to be 54° F with a 3% chance of precipitation and 13 MPH wind blowing out in Boston at 7:10 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2023 2:34:32 GMT -5
Twins/ Red Sox Probables
Wednesday/ Ryan 2-0/ 2.84 vs Kluber 0-3/ 6.92
Thursday/ TBA vs Houck 2-0/4.50
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2023 2:37:20 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 10h Time to settle into the grind of the season now. A bunch of (very good) right-handed starters on deck.
Sonny Gray (R) Joe Ryan (R) Tyler Mahle (R) Freddy Peralta (R) Wade Miley (L) Corbin Burnes (R) Dean Kremer (R) Kyle Bradish (R) Grayson Rodriguez (R)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2023 2:52:20 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK ‘Oh, he’s close’: Red Sox keeping the faith as Chris Sale struggles in his return By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated April 17, 2023, 6:00 p.m.
Chris Sale’s opening to the 2023 season has produced arguably the worst three-game stretch of his career.
Entering his start against the Twins on Tuesday, the lefthander has allowed 16 runs, tied for the most he’s ever given up over a three-start span, while throwing just 12 innings, his fewest in a three-start stretch in which injury wasn’t a factor. What is the appropriate level of concern?
“Oh, he’s close. He’s close,” said pitching coach Dave Bush. “In any three-game stretch, you can be really good or really bad. But our work on the side between starts, with the command he’s showing, I’m confident that when he does that right, he’s going to be good.”
Sale’s fastball has been particularly problematic. Opponents are 13-for-26 with four homers and two doubles against his four-seamer and sinker.
“A lot with him is just getting fastball command back under control,” said Bush. “Getting his fastball back in the zone consistently sets up the rest of the mix.”
Of course, the rest of his mix presents its own issues. Sale’s changeup has been effective, but his slider has been inconsistent.
He’s struck out a dozen batters on it, but the pitch — typically one of the most devastating in baseball — has less sweep than in past years, down from 14-15 inches of horizontal movement to about 11.5. That suggests Sale is still searching for his mechanics and feel.
To the Sox, it’s not shocking to see the veteran as a work in progress given he made just 11 big league starts from 2020-22. The team has seen enough flashes of quality to remain optimistic about what he’ll look like once he’s deeper into the season.
“He hasn’t pitched in four years, honestly. In ‘19, he wasn’t healthy,” said manager Alex Cora. “We’ll wait to Cinco de Mayo to see where we’re at.”
Running with Duran
Baseball’s new rules have some teams running wild, but the Red Sox entered Monday with just seven steals, tied for sixth-fewest. They’ve been astute when taking their shots, going 7-for-7 in steal attempts, but haven’t had a player with game-changing speed to take advantage of the pitch clock and limits on pitchers stepping off and throwing to a base.
That changed Monday. The team called up outfielder Jarren Duran from Triple A and optioned Bobby Dalbec back to the WooSox prior to the 5-4 loss.
With center fielder Adam Duvall sidelined by a broken wrist, Kiké Hernández had been playing center regularly with the Sox facing a run of lefthanded starters. But Shohei Ohtani marked the first of at least three straight against righties. The Sox plan to use Duran and Raimel Tapia in center while moving Hernández to short against righties.
Duran was hitting .195 in 51 plate appearances in Worcester this year, but with a .353 on-base, .439 slugging mark, and considerably higher walk rate (20 percent) and lower strikeout rate (22 percent) than in past years. He’s raised his hands from an extremely low position to roughly letter-high, producing a line-drive approach that the Sox believe will unlock the best version of his offense.
“It made me feel more comfortable in the box, just kind of like kind of my old swing used to be with my hands higher,” said Duran. “It just feels like I was going back to something I know.”
The Sox are hopeful Duran, hitting at the bottom of the order, can get on base enough to present a speed threat who disrupts pitchers as they prepare to face the top of the order. On Monday, he went 1-for-3 with a double and walk, and stole second on a pitchout.
“I think the game is kind of molded to his speed right now, so hopefully we can take advantage of it,” Cora said. Story keeps working
Trevor Story, just over three months removed from his internal bracing procedure in his right elbow, has been throwing at 60 feet in the batting cage every other day for about a week.
“It’s going really good. It’s exciting,” said Story. “Each day has gotten progressively better.”
Story has been tracking pitches from each night’s opposing starter on the team’s Trajekt Arc system to keep his vision sharp, and expects to start swinging next week.
“I couldn’t be happier with how the progression has gone so far,” he said. For starters, six
With Brayan Bello off the injured list, the Sox will temporarily employ a six-man rotation, with Sale, Corey Kluber, and Tanner Houck scheduled to start in the coming three-game series against the Twins. The team will reassess its plans after the April 27 off-day, when lefthander James Paxton also could be nearing a return . . . In addition to swapping out Duran for Dalbec, the Red Sox designated righthander Jake Faria for assignment to clear a spot for Bello. Faria spent one day (Sunday) on the Sox roster . . . Hernández, in his first start at short since April 11, committed his fifth throwing error (and sixth overall) at the position in 12 games this year . . . Catcher Reese McGuire fired from his knees to throw out Ohtani at second on a stolen base attempt in the sixth. Opponents had been successful in their first 15 steal attempts on McGuire . . . Christian Arroyo had a leg cramp on a sixth-inning groundout. He stayed in the game until being replaced by pinch-hitter Alex Verdugo in the ninth . . . Duran and Verdugo met up on the field before the game with World Baseball Classic teammate Patrick Sandoval and Team Mexico manager Benji Gil, the Angels’ infield coach . . . Former Red Sox Mike Myers, Ryan Dempster, and Brock Holt ran the Boston Marathon for charity. Lakyn Holt and Kourtney Turner (wife of DH/first baseman Justin Turner) also ran, as did Dawn and Mikaela Timlin, the wife and daughter of former Red Sox reliever Mike Timlin.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2023 5:01:13 GMT -5
Red Sox seek fast start as Twins come to town FLM
Red Sox seek fast start as Twins come to town
The Boston Red Sox open the second leg of a seven-game homestand with a visit from the American League Central-leading Minnesota Twins on Tuesday for the opener of a three-game series.
Boston hopes a better start is in the cards after allowing four first-inning runs in a 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. The Red Sox are tied with the Toronto Blue Jays for most runs allowed in the opening frame this season with 23.
Despite that fact, 13 of Boston's first 17 games have still been decided by three or fewer runs.
"We've got to be better on that," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of the shaky starts. "As far as the team and what we're trying to accomplish, we're going to play 27 outs and we've been showing that."
With Brayan Bello activated from the injured list to start on Monday, Chris Sale had his turn pushed to Tuesday as the Red Sox will work with a six-man rotation until their next off day on April 27.
Sale (1-1, 11.25 ERA) has recorded at least six strikeouts in each of his three starts this season, but he allowed six runs (five earned) over four innings on Wednesday in a loss at Tampa Bay.
"He hasn't pitched in four years, honestly. ... In (2019), he wasn't healthy," Cora said. "We'll wait until Cinco de Mayo to see where we're at."
Sale is 11-6 with a 3.91 ERA in 29 career appearances (21 starts) against Minnesota, having gone 3-0 with a 2.64 ERA in his past five starts vs. the Twins dating back to 2017.
The Boston bullpen has more than made up for the starters' early-season struggles, allowing just two runs over 18 1/3 innings in the past four games. Kutter Crawford worked 6 1/3 scoreless, one-hit frames after Bello's Monday exit.
Minnesota comes to Boston following back-to-back losses to finish a four-game road set against the New York Yankees.
"This is not the same Twins team that people have seen in the last two years," Twins designated hitter Byron Buxton said, according to MLB.com. "We are making our own identity."
The Twins scored nine runs in the first inning on Thursday in an 11-2 win over the Yankees but were then held to just seven runs during the remainder of the series. They were shut out for the second time this season in the 2-0 series finale on Sunday.
"We played two good games and grabbed two wins at Yankee Stadium, and we walk out splitting. It's not going to feel good," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. "I would call it a competitive series. Overall, the pitching was at a pretty high level."
Sonny Gray (2-0, 0.53 ERA) looks to continue his outstanding start to the season and pick up his first career win at Fenway Park, where he is 0-4 with an 8.02 ERA in six appearances (five starts).
He pitched five scoreless innings en route to a 3-1 win on Wednesday in the Twins' rubber match against the Chicago White Sox.
Gray is 1-7 with a 6.80 ERA in 10 career outings (nine starts) against the Red Sox.
Minnesota's Donovan Solano, who is playing first base every day with Joey Gallo out due to a right intercostal strain, is batting .366 during an 11-game hitting streak.
"If you have a bunch of guys that hit the ball on the barrel often, as often as he does, I think you're going to have a productive offense," Baldelli said.
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2023 5:05:17 GMT -5
Well used to be a big deal when it was Sale day, now not so much.
and they still have so much to clean up defensively......gonna hope the Twins broadcast as this goes on quite a bit in the NESN booth
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2023 9:07:15 GMT -5
The 2023 Red Sox are a work in progress, and they remind it in all facets of the game
By Jon Couture April 18, 2023 | 9:17 AM
COMMENTARY
With Monday as wet as it was, some might lament Boston was denied its annual day in the sun. The Red Sox, however, reminded we are nothing if not a city that finds a way.
Well, the Red Sox didn’t really. That shirtless group in the bleachers during the third-inning rain delay, crushing beers out of shoes to Kernkraft 400 hours before the Bruins beat the Panthers to it, did.
Not that the Red Sox didn’t find a way most of this weekend, falling on an old standard: Let the Angels be the Angels. The franchise whose self-inflicted wounds helped the dynastic Red Sox in a litany of 2000s playoff games handed over three more in a variety of fun ways.
Friday was three errors, two hit batters, and a wild pitch. Saturday was a true rarity: Two catcher’s interferences in one inning. Sunday featured some good old baserunning stupidity, pinch-runner Brett Phillips picked off second as the potential tying run in the eighth.
Monday, the Red Sox made three errors in the sixth inning — one Kiké Hernández throwing from short, two Kutter Crawford throwing from the mound — and the Angels didn’t add on because Shohei Ohtani was caught stealing. Alas, Boston wouldn’t take the sweep, going 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position.
“We’ve got to be better on that,” manager Alex Cora told reporters, speaking specifically on the Red Sox giving up an MLB-worst 23 first-inning runs in 17 games. “But as far as the team and what we’re trying to accomplish, we’re going to play 27 outs, and we’ve been showing that.”
I don’t think that’s in dispute. Six of Boston’s eight wins, owing to those first-inning messes, have been come-from-behind, with four multi-run comebacks. They haven’t quit.
They just can’t stop putting themselves in positions where they have the option to. This 8-9 start feels like advertising for “UNDER CONSTRUCTION” tape, as clear a work-in-progress symbol as a giant crane.
Hernández feels like a strong place to start, that sixth error Monday coming in just his 12th game at shortstop. Fielding a high chopper on the run, he struggled to get the ball from his glove, threw on the move, and didn’t get any help on the pick from Triston Casas.
A tough play, but it’s not in a vacuum. His throws have collectively been some of the worst in the majors to date, and they’re set to a soundtrack of his offseason boastfulness — “We’ll talk in October. We’ll talk in November. Watch me. That’s it.“
That was about more than just his shortstop, of course, and we are all of 17 games in. But the fact remains a player who had six errors in 618 innings at short the first nine seasons of his career has doubled that total in 99 this year, his first at the position as a primary option.
We’ve already written about the defensive issues, so I won’t belabor it. But it’s hard not to note it again when we roll to Masataka Yoshida, a minus-3 in defensive runs saved in just 70 left-field innings. (Only one other outfielder has a total that low in less time.)
The spotty defense was expected. So, too, were growing pains in his transition to the American game; a 3-for-26 skid, wrapped around a battle with balky hamstring, certainly qualifies as that.
But it still bears noting given his prominence in the offseason plan. No major-league player is more clearly stamped as a Chaim Bloom tentpole, not even Rafael Devers. Yoshida must be good, as soon as possible, at a moment Bloom’s team-building is under its most significant scrutiny.
Pitchers’ early Yoshida plan is clear: Upper half of the zone, outside or away. Yoshida, as promised, isn’t chasing and isn’t striking out. He is, however, producing ground balls at the second-highest rate in the majors, with more than 85 percent of his contact either up the middle or to the right side.
Yoshida has hit just six balls (including his lone home run) to the opposite field in 11 games, and has an expected batting average to this point of .177. It’s not indicative of the hitter he was in Japan, nor will it likely be the hitter he is here with more reps. But until the latter comes, we wait and hope.
As we do with Chris Sale, the latest to come in Tuesday’s start against the Twins.
“He’s close,” pitching coach Dave Bush told the Globe. “In any three-game stretch, you can be really good or really bad. But our work on the side between starts, with the command he’s showing, I’m confident that when he does that right, he’s going to be good.”
It’s been quite the 12-inning return for the lefty: 19 strikeouts, 15 earned runs, the Sox trailing by a combined 12 as he walked off the mound in three games. His command has been dreadful — hardly unique among Red Sox starters — with hitters slugging his once-dominant four-seamer at a 1.300 clip and his sinker at an .875.
Again, it’s understandable for a pitcher whose spent most of the last four years either pitching hurt or not at all. But again, it bears watching.
Or, more aptly, it bears waiting.
Three weeks in, the Red Sox have offered glimpses of the best version of themselves. Adam Duvall looked great before busting his wrist on a sliding catch. Justin Turner started slow, but got hot against the Rays and remained so this weekend. Garrett Whitlock, in his 11th try, offered up the sort of start that would justify taking him out of the bullpen.
You’re probably sick of hearing it, but baseball seasons are long things. (Must resist urge to call them marathons. Must resist urge …) The Red Sox have not proven themselves more than the team we thought they were, and they certainly might not ever ascend past that.
But they’ve offered the glimpses that can keep the open-minded coming back.
I don’t think, 17 games in, we could’ve expected a whole lot more.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2023 12:44:34 GMT -5
Game 18: Twins at Red Sox lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated April 18, 2023, 2 hours ago After taking three of four against the Angels, the Red Sox welcome the Twins to Fenway for a three-game series. The Sox had a chance to sweep the Angels, but dropped the finale 5-4. Fortunately, it did not draw much attention, as the entire region, and, dare I say, the universe, was overwhelmed by a serious case of marathon fever. Related: Ten years after tragedy, the Boston Marathon reminded us all about triumph. See our updates from the day. Next up is a Minnesota squad that sits atop the American League Central despite dropping two in a row to the Yankees. Chris Sale, who has allowed 16 runs while throwing just 12 innings in three starts, will get the nod for the Sox. The Twins will counter with Sonny Gray, who looks to improve to 3-0. Here is a preview. Lineups TWINS (10-6): 1. Donovan Solano (R) 1B 2. Carlos Correa (R) SS 3. Byron Buxton (R) DH 4. Jose Miranda (R) 3B 5. Kyle Garlick (R) LF 6. Christian Vazquez (R) C 7. Michael A. Taylor (R) CF 8. Max Kepler (L) RF 9. Willi Castro (S) 2B Pitching: RHP Sonny Gray (2-0, 0.53 ERA) RED SOX (8-9): 1. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 2. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 3. Justin Turner (R) DH 4. Masataka Yoshida (L) LF 5. Enrique Hernandez (R) 2B 6. Triston Casas (L) 1B 7. Connor Wong (R) C 8. Jarren Duran (L) CF 9. Yu Chang (R) SS Pitching: LHP Chris Sale (1-1, 11.25 ERA) Time: 7:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Twins vs. Sale: Byron Buxton 3-15, Carlos Correa 4-19, Nick Gordon 0-2, Ryan Jeffers 1-2, Max Kepler 1-3, Christian Vázquez 0-3 Red Sox vs. Gray: Rafael Devers 2-10, Kiké Hernández 0-3, Rob Refsnyder 0-2, Raimel Tapia 0-1, Justin Turner 3-8, Alex Verdugo 1-3 Stat of the day: The Red Sox are tied with the Toronto Blue Jays for most runs allowed in the first inning this season with 23. Notes: Red Sox relievers have allowed two runs over 18 ⅓ innings in the last four games (13 hits, two walk, 17 strikeouts). … 13 of the Sox’ first 17 games have been decided by three runs or fewer. ... Sale has recorded at least six strikeouts in each of his three starts, but allowed six runs (five earned) over four innings on Wednesday in a loss at Tampa Bay. He is 11-6 with a 3.91 ERA in 29 career appearances (21 starts) against Minnesota, having gone 3-0 with a 2.64 ERA in his past five starts vs. the Twins dating back to 2017. … Gray is 0-4 with an 8.02 ERA in six appearances (five starts), and is 1-7 with a 6.80 ERA in 10 career outings (nine starts) against the Red Sox. … Donovan Solano, who is playing first base with Joey Gallo out due to a right intercostal strain, is batting .366 during an 11-game hitting streak. Song of the Day- Hole- Miss Worldwww.youtube.com/watch?v=mS1Ckczz0LQ
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2023 14:10:17 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe The next two #RedSox games are 7:10 p.m. starts in what will be the usual chilly April weather.
Seems like a missed opportunity for 6:40 p.m. starts, as several other teams are trying.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2023 14:38:20 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 5h Chris Sale Day again. His fastball and sinker have been two of the worst pitches in baseball, his fastball literally the worst pitch in baseball (min. 50 pitches) with a .785 wOBA allowed. If his command resurfaces, we'll see if it's a cure-all.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 18, 2023 16:44:53 GMT -5
Well used to be a big deal when it was Sale day, now not so much.
and they still have so much to clean up defensively......gonna hope the Twins broadcast as this goes on quite a bit in the NESN booth The defense is gone. If/when Story and Mondesi return, maybe we'll return to mediocre.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2023 16:57:43 GMT -5
Jen McCaffrey @jcmccaffrey · 1h James Paxton is set to throw five innings tomorrow in Worcester but won't start with Taylor Broadway as an opener.
Cora on Paxton: "Why not try once you never know what can happen. He can come as a starter here or maybe in September, he might have to come out of the bullpen. We haven't made decisions yet. But I think it's good for him to get at least one trial of that."
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2023 16:59:09 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 1h Welcome back.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2023 18:24:20 GMT -5
Sale getting thru 1 unscathed is good Dugo leading off with a 2B is good
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 18, 2023 18:25:05 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 1h Seems like Christian Arroyo is unlikely to play this series because of a tight hamstring.
Kiké Hernández starting at second base for the first time since last Sept. 28.
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