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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 22, 2024 18:54:19 GMT -5
Guardians take another swing at Tanner Houck in Red Sox rematch
FLM
The Cleveland Guardians took three of four at Boston last week. However, they didn't have an answer for Tanner Houck, who recorded his first career complete game against them.
Looking for a better effort against Houck, the host Guardians aim to cool off the Red Sox while trying for a fifth consecutive victory Tuesday night.
Under first-year manager Stephen Vogt, Cleveland entered play Monday with a major league-best 16-6 record and plus-52 run differential, plus an AL-high 124 runs. The Guardians' pitching ranks among the AL's best in team ERA (3.03), opponents' batting average (.218) and strikeouts (209).
"Anytime you can win early in the season, those are wins no one can take away from us," Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti told reporters.
"That gives us a great foundation for the season."
The Guardians outscored Oakland 22-7 during a three-game home sweep over the weekend. They are 6-3 and winners of four in a row at home.
"I think everything's just kind of coming together," Cleveland pitcher Tanner Bibee told the club's official website.
Among the early-season highlights for the Guardians was scoring 21 runs over four games at Boston last week.
However, in its only defeat during that set, 2-0 on Wednesday, Cleveland was stymied by Houck (3-1, 1.35 ERA), in a game that lasted an efficient 1 hour, 49 minutes. The right-hander allowed singles to Jose Ramirez, Josh Naylor and Gabriel Arias and struck out nine without a walk on 94 pitches for Boston's first individual shutout since June 2022.
"Go out there and get strike one, strike two and get these guys out," Houck said. "You can bask in that stuff after. But definitely just going out there focused and knowing what I had to do."
Embarking on his fourth full major league season, all with Boston, Houck has never won more than six games in a year. However, he's already halfway to matching that mark and has allowed four earned runs in 26 2/3 innings -- all coming April 12 against the Los Angeles Angels.
Houck is a part of a Red Sox rotation that's off to a surprisingly strong start, leading the majors with a 1.73 ERA. Boston's entire pitching staff was stellar in sweeping a three-game weekend set at Pittsburgh, yielding four runs and striking out 25 with six walks.
However, Boston needs to find a way to cool off the Guardians, who rapped out 10 extra-base hits at Fenway Park last week.
Arias was 6-of-17 with two doubles, a triple and three RBIs against the Red Sox this month. Teammate Steven Kwan is batting .358 on the season but went 0-for-4 versus Houck last week.
Houck once again will oppose the Guardians' Ben Lively (0-1, 3.60 ERA), who allowed two runs, three hits and a walk and struck out seven in five innings at Boston during his Cleveland debut after opening the season on the injured list due to illness.
Boston catcher Connor Wong homered off the right-hander last week. Wong is batting .319 this season.
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 22, 2024 18:56:47 GMT -5
Rest of Series Match Ups
Wednesday, TBD vs Carrasco 1-1/ 3.44
Thursday, Bello 3-1/ 3.04 vs McKenzie 2-2/ 5.00 ( day game)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 22, 2024 19:05:59 GMT -5
Red Sox righty excited to join rotation that has ‘proved everyone wrong’ so far
Published: Apr. 22, 2024, 4:45 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
CLEVELAND — Initially when Garrett Whitlock became the second Red Sox starter to be placed on the injured list last Tuesday, manager Alex Cora said reliever Josh Winckowski wasn’t in the mix to take a spot in the battered rotation. Now, after Winckowski made a spot start Sunday in Pittsburgh, it appears the right-hander will get an extended chance to remain there.
Cora said Winckowski will “most likely” remain in the team’s rotation for the coming weeks with Whitlock (oblique strain) and Nick Pivetta (flexor strain) sidelined. Winckowski, who allowed one run and three hits in 3 ⅓ innings to start Sunday’s win, is in line to pitch again Saturday at home against the Cubs. In Cleveland, the Red Sox plan to pitch Tanner Houck on Tuesday and Brayan Bello on Thursday with Wednesday’s starter to be determined. Kutter Crawford, Winckowski and Houck are likely to face the Cubs before the club can reset things with an off day Monday.
Winckowski, who competed for a rotation spot before ultimately being sent to the bullpen to start the season, is excited to join a group that has surprised baseball with a league-leading 1.73 ERA through 23 games.
“The guys have been lights-out. On Friday and Saturday, Bello and Kutter did the thing and led the way. They gave me a good platform to build off of. Working with (pitching coach Andrew) Bailey and different stuff, you can definitely see the difference.
“There’s always noise in the offseason and whatnot. Specifically, people were saying we needed help in the rotation and that the rotation sucked. So I’m really happy for all the guys to be proving everyone wrong. I think the team definitely carries a chip on its shoulder to go win as many games as we can.”
Winckowski was a starter throughout his minor league career and broke into the majors in the rotation in 2022 during a stretch when the Red Sox’ starting five was significantly banged up. He posted a 5.89 ERA and 4.95 FIP in 15 outings (14 starts) that year before making the 2023 team as a late-inning reliever. In 2023, the righty shined in the late innings, posting a 2.88 ERA and 8/8 K/9 rate in 84 ⅓ innings (all in relief except for a one-inning start as an opener Aug. 20). He got off to an uneven start as a late-inning option for Cora this year, posting a 4.63 ERA while allowing 16 hits in 11 ⅔ relief innings before Sunday’s start.
Winckowski threw 65 pitches in a relief outing April 9 and got up to 46 pitches in Sunday’s 6-1 win. He’ll continue to add to his workload as his stay in the rotation continues. With Pivetta and Whitlock on the mend, Winckowski, Cooper Criswell and Chase Anderson represent the top fill-in rotation candidates on the active roster and Naoyuki Uwasawa and Vladimir Gutierrez in the mix at Triple-A Worcester.
“I’m accustomed to what starting looks like,” Winckowski said. “Spring training was only so long ago and I was built up a good amount then. Just being able to stay in a routine and dig into it is good. Obviously, as many starts as they need from me, I’ll be ready for them.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 22, 2024 19:12:40 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK
Feeling remains pessimistic about Triston Casas’s playing status after his rib cage strain
By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 22, 2024, 37 minutes ago
PITTSBURGH — Triston Casas underwent an MRI on his left rib cage strain Monday in Boston. And after further imaging, the expectation remains that he will be out for a while.
Though Monday’s results have not been disclosed by the club, the Red Sox and Casas weren’t optimistic regarding the first baseman’s health status. Manager Alex Cora was frank during his Sunday morning news conference, expressing serious concern regarding Casas’s availability and return timeline.
Casas was forthcoming, too, saying that he felt discomfort breathing and “was in a lot of pain.”
“I’m a large guy swinging the bat really fast, and I’m really strong,” said the 6-foot-5-inch, 244-pound Casas prior to Sunday’s series finale against the Pirates. “So stuff like this is bound to happen. When you start dealing with bone and cartilage, it could get really sensitive, especially when you’re creating a lot of torque in your swing. So this is something that I’ve been thinking about for the last 12 hours about how it could have been avoided or how I could continue stronger in those areas. I feel like I was doing everything that I could, so I’m ultimately at peace.”
The Sox will likely stand pat and not seek outside help, at least for now. A decent number of players around the league have May 1 opt-outs, and that could be a time when the Red Sox pursue some of their needs.
The Sox used Pablo Reyes at first Sunday. Bobby Dalbec could get some time there, as could Rob Refsnyder, who has been working at the position since the start of spring.
O’Neill set to return
Tyler O’Neill felt it was important to be around his teammates during the first leg of the team’s road trip in Pittsburgh. Although he was on the seven-day injured list with a concussion, it was important for the Red Sox outfielder to stay on routine.
And O’Neill had a good reason.
He was the club’s best player prior to hitting the IL, batting .313/.459/.750 with a team-leading seven homers.
The Red Sox will reinstate O’Neill Tuesday ahead of the team’s series against the Guardians. Rafael Devers should be ready to play after missing the last four games with a bone bruise in his left knee.
“I look forward to getting back out there,” O’Neill said Sunday afternoon following the Sox’ series sweep of the Pirates. “I passed all my tests recently. I feel like I’m in a good spot. I’ve been getting out there the past couple of days, and I’m feeling pretty good for the most part. I’m just a little more tired than usual. Probably because I haven’t been doing too much activity the last four days.”
Cora relished the idea of having O’Neill sandwiched between Devers and Casas in the Sox’ lineup. Nevertheless, having at least two of his best hitters back instead of missing all three, which was the case Sunday, provides some positive news.
“We don’t want to be out of the lineup,” added O’Neill. “We want to be in there every day, helping these guys win. … These guys really held it down [during the Pittsburgh series]. You really saw the offense come alive. A lot of hits out there, drawing our walks, doing a lot of good things. I Just want to get in there and help bolster the lineup. Make it a little stronger, if I can just continue to do my part. We’ll go from there.”
Pitching matchups
Tanner Houck will take the mound against Ben Lively on Tuesday. The Sox starter for Wednesday is still to be determined while Carlos Carrasco takes the hill for Cleveland. Brayan Bello and Triston McKenzie will go toe-to-toe Thursday in the series finale. The Guardians are 16-6, boasting the best record in the majors.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 23, 2024 5:59:14 GMT -5
Red Sox
at
Guardians
Tuesday, at 6:10 PM EST
Likely To Be Delayed Or Rained Out
It's expected to be 56° F with a 69% chance of rain and 9 MPH wind blowing left to right in Cleveland at 6:10 PM EST.
Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com
Rain showers will likely delay, and possibly postpone, Tuesday night's game at Progressive Field. If the game is played, a moderate breeze blowing out to right field will improve home run chances in that direction.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 23, 2024 12:56:40 GMT -5
Game 24: Red Sox at Guardians lineups and notesBy Katie McInerney Globe Staff,Updated April 23, 2024, 9:08 a.m. The Red Sox lost three of four against the Guardians at Fenway Park last week. They’ll get another shot when they open a three-game series in Cleveland on Tuesday. The lone bright spot of that series last week was Tanner Houck, who threw a 94-pitch nine-inning gem — his first career complete game. As Alex Speier writes: "As he enters Tuesday’s start in Cleveland, Houck has a 3-1 record with a 1.35 ERA while averaging 6⅔ innings per start. He has an astounding 28-to-2 strikeout-to-walk rate. “It’s possible that this April performance marks a midcareer transformation. If that proves to be the case, it will be a breakthrough foretold.” (Read the rest of the story here.) The Red Sox could use the juice. They’re dropping like flies. Triston Casas’s rib injury looks pretty severe, and in the series finale against the Pirates on Sunday, they started the likes of Pablo Reyes, Tyler Heineman, and Enmanuel Valdez. Some good news: OF Tyler O’Neill (concussion) and Rafael Devers (bone bruise in knee) are expected to return against Cleveland on Tuesday. Lineups RED SOX (13-10): Ceddanne Rafaela (R) SS Jarren Duran (L) CF Tyler O'Neill (R) DH Wilyer Abreu (L) LF Rob Refsnyder (R) RF Enmanuel Valdez (L) 2B Connor Wong (R) C Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B Pablo Reyes (R) 3B Pitching: RHP Tanner Houck (3-1, 1.35 ERA) GUARDIANS (16-6): Steven Kwan (L) LF Andrés Giménez (L) 2B José Ramírez (S) 3B Josh Naylor (L) 1B Will Brennan (L) RF Tyler Freeman (R) CF Estevan Florial (L) DH Bo Naylor (L) C Brayan Rocchio (S) SS Pitching: RHP Ben Lively (0-1, 3.60 ERA) Time: 6:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Lively: Wilyer Abreu 0-1, Rafael Devers 0-5, Jarren Duran 2-5, David Hamilton 0-2, Reese McGuire 0-2, Ceddanne Rafaela 0-2, Pablo Reyes 1-2, Enmanuel Valdez 0-4, Connor Wong 1-2, Masataka Yoshida 1-2 Guardians vs. Houck: Gabriel Arias 1-3, Will Brennan 0-3, Estevan Florial 1-8, Andrés Giménez 1-7, Austin Hedges 0-3, Steven Kwan 2-6, Ramón Laureano 1-1, Josh Naylor 2-6, José Ramírez 2-10, Brayan Rocchio 0-3 Stat of the day: The Guardians have a major-league best record of 16-6. Notes: The Sox starter for Wednesday is still to be determined while Carlos Carrasco takes the hill for Cleveland. Brayan Bello and Triston McKenzie will go toe-to-toe Thursday in the series finale. The Guardians are 16-6, boasting the best record in the majors. ... The Guardians are trying for a fifth consecutive victory Tuesday night. ... The Guardians have a plus-52 run differential and an AL-high 124 runs. The Guardians’ pitching ranks among the AL’s best in team ERA (3.03), opponents’ batting average (.218) and strikeouts (209). ... The Guardians outscored Oakland 22-7 during a three-game home sweep over the weekend. They are 6-3 and winners of four in a row at home. ... Despite the injuries on the field, the Sox’ rotation is looking sharp: It leads the majors with a 1.73 ERA. ... Cleveland recorded 10 extra-base hits at Fenway Park last week. ... SS Gabriel Arias was 6-of-17 with two doubles, a triple and three RBIs against Boston this month. Teammate Steven Kwan is batting .358 on the season but went 0-for-4 versus Houck last week. ... Ben Lively allowed two runs, three hits and a walk and struck out seven in five innings at Boston during his Cleveland debut after opening the season on the injured list due to illness. ... Boston catcher Connor Wong homered off the right-hander last week. Wong is batting .319 this season. Song of the Day: Queens Of The Stone Age - No One Knows www.youtube.com/watch?v=s88r_q7oufE
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 23, 2024 14:11:46 GMT -5
Ian Browne
@ianmbrowne
The Red Sox today reinstated OF Tyler O’Neill from the 7-Day Injured List. In addition, the club placed C Tyler Heineman on the 10-Day Injured List, retroactive to April 22, with a right hamstring strain.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 23, 2024 14:16:28 GMT -5
I know the weather will be dicey tonight
but they are gonna have to sort this Devers thing out
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 23, 2024 16:49:33 GMT -5
Pete Abraham
@peteabe
Guardians say game on. Gates are open.
6:07 PM · Apr 23, 2024
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 23, 2024 16:51:08 GMT -5
Pete Abraham
@peteabe
Casas has a fracture. He'll be out for an extended period. Back this season but the team is not giving a timetable. Dalbec will be the first baseman.
Cora: "He'll be out for a while ... We just have to be patient now. Timetable, there's nothing. This has to heal on its own."
5:20 PM · Apr 23, 2024
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 23, 2024 16:52:12 GMT -5
Pete Abraham
@peteabe
The Devers thing has been handled oddly. Today will be the 10th day in the last 13 where he will not play but he has not been on the IL.
He's had 12 plate appearances since April 11.
Cora: "Just one more day and he'll benefit from it. probably would have DH'd but I told him one more day is good for him."
The rain was part of the decision, too.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 23, 2024 16:59:26 GMT -5
Red Sox lineup: Alex Cora explains why Rafael Devers, Masataka Yoshida are out
Published: Apr. 23, 2024, 5:36 p.m.
By
Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
CLEVELAND — Rafael Devers was supposed to return to the Red Sox’ lineup Tuesday as Boston opens a three-game series against the Guardians at Progressive Field. Instead, he’s once again out due to a bone bruise in his left knee, marking the sixth straight game he’ll miss.
Manager Alex Cora said Devers is now expected to return Tuesday in Cleveland. With rain expected in the area throughout the night, the conditions weren’t right for a banged-up Devers to return. The teams still plan to start on time at 6:10 p.m. ET but delays are possible throughout the night.
Devers hit in a batting cage at Progressive Field before the game.
“Just one more day,” Cora said. “He’ll benefit from it, probably at DH. I told him one more day is good for him. Obviously, the conditions are gonna be tough out there, so he’ll benefit from it.
“I don’t want to push him out there and something really bad happens because he’s hesitant on one play. We cannot lose that guy.”
Also missing from the lineup is Masataka Yoshida, who is out despite the Guardians sending right-hander Ben Lively to the mound. Yoshida, who homered Saturday, also didn’t play Sunday in Pittsburgh. Cora said Yoshida wasn’t dealing with an injury and that his absence Tuesday was not health-related. The Red Sox are starting Tyler O’Neill, who was activated off the seven-day injured list after missing a week with a concussion, at DH.
“Today was tough in terms of the lineup because we wanted to put O’Neill out there but he was going to DH to ease him into the lineup,” Cora said. “Give (Yoshida) one more day. He’ll be ready to come off the bench and he’ll play tomorrow.
For the second straight game, Ceddanne Rafaela — and not Jarren Duran — is leading off for the Red Sox. He’s at shortstop with Bobby Dalbec at first base and Pablo Reyes playing third. Duran is the center fielder.
Tanner Houck, who held the Guardians to three hits in a complete game shutout in his last outing Wednesday, is on the mound.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 23, 2024 17:03:11 GMT -5
Well looks like they are about to start
Woo is in Toledo this week and they were rained out and it is heading to Cleveland
sucks about Casas, could be a month or 2.....
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 23, 2024 17:17:48 GMT -5
O'Neil with a 2 out single in the 1rst
and it was no cheap hit, thing was struck
NESN feed tonight, however Middlebrooks who I enjoy is in the booth
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 23, 2024 18:35:24 GMT -5
Great pitching tonight from both starters
And Abreu breaks thru with a dinger to RF in the 7th
1-0 Red Sox
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