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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 5, 2023 5:04:51 GMT -5
As far as helping himself settle in as a starter for the Red Sox, Tanner Houck’s not providing any relief By Varun Shankar Globe correspondent,Updated June 4, 2023, 7:12 p.m.
Every time Tanner Houck takes the mound, he’s adding more intrigue to the question that’s defined his Red Sox tenure: Is he a starter or a reliever?
The 26-year-old made his 11th start of the season on Sunday in the Sox’ 6-2 loss to the Rays at Fenway Park. Entering the game, he’d pitched to a 5.30 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP — numbers that pointed to him fitting best in a bullpen role.
Against the Rays, he gave up four runs, five hits, and four walks in five innings. The performance didn’t improve his stats as a starter, nor did it point to his being an effective option for the bullpen. His ERA stands at 5.46 to go with a 1.32 WHIP.
But with the recent injury to Chris Sale and a dearth of options to replace one, let alone two, starters, Houck (3-5) will likely remain in the rotation. His future role is less clear.
“I don’t really think about it,” he said. “I just go out there and just worry about what I got to do. No matter what the role is, you got to go out there, throw strikes and get outs. So it’s not really on the forefront of my mind at all. I just got to go out there and be better.”
Houck has pitched to a 2.68 ERA in his career as a reliever. His last two appearances out of the bullpen came in an early-August series last season, when he earned saves in back-to-back scoreless outings against the Astros. In the second of those relief efforts, his sinker averaged 95.3 miles per hour, well above the 92.3 he displayed Sunday according to Baseball Savant.
In an attempt to compensate for the expected drop in average velocity after moving into the rotation, Houck has been using more pitches. He used five on Sunday, including a cutter and a splitter. Those two pitches were thrown a combined 22 times but generated just two whiffs and called strikes per Baseball Savant.
He struggled with his command, tying his season-high with the four walks and throwing just 57 of his 92 pitches for strikes.
“Definitely not my best outing command-wise. Four walks, unacceptable, it’s just got to be better,” he said. “[It] puts you in a bad spot to where those leadoff walks come around and score.”
Houck gave up his first runs in a third inning that started with a walk to Christian Bethancourt. The catcher advanced to third on a single and came around to score on a sacrifice fly. Houck gave up two more runs in the fourth after allowing a single and a walk to start the inning.
He walked the leadoff hitter again in the fifth inning. That turned into another run off a Luke Raley double.
Despite the negatives, manager Alex Cora said postgame that Houck was “OK” and not “as bad as the line says.”
Houck’s starts will need to be better — both for a rotation that could be without Sale for an extended period and for a pitcher who is still trying to cement his role on a staff nearly six years after being drafted.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 5, 2023 5:07:47 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK With Bobby Dalbec on a tear in Triple A, is there room for him on Red Sox roster? Apparently not. By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated June 4, 2023, 8:08 p.m.
Bobby Dalbec is knocking on the door. Is anyone listening?
The corner infielder is 26 of 67 (.388) with 10 home runs and 20 RBIs in his last 18 games for Triple A Worcester.
In all, Dalbec is hitting .306 with a 1.081 OPS in 41 games for the WooSox.
But the Sox don’t see a roster spot for him, even with first baseman Triston Casas hitting .191 with a .677 OPS through 51 games.
“Where we’re at roster-wise, this is who we have,” manager Alex Cora said Sunday. “We’re glad that he’s going well, not only hitting for power but hitting for average. But obviously roster-wise right now, this is who we have.”
Cora said a conversation with Worcester teammate Niko Goodrum and some changes in pregame preparation have helped Dalbec at the plate.
“It seems like it’s working,” Cora said.
Casas was 0 for 2 with two walks in Sunday’s 6-2 loss against Tampa Bay at Fenway Park.
Dalbec, 27, was called up in April and again in May, but had only 13 plate appearances over eight games. He was 2 for 11 with two walks. Fresh arms in bullpen
The battered Red Sox pitching staff picked up some reinforcements in the form of a pair of relievers as lefthander Brennan Bernardino and righthander Kaleb Ort were recalled from Worcester.
Ort pitched two perfect innings with three strikeouts in the loss.
To make roster space, lefthander Joely Rodriguez was placed on the 15-day injured list with shoulder inflammation and lefthander Ryan Sherriff was optioned to Triple A.
Rodriguez felt pain while warming up on Saturday and is now on the injured list for a second time this season. In five appearances, he has allowed eight earned runs over four innings.
The belief is Rodriguez will be able to return quickly.
Sherriff has pitched well in four appearances but worked in both ends of Saturday’s doubleheader and would not have been available.
Bernardino was the extra player for the doubleheader and will remain on the roster. He pitched two scoreless innings in the second game. Kelly optimistic
Zack Kelly, who had surgery to move a nerve in his elbow, is convinced he will pitch again this season.
“I think I could be back by the end of August,” the 28-year-old righthander said.
The reliever was injured while facing the Rays on April 12. Initial tests were inconclusive before it was determined he required an ulnar nerve transposition. The procedure moves the nerve from behind the elbow to the front, relieving any numbness.
Surgery was performed on May 2 and Kelly hopes to start a throwing program at the end of this month. He has a 3.86 earned run average in 19 appearances since making his major league debut last season. No more offday
The Red Sox and Rays are scheduled to finish their series at 4:10 p.m. Monday, a makeup game for Friday’s rainout.
The Rays preferred to play on Sept. 25, a mutual offday before a scheduled two-game series between the teams at Fenway. According to Cora, Major League Baseball wanted to leave that day open in the event other makeup games need to be scheduled.
Players and coaches from both teams are annoyed the Sox scheduled a later start time, as opposed to 1:10 p.m.
The Rays are traveling home after the game and would have preferred to arrive earlier. The Sox are traveling to Cleveland and it’s the club’s annual family trip. With the later start, the team and their loved ones won’t arrive in Ohio until close to midnight.
The Rays did gain one advantage: They can start ace lefty Shane McClanahan (8-1, 2.07 ERA) in the finale against Bryan Bello. Rehab updates
Adam Duvall was 1 for 2 with two walks and a home run for Worcester in his fifth injury rehab game. The center fielder is eligible to come off the 60-day injured list Friday and should be ready, having already had 19 plate appearances.
Infielder Yu Chang appears ready to resume his rehab assignment on Tuesday with Worcester. Chang has been out since April 25 after breaking a bone in his left hand. He has been taking batting practice off a pitching machine and does not believe he’ll need more than a few days to get ready.
John Schreiber will start throwing on this week. The righthanded reliever has been out since May 16 with a shoulder strain.
Infielder Christian Arroyo has played six rehab games in his return from a hamstring strain but Cora offered no timetable as to when he would be activated. Paxton on Guardians
James Paxton is scheduled to start the series opener Tuesday against the Guardians. The starters for Wednesday and Thursday are uncertain. Cora indicated Kutter Crawford would mix into the rotation after starting Saturday and going three solid innings … The Rays changed their lineup just before first pitch. Second baseman Brandon Lowe was scratched with pain in his left leg and center fielder Jose Siri with right shoulder discomfort. Isaac Paredes started at second and Manuel Margot in center.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 5, 2023 5:12:04 GMT -5
Rays @ Red Sox Monday, June 5th 2023 4pm @ Fenway
McClanahan 8-1/2.07
Bello 3-3/3.89
Rays look to topple Red Sox in finale of 4-game series FLM
After dropping the opener of a Saturday doubleheader to begin a four-game series in Boston, the Tampa Bay Rays asserted their American League East dominance by following with a pair of wins over the Red Sox.
The major-league-leading Rays will go for their third consecutive win to claim the series when they face host Boston in a rescheduled game on Monday afternoon.
The game was originally set as Friday's series opener before being postponed due to persistent rain and thunderstorms.
Tampa Bay was a 6-2 winner on Sunday while playing through several injuries. Wander Franco (hamstring), Jose Siri (shoulder) and Brandon Lowe (back) were all out of the lineup, leading Rays manager Kevin Cash to pencil down several possible lineup combinations prior to the game.
"There was a lot of stuff right there at the end that came down," Cash said. "It was a little hectic."
Without Siri available, Manuel Margot had to jump back into the outfield after a scary collision at the Green Monster during Saturday's twin bill.
The series of injuries led to changes in planned days off, but it did not faze the unselfish Rays.
"We're kind of a group of grinders," Tampa Bay outfielder Luke Raley said. "We play for one another. Sometimes people are dinged up and you know you've got to go out there with no bench and you've got to play through it. So it is what it is."
The Rays' Shane McClanahan (8-1, 2.07 ERA) looks to bounce back from his first loss of the season, when he allowed two runs on six hits across 5 2/3 innings last Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs. The southpaw had allowed just one run over back-to-back seven-inning outings prior to the setback.
McClanahan pitched an April 11 gem against the Red Sox, striking out nine over five innings of one-run ball. It was his fourth win in six career starts against Boston.
The Red Sox will turn to right-hander Brayan Bello (3-3, 3.89) in the series finale. Bello has taken back-to-back losses despite allowing just three combined runs against the Los Angeles Angels and Cincinnati Reds in his last two starts.
Bello is 0-1 and has a 10.13 ERA in two career starts against the Rays, both of which were last season. He surrendered nine runs in eight innings between those games.
While the Red Sox have scored no more than three runs in eight of their last 13 games, it is the defense that has ached Boston manager Alex Cora as of late.
"I'm the manager of this club and we've been sloppy," Cora said. "It's not about pointing fingers, right? The roster is the roster and we have to play better baseball."
The Red Sox have committed seven errors in their last six games, including two costly ones on Sunday.
"We just gotta clean it up in all facets," Boston outfielder Alex Verdugo said. "We're all professionals, we're all in the big leagues, we all know how to play."
Verdugo, who hits in the leadoff spot, has done his part at the plate, recording three hits in two of his last three games. All three of his hits on Sunday were for extra bases, as he ripped two doubles and a triple.
--Field Level Media
Rays at Red Sox Monday, at 4:05 PM EST Cloudy It's expected to be 59° F with a 29% chance of precipitation and 11 MPH wind blowing in in Boston at 4:05 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 5, 2023 11:38:55 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 51m #RedSox reinstated INF Christian Arroyo from the IL and DFA’d OF Raimel Tapia.
This is a surprise. Tapia was a helpful player.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 5, 2023 11:49:44 GMT -5
Game 60: Rays at Red Sox lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated June 5, 2023, 8 minutes ago After an ugly 6-2 loss on Sunday, the Sox will look to salvage a split when they face the Rays this afternoon. Note the start time, which is 4:05 p.m. The teams were supposed to be off, but are playing today after Friday’s game was rained out. The Sox will now end up playing 13 games in 12 days before the next scheduled off day on June 15. The Red Sox are not exactly hitting their stride during this stretch, with Sunday’s performance just their latest ode to the Keystone Kops. They committed two more errors and allowed Yandy Díaz to circle the bases on a grounder up the middle. That brings the total to seven errors in the last six games. They have lost five of their last seven and nine of 13. After today’s game, the Sox will hit the road for a pair of three-game series, starting in Cleveland and finishing with the Yankees. RAYS (42-19): 1. Yandy Diaz (R) DH 2. Wander Franco (S) SS 3. Josh Lowe (L) RF 4. Isaac Paredes (R) 1B 5. Taylor Walls (S) 3B 6. Luke Raley (L) LF 7. Manuel Margot (R) CF 8. Vidal Brujan (S) 2B 9. Francisco Mejia (S) C Pitching: LHP Shane McClanahan (8-1, 2.07 ERA) RED SOX (30-29): 1. Rob Refsnyder (R) LF 2. Alex Verdugo (L) RF 3. Justin Turner (R) 1B 4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 5. Masataka Yoshida (L) DH 6. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF 7. Pablo Reyes (R) SS 8. Connor Wong (R) C 9. Christian Arroyo (R) 2B Pitching: RHP Brayan Bello (3-3, 3.89 ERA) Time: 4:05 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Rays vs. Bello: Randy Arozarena 1-4, Yandy Díaz 3-4, Wander Franco 1-3, Josh Lowe 2-5, Francisco Mejía 1-4, Luke Raley 0-1, Taylor Walls 0-3 Red Sox vs. McClanahan: Rafael Devers, 5-16, Kiké Hernández 3-12, Rob Refsnyder 2-10, Alex Verdugo 2-8, Reese McGuire 0-4, Justin Turner 1-2, Raimel Tapia 1-2, Connor Wong 0-2, Masataka Yoshida 0-1. Stat of the day: The Red Sox are 2-19 when scoring four or fewer runs. Notes: The Red Sox are 8-9 against American League East opponents (7-3 at home). … Yoshida has 23 multi-hit games this season, second to Toronto’s Bo Bichette (25) in the American League. Verdugo is second on the Sox with 20. … Bello is 0-1 and has a 10.13 ERA in two career starts against the Rays, both of which came last season when he allowed nine runs in eight innings. … McClanahan has four wins in six starts against the Sox, including his most recent one on April 11 when he struck out nine and allowed just one run in five innings. He is coming off his first loss of the season after allowing two runs on six hits in 5⅔ innings against the Cubs. … The Rays have stolen 30 consecutive bases without being caught (beginning May 22), the longest streak in franchise history. Yandy Díaz is batting .344 with seven RBI in seven games against the Red Sox this season. Song of the Day: Van Halen "Dancing in the Street" www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIfotf13gzE
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 5, 2023 13:19:17 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 2h Weird to have a strong opinion on this Tapia move before also seeing the move for Duvall on Friday.
If Duvall comes back & Duran is still on the roster, I almost feel like that is more of an indictment than if Duran was sent back to AAA today and Tapia kept. To me, that's basically saying, "he's helpful. but is what he is now, not a highest priority." Maybe I'm wildly off base.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 5, 2023 13:20:07 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 1h The Red Sox were 21-14 and coming off a 7 game winning streak on May 7th.
Since then, they are 9-15 with a 30-29 overall record.
Since May 7th they have had 4 players be above league average hitters.
wRC+, PA 191, 36, Refsnyder 136, 100, Yoshida 120, 78, Casas 115, 85, Turner
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 5, 2023 13:21:57 GMT -5
Christian Arroyo returns as Red Sox make surprising roster move to make room
Updated: Jun. 05, 2023, 1:50 p.m.|Published: Jun. 05, 2023, 1:39 p.m.
By
Sean McAdam | sean.mcadam@masslive.com
BOSTON -- Infielder Christian Arroyo returned to active status Monday after a nearly month-long stay on the Injured List with a right hamstring strain, with a surprising corresponding move made to create room for his activation.
The Sox designated outfielder Raimel Tapia for assignment to open a spot on the 26-man roster. Tapia, who was signed to a minor league deal last winter and earned a spot on the major league roster with a torrid spring training, was slashing .264/.333/.368 in 39 games. He had one homer and 10 RBI to go with six stolen bases in seven tries.
He also was the team’s best pinch-hitter off the bench, with a .308 average (4-for-13) in such situations.
Essentially, the Red Sox opted to DFA Tapia rather than optioning Jarren Duran to Triple A Worcester.
“Tough one,” said Alex Cora of the decision. “(Tapia) played so well for us. But this is (about) trust in Jarren. He’s part of this. We’ll find ways to keep getting him at-bats and maximize his talent. Obviously, the way the game is going he fits the mold -- fast, dynamic. And that’s something we cannot hide. Obviously, he’s been going through his struggles the last few weeks, but we do believe he can impact the game in a lot of ways and we’re going to keep him.”
Duran has slumped of late, with a line of .122/.173/.163 and just three RBI over his last 13 games.
“We can’t just give up on him,” said Cora. “If you view the whole work....Like we told him the other day, what’s he hitting .280-something with a (.777) OPS? Do you buy that if it’s available? Hell, yeah he’ll take it. He’s been going through his struggles, but the last few days have been solid. He’s hit the ball the other way a few times. We like his defense, it’s been a lot better and obviously we love the way he runs the bases. It makes sense (to keep him here).”
Arroyo went on the IL on May 7 and rejoined the team over the weekend after a six-game rehab stint with Worcester. He was hitting .259 with 11 RBI in 27 games before getting hurt.
“He is who he is. He’s a good player and a good defender,” said Cora. “Obviously, when he’s going well, offensively he can contribute. We’ve got him out there against a lefty today.”
Facing lefty Shane McClanahan Monday, the Red Sox had Kiké Hernandez in center with Pablo Reyes at short, and Cora indicated that alignment would be the one the Sox utilize against lefthanded pitching going forward.
Asked if Hernandez would continue playing shortstop against righties, Cora responded: “It all depends on who we play that day. It will be matchup-related.”
In general, however, Cora said the Sox intend to move players around and maximize the roster’s versatility.
“That’s the good thing about this roster,” said Cora. “This is where Kiké becomes very valuable. This is what he’s been doing his whole career. Now, he can play second, he can play center. The hope is to get everybody healthy at one point, then we go from there. But for now, this is the best roster structure that we can have and we’ll maximize it.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 5, 2023 13:25:25 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 1h Trevor Story is now throwing at 105 feet in Fort Myers and taking batting practice (regular BP speed - not high-velocity) in a batting cage. He’ll join the team in Fenway after the coming road trip for a check up and to discuss next steps in his rehab.
Cora on activating Arroyo and DFA-ING Tapia: “Tough one…But we trust in Jarren… Jarren will be here. He’s part of this. … Where the game is going, he fits the mold.”
Cora: “We’ll move people around…Try to maximize the roster.” The return of Arroyo and Duvall is expected to provide “balance” to the lineup, said Cora.
Hernández will play CF against lefties, with role TBD against righties.Hernández will play CF against lefties, with role TBD against righties.
Crawford likely to start Wednesday. Whitlock on Friday. Thursday TBD.
Asked if the starter Thursday could be a callup, Cora said “that’s always a possibility.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 5, 2023 16:18:55 GMT -5
Nice game if you like pitching right up until the 5th Few squibber hits and the Rays have an uncanny ability to get the big hit often
3-0 Rays, and that seems like a big hole to climb out of today.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 5, 2023 16:36:00 GMT -5
Turner blast to CF 3-1 Rays in the 6th
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 5, 2023 16:56:10 GMT -5
Pivetta has the 7th and of course after the usual walks, hits loads up the bases 2 outs and walks in a run disgusting
4-1 Rays
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 5, 2023 17:28:24 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 2m Devers strikes out looking, resulting in a strike-him-out/throw-him-out DP to end the 8th. Cora is out yelling at home plate ump Chris Guccione. He's been ejected after one of his more demonstrative arguments.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 5, 2023 17:44:50 GMT -5
Red Sox lose 4-1 and the boos rain down
Sox now at 30-30.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 5, 2023 17:50:20 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 4m #RedSox (30-30) have lost 6 of 8 and 10 of 14.
Nine of the next 12 against the Guardians (3) and Yankees (6).
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