|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 4:03:06 GMT -5
Blue Jays @ Red Sox Thursday, 3rd September 2020 730pm
Taijun Walker 3-2/ 3.27
Was fantastic in his Blue Jays debut throwing six scoreless innings and forced plenty of weak contact.
Perez 2-4/ 4.58
Got blasted in his last outing by the Nats givung up six runs over 4 innings. [/font][/font][/b][/b][/b]
Perez back on mound for Red Sox against Blue Jays FLM
The Boston Red Sox are hopeful that veteran Martin Perez can shake off a bothersome blister and continue his dominance of the Toronto Blue Jays when the two teams open a five-game series at Fenway Park on Thursday.
The two American League East rivals will meet for the final time this season. The Red Sox took two of three in their first meeting in Boston and the clubs split two games at Buffalo's Sahlen Field.
Perez (2-4, 4.58 ERA) will face Toronto right-hander Taijuan Walker (3-2, 3.27 ERA) in Friday's opener.
Perez was scheduled to start the final game of the series with Atlanta, but was pushed back a day because of a blister that caused him to struggle in his last start against Washington on Aug. 28. The blister developed over the first two innings and forced Perez to change his mechanics, particularly on the breaking ball, with unsatisfactory results. He allowed six runs on eight hits in four innings against the Nationals.
That was an oddity. Perez has pitched at least five innings in five of his seven starts and has lived up to his reputation as a workhorse.
"They signed me here for one reason," Perez said. "That's what I got, the mentality every five days to compete and do my job."
He's done very well against the Jays. Perez has made six previous career starts against Toronto, going 2-2 with a 2.36 ERA. He was 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two starts against the Blue Jays in 2019. He has not faced Toronto this season.
The Red Sox could use a lengthy start from Perez to help their struggling bullpen. The Boston bullpen has a 5.65 ERA (114 earned runs in 181 2/3 innings) this season.
Boston could have its hands full with Walker, who will make his second start as a Blue Jay. He earned a win with six scoreless innings against Baltimore on Aug. 29, thanks to a deadly fastball-changeup combination.
"I was able to turn my cutter into more of a true slider," Walker said afterward. "I really worked hard with that. My curveball, too, just having more confidence in it. I'm able to throw it for strikes in any counts."
In four starts in August, three of them before he was acquired from Seattle, Walker had allowed seven earned runs in 22 2/3 innings (2.78 ERA) with 20 strikeouts.
Walker has made only one appearance against Boston in his career. He received no decision on June 19, 2016, when he pitched five innings and did not allow a run while with the Mariners. He missed most of the 2018 and 2019 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The Red Sox suffered a three-game sweep at the hands of the Atlanta Braves and have fallen into last place in the division. The Blue Jays have won six of 10 and snapped a two-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over Miami on Wednesday.
With their win, the Blue Jays improved to 10-7 in one-run games, the most in the majors this season. Toronto's Teoscar Hernandez extended his career-long hitting streak to 14 games with a hit on Wednesday.
--Field Level Media
Blue Jays at Red Sox Thursday, at 7:30 PM EST Partly Cloudy According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 75° F with a 4% chance of rain and 3 MPH wind blowing right to left in Boston at 7:30 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 4:10:04 GMT -5
Blue Jays @ Red Sox Probables for rest of series
Friday...4pm...Roark 2-1/ 5.33 vs Godley 0-3/ 7.71 8pm...Stripling 3-1/ 5.61 vs Mazza 0-0/ 7.80
Saturday...730pm....Chase Anderson 0-0/ 3.20 vs TBA
Sunday...1:30pm....TBA vs TBA
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 4:11:47 GMT -5
Notes: Roenicke keeping perspective on '20
By Ian Browne @ianmbrowne September 2, 2020
BOSTON -- Let’s face it. In his first season as manager of the Red Sox, Ron Roenicke really didn’t have much of a shot to win.
Before the games even started, he lost his two best starting pitchers for the season in Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez.
And the pitching rotation was thin even before those two guys went down. Since then, there have been additional injuries and also four veteran players who got traded.
In a somewhat humorous moment, a reporter asked Roenicke before Wednesday’s game against the Braves how he has kept his sanity.
Truth be told, Roenicke has earned respect throughout the clubhouse for the way he’s managed a tough situation.
“Ron cares. Ron truly cares,” said Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. “He gets it in the sense of, he’s not just a manager. He’s someone you can come to and speak to on a personal level. My hat’s off to him, with everything that’s transpired over this offseason and all of the stuff that went down.
“Ron has an unbelievably hard job right now and he’s stepped up to the plate and he’s done a tremendous job with the hand he has been dealt. I have so much respect for him. This has been a tough year with everything going on and I believe he was the right man to do this job.”
At the ballpark, Roenicke never gets visibly down, despite the tough situation for his team. Perhaps that’s because he knows how to compartmentalize when he leaves the ballpark.
“And when I go home, instead of dwelling on this, I jump into a book and I read,” said Roenicke. “I’ve read more this year than I’ve ever read in my life. And I like to read a lot. So it shows you how much I’ve read. I’m going through so many books I can’t tell you. That keeps me sane.”
What will you find in Roenicke’s home library?
“I’m all over the map,” said Roenicke. “But my favorite author is Vince Flynn, who passed away probably about three years ago now. Louis L’Amour, I love Westerns, I’ve read every one of his. He’s got about 110 books. I’ve probably read every one of his two or three times. I love, right now, Nick Petrie, I’m kind of all over the place. If you have any suggestions, you guys, let me know, I’m looking for authors.”
Finding his next book is much easier for Roenicke than trying to manage games with precious few solid pitching options.
“I think the easy way to do this is [to] focus on trying to get people better. As long as I focus on that, then the wins and losses don’t get to me as much,” said Roenicke. “I’m not somebody who likes to lose a lot. If you’re playing really good baseball and you’re losing, I’m a little better with that. But it gets to you after a while.
“Unfortunately, I have to look out there every day, I stare straight across the pitcher and I look out to the left field line, and I see us sitting in last place. And every day that bothers me. So I don’t like that at all.”
JBJ ready for free agency Bradley will be the team’s most significant free agent this offseason, and he looks forward to seeing how that process will unfold.
Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom mentioned in the hours after Monday’s Trade Deadline passed that the Red Sox have interest in keeping Bradley beyond this season. However, there have been no negotiations.
“I think that’s just something they communicated with y’all at this point. I’ll be a free agent in a couple [months],” said Bradley. “That’s the cool thing about free agency -- you get to weigh out your options.”
One thing Bradley is enthused about is that his wife, Erin, and daughter, Emerson, will come to Boston for the first time this season on Thursday.
“I’ll get home once the season’s done,” Bradley said. “You don’t leave until your job is done. That’s what I plan on doing. Good thing about family is they can always come to you. So I’ll see them tomorrow.”
Pérez eager for 2021 Despite the struggles the Red Sox have had as a team this season, lefty starter Martín Pérez has no regrets about signing with Boston. And he’s hopeful the club picks up his $6.25 million option for the 2021 season.
“I’m enjoying being in this organization, the way they help me and train me,” said Pérez. “I believe in the Boston Red Sox. It’s a tough year for everybody, but we just need to continue to believe and next year is going to be a different year.”
Pérez, who was bothered by a blister in his last start, will take the ball on Thursday, one day later than originally scheduled. He said he feels much better.
Roster move Lefty Kyle Hart, who has struggled mightily in his first four Major League appearances, was placed on the injured list prior to Wednesday’s game with a left hip impingement. Hart suffered the injury while making a nice play in Tuesday’s game.
To replace Hart on the roster, the Red Sox have recalled righty Andrew Triggs from the alternate training site in Pawtucket, R.I. Boston claimed the 31-year-old on waivers from the Giants on Aug. 19.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 4:14:40 GMT -5
Sean McAdam @sean_McAdam · 6h Tuesday night: Marcell Ozuna hits 3 homers vs. Red Sox Wednesday night: Adam Duvall hits 3 homers vs. Red Sox. Thursday night: Rowdy Tellez is coming to town.
Just sayin'
Ben Wagner @benwag247 6h Rowdy drives the Red Sox absolutely nuts:
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 4:20:45 GMT -5
Red Sox Notebook Martin Perez happy to still be with Red Sox By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated September 2, 2020, 8:49 p.m.
With the Red Sox in full sell mode at the trade deadline, there seemed at least a possibility that lefthander Martín Pérez might find himself on the move.
Signed to a one-year, $6.25 million deal with a $6.5 million team option for 2021 this past winter, Pérez has been sufficiently consistent (2-4, 4.58 ERA) that it seemed possible that a contender might see him as a potential source of stability in a season plagued by pitching injuries across the league.
But Pérez — who suffered a minor blister in his final start before the trade deadline — remained, his place in Boston secure for the rest of this year. If he sustains his performance, the Sox may well pick up his option.
Pérez — who will start on Thursday against the Blue Jays with his blister no longer a concern — suggested that he gave little thought to the trade deadline until the final minutes before 4 p.m. on Monday. But once it passed, he was thrilled to remain with the Sox. Get 108 Stitches in your inboxGet everything baseball from the Globe's Red Sox reporters every Monday-Friday during baseball season, and weekly in the off season.
“I’m proud to be here and part of this organization,” said Pérez. “I believe in the Boston Red Sox. It’s a tough year for everybody. We just need to continue to believe. Next year is going to be different.”
Pérez wants to be a leader in helping that process. As the lone veteran starter on the active roster, the 29-year-old has been trying to counsel the younger pitchers on the roster.
“I’ve been at this level for a couple of years and I’ve learned from a lot of guys. Now it’s time for me to let the youngest guys know what they have to do,” said Pérez. “I am doing that.” Tellier given shot
Attleboro native Nate Tellier stood out this summer in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, where the UMass Dartmouth senior showing a power, two-pitch mix for the Brockton Rox.
Still, his performance in the Kelly Rodman Memorial Summer Rivalry Classic last Friday — an annual amateur showcase jointly conducted by Red Sox and Yankees scouts for players in the Northeast — proved particularly eye-opening.
Tellier combined a 94-97-mile-per-hour fastball with a wicked breaking ball to strike out all three batters he faced, on 13 pitches. Ray Fagnant, the Red Sox amateur scouting crosschecker in the Northeast, didn’t want to waste any time on a top Division 3 player who had gone undrafted in this year’s truncated five-round draft.
‘“The look on his face was priceless. Good story, but most importantly, at the end of the day, you’ve got big league tools. That’s the most important part. It’s a big arm, he’s a strong kid, and he’s athletic. It will be fun to watch his progress. I think he’ll take off now that he can concentrate on pitching.”’
Ray Fagnant on Nate Tellier
Fagnant met with Tellier on Tuesday. He detailed his view of the 5-foot-11-inch righthander — a two-way player in college who will be a full-time pitcher in the pro ranks — and how he thought the Sox could help his development. When Tellier suggested he was open to signing, Fagnant pulled out a folder with a contract.
“The look on his face was priceless,” said Fagnant. “Good story, but most importantly, at the end of the day, you’ve got big league tools. That’s the most important part. It’s a big arm, he’s a strong kid, and he’s athletic. It will be fun to watch his progress. I think he’ll take off now that he can concentrate on pitching.”
The Red Sox also signed righthander Joey Stock out of St. John’s. Hart ache
One day after he allowed six runs in two innings, lefthander Kyle Hart (0-1, 15.55 ERA in 11 innings) landed on the injured list with what the team described as a hip impingement. To take his spot on the roster, the Sox called up righthander Andrew Triggs from the Alternate Site in Pawtucket. Triggs, 31, is 9-9 with a 4.68 ERA in 163⅓ career big league innings. The Sox claimed him off waivers from the Giants last month … Nate Eovaldi is making progress in his return from a calf strain, though he will be at least slightly behind his initially scheduled return to the rotation. While manager Ron Roenicke had hoped he could start Saturday, Eovaldi — who threw on flat ground on Wednesday — will be at least one or two days behind that schedule. The Sox expect him to throw a bullpen session on Thursday … J.D. Martinez, who missed two games after getting hit on the left hand by a pitch on Sunday, returned to the lineup on Wednesday.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 4:36:08 GMT -5
Ben Nicholson-Smith @bnicholsonsmith · 10h Jonathan Villar appealed to the #BlueJays because of his versatile glove and speed. Yet to this point, he has made multiple mistakes in the field and run into an out on the bases.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 4:43:05 GMT -5
LONGLEY: Blue Jays need to feast at Fenway to enhance playoff position Author of the article: Rob Longley Publishing date: Sep 02, 2020 • Last Updated 10 hours ago • 5 minute read
BOSTON — The Bruins have been eliminated.
The Red Sox are some combination of rebuilding and reeling as they meander through the second half of the 2020 MLB season that for them can’t end soon enough at empty, forlorn Fenway Park.
And the Patriots without Tom Brady? Who knows?
At least New England still has their Celtics, who have taken a stranglehold soon their best-of-seven series against the Toronto Raptors.
So what does this have to do with the Blue Jays, who will arrive here early Thursday morning after they are done with the brief two-game series against the Marlins?
Glad you asked.
What will unfold over four days at Fenway Park (whether permitting) is arguably the most crucial stage of the Jays season to date. Five games — including a Friday doubleheader to make up for the postponed-due-to-protest game in Buffalo this past week — that will take the Jays to the top of the stretch and set the tone for that run.
Quite simply, the Jays need to take advantage of a Red Sox team just two years removed from their World Series championship by kicking them when they are down. Sellers at the trade deadline, the Bosox entered Wednesday’s play with a 12-24 record, tied with the Angels for the worst record in the American League.
These five pending games represent a full 20% of the remaining games for Jays manager Charlie Montoyo’s team and lead in to what ultimately may be the beast of their schedule.
Starting Monday and over a 17-game stretch, the Jays will play the New York Yankees 10 times and while the wounded Bronx Bombers aren’t in first in the AL East, they are still a formidable opponent.
Win or split that 10-game “series” and the Jays are most likely playoff bound and even have a chance of improving their lot by surpassing their AL East rival. But if the Yankees win six or more, what the Jays do here in the grand old ball yard over the next four days takes on an even deeper meaning.
The list of accomplishments for the young Toronto/Buffalo squad thus far this season has been impressive, by virtually any way you choose to measure. Since losing star shortstop Bo Bichette, the team has put together a 11-6 record in the games he’s been absent, a run that vaulted them into the eighth and final playoff position in the AL.
The team has rallied in Bichette’s absence, riding alternating hot streaks from outfielders Randal Grichuk and Teoscar Hernandez, the consistency of Cavan Biggio and a suddenly heating Vlad Guerrero Jr.. And they’ve done it all while in the midst of an almost laughably gruelling 28-games-in-27- days stretch, going 12-7 through the first nine of those. “It’s not easy, I can tell you that. But we knew it was coming,” Montoyo said of the grueling schedule. “The moment I saw 28 in 27 I knew it was going to be tough. So that’s why I’m trying to give my players days off, communicate with them. But no excuses.
“It’s a grind. We’re in every game, but it’s a good grind. We’re playing good baseball. I’m very proud of this team.”
What the team has done over the previous two weeks leading up to Monday’s trade deadline certainly has been impressive and obviously put general manager Ross Atkins in shopping mode. Of the four acquisitions the team made, none specifically make the Jays World Series contenders. But they are pieces that playoff-minded teams make to at least enhance the possibility.
The most interesting of those — starter Taijuan Walker — gets the ball in the series opener against the Red Sox and thus could set the tone for the series against a Boston lineup that without Mitch Moreland and others in it, is far less lethal than in the recent past.
Robbie Ray’s work in Miami on Tuesday already showed signs of improvement in terms of command and he could be the star Atkins deadline add. And we’re expected to see the third potential starter, Ross Stripling, get a start in Friday’s doubleheader.
The winning record and apparent home advantage the team seems to have built at Sahlen Field justifiably has built some confidence. On the road, however, the Jays offence has mostly sputtered to an AL-low 3.71 runs per game, which ranks 27th in MLB.
Moving on to the infirmary, there is mostly good news on the latest reports, notably that Bichette is progressing nicely, closer Ken Giles’ return time may soon be measured in days and rookie Nate Pearson is likely to be available out of the bullpen for the critical closing weeks of the season.
None of those three will be available at Fenway, however.
Full credit for a young and aggressive team that believes in itself is has put itself in a favourable position into the first week of September. And now the task is to improve that position even further by Labour Day, Game 1 of 10 against the Yankees.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 4:54:21 GMT -5
Nathan Eovaldi injury: Boston Red Sox righty no longer expected to return from IL to start Saturday Updated Sep 02, 2020; Posted Sep 02, 2020
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Nathan Eovaldi no longer is expected to return from the 10-day injured list to start for the Boston Red Sox vs. the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday. But he might be able to start Sunday or Monday depending on how he feels after a bullpen session Thursday.
Eovaldi has been diagnosed with a calf strain. He has not pitched since Aug. 20 at Baltimore when he went 7 innings and allowed just one run, five hits and one walk while striking out six.
His calf cramped up while playing catch in Baltimore in the days following that start.
“Probably not Saturday,” Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke said via Zoom on Wednesday. “He threw today and actually this is the best day he’s had. He didn’t throw a bullpen, but he played catch today. And (head trainer) Brad (Pearson) really got into the calf with his training and trying to figure out where the problem is. And he said it was really encouraging today.”
Eovaldi will try to throw a bullpen Thursday.
“If everything goes well,” Roenicke said. “And maybe we’ll only have to push him back a day or two. So that’s what we’re hopeful of. But we’ll know a lot more tomorrow after he throws.”
Eovaldi is 2-2 with a 4.98 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a .287 batting average against in six starts this season. He pitched well in his last start, Thursday, Aug. 20, in Baltimore.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 4:57:10 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 7h Red Sox have hit 16 homers with men on base, opponents have hit 32 homers with men on base.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 7:53:18 GMT -5
Rob Longley @longleysunsport 38m Also ... with the #Rays knocking off the #Yankees last night and the #Bluejays winning in Miami, Toronto is one game behind New York for second in the AL East.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 10:12:25 GMT -5
Rob Longley @longleysunsport · 1h First pitch at Fenway is scheduled for 7:30 tonight. Sunset in Boston is set 7:14 p.m.. September baseball it is. #Bluejays
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 10:43:16 GMT -5
Game #36 Preview: Walker vs Perez 5 comments
Blue Jays (19-16) vs Red Sox (12-25) By Erik T Sep 3, 2020, 9:08am EDT
The Blue Jays head up to Boston to start a 5 game series against the Red Sox, with their normal 4 games plus a makeup from the players’ strike last week, which will be played in a double header Friday. But first, we have today’s game, which gets underway at 7:30 EDT. Blue Jays’ Starter
Taijuan Walker will make his second start in Blue Jay blue, looking to replicate the success of his first try. Fresh off the plane in Buffalo last Saturday, Walker took on the Orioles and held them down quite well. Over 6 shutout innings (a rarity for a Blue Jays’ pitcher), Walker allowed 4 hits and 3 walks, striking out 4 on 92 pitches.
On the season as a whole, Walker is 3-2 with a 3.27 ERA. He is averaging 5.5 innings per start, with 29 strikeouts against 14 walks+hbp over 33 innings. He hasn’t been helping himself too much after those free baserunners either, picking up just his second double play his last time out. Add in the exactly league average home run rate of 5 over 33 innings, and he’s probably somewhat lucky to be sitting at the numbers he is. Red Sox’ Starter
The Red Sox will counter with veteran lefty Martin Perez. This will be Perez’ 8th start of the year, and he has probably been their best starter thus far. Across 35.1 innings, Perez is 2-4 with a 4.58 ERA, allowing 19 runs on 30 hit, walking 15 and striking out just 24.
Perez has seen his four seam fastball velocity diminish a fair bit this year, which is what you’d expect as a pitcher gets older, but he’s just 29 a probably a couple years ahead of the normal decline phase. Prior to this season, the last 5 years has seen his four seam fastball velocity over 93, pushing 94, but this year his average is down to 92. Surprisingly, it’s also the most effective it has ever been, going from something used to set up other pitches to actually being used to get outs occasionally. This is allowing his other fastballs to become a bit more unhittable as well, which is also nicely setting up his curveball. If he can get the walks under control, he can become an above average pitcher. Blue Jays’ Lineup
A few of the Blue Jays’ have been getting a day off here the last couple days, as Charlie Montoyo looks to keep his players fresh over the long stretch of games the Jays are currently in. If Montoyo is going to rest someone again today, I would guess that it is going to be Cavan Biggio with the lefty on the mound. But the chances of Biggio actually getting the day off are probably fairly slim.
Jonathan Villar was pretty good with the bat yesterday, seeing his second start hitting in the number 3 hole. Going forward, he really shouldn’t be batting third, and he really needs to limit his baserunning and fielding mistakes to less than 1 per game, not 1 per inning like he did to start yesterday’s game.
With his 5th home run yesterday, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has upped his season line to .269/.326/.471 (114 wRC+) which seems like a pleasant surprise when looking back on how some of his at bats have gone. His numbers are pretty much now in line with his career numbers. Red Sox’ Lineup
The Red Sox traded away Mitch Moreland and Kevin Pillar. No longer seeing Pillar in the lineup isn’t that exciting for Jays’ fans, as he was 0-12 against the Jays this year. But the removal of Moreland is something to be celebrated, as he was hitting .412/.524/1.176 with 4 home runs and 9 RBI in 5 games.
Taking the roster spot of Moreland is one of the Red Sox’ top prospects Bobby Dalbec. Dalbec entered the season as the Sox’ 4th overall prospect, a solid right handed hitter with a lot of power. He has struggled so far in his first 3 games though, hitting just a home run and single while striking out 8 times in 12 PA.
J.D. Martinez, who is having an extremely untypical season with a wRC+ currently sitting at 83, took a pitch off his left hand the other day, causing him to miss a few days. The x-rays didn’t show any damage, but I’m sure the Red Sox will be watching that hand closely. Yesterday’s Heroes
Adam Duvall went 3-4 yesterday, launching 3 home runs while driving in 5 to pick up the Monster Bat award. He was very instrumental in his Braves’ 7-5 win over the Red Sox.
Zac Gallen dominated the Dodgers over 7 innings, keeping them off the board with 1 hit and a pair of walks, striking out 7 to pick up the Pitcher of the Day award. Unfortunately for him, his bullpen couldn’t hold the 1-0 lead, thanks to a Mookie Betts home run to tie it in the 9th, followed by the late inning “heroics” of...
Chris Taylor, who picks up WPA King title thanks to a big error on the part of the Diamondbacks. Taylor laid down the extra inning sacrificial bunt, but the Diamondbacks threw it away, allowing the free runner to score and Taylor to move into scoring position and eventually score. That play alone was worth .614 WPA, bringing him out of the negative and up to .554. The Dodgers ended up beating the Diamondbacks 3-2.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 11:43:06 GMT -5
Red Sox vs. Blue Jays Series Preview 1 comment
A look at a busy weekend for the Red Sox. By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins Sep 3, 2020, 12:01pm EDT
The opponent in one sentence
The Blue Jays are one of the most exciting young teams in the game and they currently have a tenuous grip on the final playoff spot and pushed in at the deadline to make sure they stay in that position. Record
19-16 Head-to-head record
Red Sox 3, Blue Jays 2 Trend
Up...ish. Toronto hasn’t done well in the very immediate past, having split a two-game series against the Marlins that came on the heels of a series-ending loss to the Orioles. So, they’ve lost two of their last three, but immediately before that they had won four in a row. They also saw their front office show some confidence in them with some trades to push in at least a bit for this season, which can only be a positive for confidence. Pitching Matchups
*The final four matchups here are all educated guesses, as they are all listed as TBD vs. TBD on the team websites.
9/3: Martín Pérez vs. Taijuan Walker, 7:30 PM ET
With Nathan Eovaldi on the injured list, Pérez is the lone legitimate starter that can actually go deep into a ballgame on the Red Sox pitching staff. That distinction is particularly important for this start since it the first of five games over four days. The Red Sox need innings from their starter in this one. The bad news on that front is that, for as good as Pérez has been for most of his starts this year, he’s gone at least six innings only once. That was two starts ago, to be fair. The lefty is coming off his worst start of the year his last time out, having allowed six runs over four innings against the Nationals. This will be his first start against the Blue Jays this year, and there is a fair argument to be made that the innings are going to be the most important part of his stat line in this one. Washington Nationals v Boston Red Sox Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images
Walker was one of the acquisitions the Blue Jays made prior to the trade deadline, having picked him up from the Mariners after a resurgence to start this season. The former top prospect had seen injuries derail his career, but he’s stayed healthy this year and in total has pitched to a 3.27 ERA. The peripherals aren’t quite as appealing with a 4.62 FIP that comes thanks to being about average in strikeouts and walks while allowing a few too many homers. That said, he’s coming off a very good debut with the Jays having pitched six scoreless innings against the Orioles with four strikeouts and three walks. Walker will offer a low-to-mid-90s fastball along with a cutter, a splitter, a two-seam and a curveball.
9/4*: Chris Mazza vs. Tanner Roark, 4:10 PM ET
It seems likely that Mazza is going to get one of the starts of the doubleheader on Friday, which is also the first look we’ll have at seven-inning baseball this year. The righty has been up and down for the Red Sox this year and isn’t quite stretched out for a normal starter’s load, nor has he looked good enough to go six strong anyway. That’s not to say he’s been terrible, because he hasn’t been, but it’s been mediocre at best. His last time out he looked solid the first time through the order before getting knocked out of the game after allowing three runs in the third inning. In all, he’s pitched to a 7.88 ERA over three outings and eight innings with ten strikeouts and five walks.
Roark has long been one of the steadiest, unspectacular starters in baseball, good for roughly league-average production for 180 innings year in and year out. The Blue Jays had a need for that in their rotation and added him over the winter, but he’s taken a step back in the move to the American League. His control, which has generally been solid over his career, has fallen off to the tune of a 12 percent while his strikeout rate has fallen off a bit as well. All of that has led to a 5.33 ERA. In one start against the Red Sox earlier this year, he allowed four runs over three innings. The righty will offer a pair of low-90s fastballs along with a slider, a changeup and a curveball.
9/4*: Zack Godley vs. Ross Stripling, 7:10 PM ET
First of all, it should be noted that because baseball is totally bizarre this season, the Blue Jays are actually the home team for this second game of the doubleheader. For the Red Sox, Godley is likely to start one of these games — him and Mazza could be switched. I have no idea — as he continues what I would view as a very strange season. I don’t think he’s been quite as bad as his 7.71 ERA would suggest, but he’s also had some starts where he’s looked much worse. His last time out was one that started off solid but he struggled as the night went on, eventually allowing five runs in 4 2⁄3 innings. Godley’s issue has been baserunners, as he’s given up 37 hits and has issued 13 walks in 25 2⁄3 innings. In other words, he averages about two runners per inning, which is not what you want. The good news is in his only other matchup against Toronto this year he tossed four shutout innings.
Stripling was another one of the Jays’s acquisitions at the deadline, with this one coming through right at the wire. The righty came over from the Dodgers, who are so good that they are able to sell off pieces even in the midst of a season with World Series aspirations. He has struggled mightily this year, though, pitching to a 5.61 ERA over seven starts, largely due to major home run problems. He’s already allowed 12 this year, which comes out to more than three per nine innings. Stripling has allowed at least one homer in every start this year and at least two in each of his last four. He will offer a low-90s fastball along with a curveball, a changeup and a slider.
9/5*: Colten Brewer vs. Chase Anderson, 7:30 PM ET
I have some thoughts on Brewer I’m still trying to flesh out in full article form at some point in the future, but the short version is: I think he’s pretty solid and is being done a disservice by being thrust into this role. I don’t really blame the team, to be fair, because they don’t have many other options, but Brewer’s numbers, to me, don’t reflect who he is. Take his last start, for example. In the box score, he allowed five runs over four innings. In reality, he did his job for four innings, having allowed just two runs. They tried to push him for a fifth out of necessity and he allowed three more runs without recording an out. Anyway, I assume they’ll continue to roll him out as a starter because, again, what other choice do they have? But I hope they at least do what they can to not push him further than he should go.
Anderson was a free agent addition over the winter and he got off to a late start this season. Since joining the rotation about week into August, though, he’s been very good, albeit with a limited workload. He’s tossed only 19 2⁄3 innings over five starts, but he’s pitched to a 3.20 ERA with peripherals to match. The big difference for the righty this year has been his control, as he’s walked less than five percent of his opponents so far this year. He’s also coming off a gem against the Orioles, throwing five innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts and no walks. The Red Sox did score four runs (three earned) in five innings against him earlier this year. Anderson will feature a low-to-mid-90s fastball along with a changeup, a curveball and a cutter.
9/6*: Ryan Weber vs. Robbie Ray, 1:35 PM ET
Weber is another guy who is miscast on this team out of necessity. He started the season as a starter and was brutal, got sent down, came back up in a mop up role and thrived. He was put back in the rotation for the last turn and had a horrible first inning before settling down. It’s not as simple as just having him miss the first inning and then let him go but... Also it might be? Nobody is expecting ace-like performances from Weber in any role, but it’s certainly worth trying throwing him out there after an opener handles the first inning and seeing what happens. What do they have to lose?
Ray was yet another trade deadline addition for the Jays earlier in the week, and he came into the year as one of the more interesting pitchers in baseball. The lefty is a free agent after the season and has tantalizing stuff, striking out at least 12 batters per nine in each of the last three years. He remains on that pace for this season as well. However, his control is borderline unplayable, and this season he walked a batter per inning with the Diamondbacks to help lead him to an ERA of 7.84. The southpaw made his Blue Jays debut out of the bullpen, but given the five-games-in-four-days situation here, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get the start this time through. Old Friends
Travis Shaw was the center piece of easily the worst trade in the Dave Dombrowski era, having been sent to Milwaukee (along with Mauricio Dubon) for Tyler Thornburg. Shaw thrived with the Brewers for a couple seasons before falling off last season. This is his first season with Toronto.
Santiago Espinal has become a contributor for the Blue Jays after heading there in the Steve Pearce trade in 2018. It’s come as a bit of a surprise to me, both in terms of his overall skill level as well as how quickly it’s translated to the majors. Notable Position Players
Shaw is the everyday third baseman for the Blue Jays for now, but he has struggled to hit the ball with enough authority to make an impact this season. His role could be clouded whenever Bo Bichette returns from injury.
Teoscar Hernández has been one of the most surprising stories in baseball this year, mashing in the middle of the Blue Jays lineups. He already has 12 homers as well as an eye-opening .321 Isolated Power.
Cavan Biggio has been scuffling a bit of late, but he is a fantastic leadoff hitter who draws a ton of walks and provides a little bit of pop at the top of the lineup as well.
Randal Grichuk isn’t going to be the most patient hitter at the plate and he’ll swing and miss some, but when he makes contact it’s often loud and he’s ridden that power to a 127 wRC+ this year.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is starting to heat up at the right time for this Blue Jays team. The overall numbers are still a bit disappointing in the power department, but he has phenomenal plate discipline and we know the power is in there somewhere.
Jonathan Villar was yet another trade deadline acquisition and gives Toronto big-time speed on the bases, though his power output dropped off significantly in Miami compared to 2019.
Rowdy Tellez against most teams is a solid, low-average, big-power batter. Against the Red Sox, he is prime Barry Bonds.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is an underrated member of this Blue Jays lineup. Although he’s not really great in any one area at the plate, he is at least solid all across the board.
Danny Jansen has been brutal at the plate with a 64 wRC+, largely due to a low BABIP, but he’s still been significantly better than Reese McGuire, his backup, who has a -48 wRC+. Bullpen Snapshot
Anthony Bass has climbed to the closer role thanks to a couple of key injuries in the Blue Jays bullpen. Bass isn’t the classic blow-you-away type of closer, but his command has enabled him to put up a very strong season so far.
Rafael Dolis and A.J. Cole tag-team things from the right side in the late innings. Dolis has worked around some control issues to keep runs off the board while Cole has somehow managed to keep the ball in the yard all year despite strong fly ball tendencies.
Ryan Borucki is the top lefty in the bullpen and has been almost all strikeouts and walks all season. Injuries
Bo Bichette is working his way back from a knee injury. His timetable is still unknown, but he seems to be trending in the right direction.
Ken Giles has been out for most of the year with a forearm injury, which is always scary, but it seems like he may be a week or so away from returning.
Nate Pearson went down with an elbow injury, but like Giles should return, though Pearson’s return is likely going to be a bit later if it comes.
Matt Shoemaker went down in mid-August with a lat injury and is hoping to return to the rotation before the season is over.
Trent Thornton went down with an elbow injury a few weeks ago and had to undergo season-ending surgery earlier this week.
Jordan Romano had taken over as the closer for Giles but then went down with a finger injury. He should return at some point.
Elvis Luciano has been out all year and it doesn’t really seem like he’s going to make it back.
Hector Perez is another minor-league arm who is probably going to miss the entire season.
Yennsy Diaz was put on the IL back in March and nothing really has been said about him since. Weather Forecast
It’s looking like it should be a nice weekend in Boston. The only possible question mark would be the series opener with some showers in the forecast, but it doesn’t look bad enough to cancel the game.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 11:54:41 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 46s Phillips Valdez's changeup has been one of the most devastating 2-strike pitches in baseball this year. Based on xwOBA only Gallen's CU, Karinchak's FB, and Bieber's CU have been slightly more dominant.
1 for 25, 17 strikeout, 4 weak groundouts, 2 flyouts, pop out, and a single.
|
|
|
Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 3, 2020 12:05:05 GMT -5
Scott Carson 🇨🇦 @koas1963 · 15m After not winning any of their first 6 series this year (0-4-2), #BlueJays haven’t lost any of their last 6 series, winning 3 & splitting 3. Toronto’s 12-5 record since August 17 is 3rd best in the A.L., behind #Rays (12-3) & #WhiteSox (11-4).
|
|