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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 26, 2024 19:09:40 GMT -5
More of the same in the 3rd and Reyes with a throwing error, Dalbec should of got one as well at 1B anyway
3-0 Cubs
Love hearing the boos
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 26, 2024 19:11:50 GMT -5
O'Neil takes one over CF wall
3-1 Cubs
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 26, 2024 19:29:21 GMT -5
Death by singles again Can't wait for the articles on Saturday Cubs now up 4-1 in the 5th
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 26, 2024 19:51:33 GMT -5
Reyes stands 2 in the 6th swinging at shit
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 26, 2024 19:54:43 GMT -5
Cora/ Analytic team waving the white flag Joehl Rodriguez in the 7th
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 26, 2024 20:00:12 GMT -5
5-1 and counting that is it for me[/font]
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 27, 2024 5:41:54 GMT -5
Shota Imanaga continues impressive MLB start, raising record to 4-0 as Cubs beat Red Sox 7-1 AP
BOSTON (AP) Shota Imanaga continued an impressive start to his major league career by pitching one-run ball into the seventh inning to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 7-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.
Signed to a $53 million, four-year deal during the offseason after an eight-year, professional career in Japan, the 30-year-old Imanaga (4-0) beat Boston right-hander Kutter Crawford in a matchup of two pitchers with impressive ERAs.
“Just more of the same,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said of his left-hander. “Just attacking the strike zone. Again, No. 1, just in the strike zone. That's how he pitches every single time. ... By being in the strike zone so much you start to get hitters that start to get aggressive on him, and then he's getting some quick outs.”
Coming off a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field over the Astros, the Cubs rode a two-hit, two-RBI night by rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong for their fifth win in six games. Patrick Wisdom added a pinch-hit, two-run double.
Tyler O’Neill hit his eighth homer for the Red Sox, who fell to 3-8 in Fenway Park.
Imanaga held Boston’s offense, which has struggled at home and came in hitting just .198 in Fenway, to five hits with seven strikeouts and a walk over 6 1/3 innings, raising his ERA slightly to 0.98.
“I did have one walk, but I was able to attack the zone,” he said through a team translator.
Boston manager Alex Cora said before the game that the Red Sox had a video chat with him before he signed with Chicago.
“There's things I can talk about and things I can't talk about," Imanaga said. 'We talked about the kind of pitches I throw and how unique it is in MLB, and how I can use those pitches."
Of joining the Cubs over Boston he said: “It was really just me and talking to other guys around me, I came to a decision and I can't really talk about that.”
Crow-Armstrong got his first MLB hit, a tiebreaking two-run homer on Thursday that snapped a 0-for-16 start to his career.
Crawford (1-1) gave up four runs, three earned, on 10 hits over six innings, raising his ERA to 1.35 from a major league best 0.66.
“I can't have my head down after an outing like this,” he said. “My main goal every time I take that ball is to try and throw as many strikes as possible and attack hitters. I feel like when I look back at this outing I was able to do that.”
He allowed two runs on four hits in the second - both more than he has totaled in four of his previous five starts this season - when Chicago grabbed a 2-0 edge. He had not given up more than a run in each of his other starts.
Matt Mervis had an RBI single and Crow-Armstrong added a run-scoring single after Cora won a challenge that he wasn’t hit by a pitch, forcing him back to the plate.
Crow-Armstrong’s safety squeeze scored Dansby Swanson, making it 3-0 in the fourth. Swanson held about halfway down the line before breaking to the plate when Crawford turned his back and threw to first.
After breezing through the first 10 batters, Imanaga gave up O’Neill’s homer into the center field bleachers.
The lefty worked up in the zone - sometimes just out of it - with a fastball in the low 90 mph range and down with a sharp splitter.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cubs: Counsell had very little update on outfielder Cody Bellinger, who fractured two ribs crashing into a wall on Tuesday that landed him on the 10-day injured list a day later. “We’ve just got to get Cody symptom-free here, then we’ll go onto the next steps. That’s where we’re at right now,” he said.
Red Sox: Cora said 2B Vaughn Grissom (out since spring training with a left hamstring injury) is scheduled to play nine innings on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Saturday and Sunday in what could be “the last hurdle, probably” before he makes his season and Boston debut. … RHP Nick Pivetta (IL since April 6 with a flexor strain of his pitching elbow) is scheduled to throw live BP off the Fenway mound on Saturday.
UP NEXT
Cubs: RHP Ben Brown (0-0, 3.72 ERA) is set to start Saturday.
Red Sox: RHP Josh Winckowski (1-1, 4.20 ERA) is scheduled to start the second of the three-game series.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 27, 2024 5:50:20 GMT -5
Crawford's shakiest start still quality: 'If that's the bad one, we'll take it' 12:45 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne ;
BOSTON -- Entering Friday night with the best ERA (0.66) in the Major Leagues, Kutter Crawford seemed positioned to match zeros with Cubs rookie lefty Shota Imanaga, who has been marvelous in his transition from Japan.
While Imanaga -- who drew some interest from the Red Sox in the offseason -- continued his domination, Crawford had enough of a hiccup for the duel not to live up to expectations in his team’s 7-1 loss to Chicago at Fenway Park.
Clearly, the Red Sox would have preferred for Crawford to continue his early-season dominance. But in a way, the right-hander transformed a negative into a positive by turning in a quality start (six innings, 10 hits, three earned runs, no walks, four strikeouts) on a night he was grinding and also a victim of some soft contact that turned into good fortune for the Cubs.
“I think stuff was down,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “But like I told him, ‘If that's the bad one, we'll take it.’ That outing [last year], it was probably 4 1/3, five runs, us going to the bullpen and putting us in a bad spot the rest of the weekend. And he battled through six [tonight].”
For sure, six was the most important number for Crawford on Friday. Boston’s rotation depleted by injuries, Crawford prevented it from being a taxing night for the bullpen which is important with Josh Winckowski, who is still being stretched out, due to start on Saturday.
“All in all, I felt like I pitched pretty well,” Crawford said. “Some things didn’t go my way behind me as far as making a pitch and a guy hitting it off his fist over second base or hitting a gapper off a splitter down the right-field line.
“But overall, I can’t have my head down on a night like this. My main goal every time I take that ball is to try to throw as many strikes as possible and attack hitters, and I feel like when I look back at this outing, I was able to do that.”
The truth is that the righty simply didn’t have much margin facing Imanaga (0.98 ERA in five MLB starts). The Cubs lefty’s only blemish was a rocket solo homer to center by Tyler O’Neill in the fourth inning.
“Good split finger,” O’Neill said of Imanaga. “He was able to control the fastball. He didn’t show me any breaking balls today. But you know, he’s a good pitcher.”
Imanaga has been better than good so far, and the Red Sox saw it first-hand against a pitcher they courted in the offseason. Cora was involved in the Zoom meeting Boston’s brass had with Imanaga.
“I think he’s doing the things that we envisioned,” said Cora. “We talk about those meetings, and it's fun because you show the pitcher or the position player how we see him. There's a lot of cool stuff -- KinaTrax and all that. We show them what we do here, how we can help you maximize your talents.
“I think what they’re doing is pretty similar to the plan that we had. It’s a good fastball. We were talking about it today. I know everybody was talking about [Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu] Yamamoto, but this guy is good, too. It was a cool meeting, but now he’s with the Cubs.”
While a fair share of Japanese pitchers and position players have taken time to adjust to the Major Leagues, Imanaga has hit the ground running.
“It’s really impressive,” said Crawford. “Honestly, that’s a big adjustment coming from Japan to play in the big leagues here, and he’s doing a good job. He’s a good pitcher, throws a lot of strikes, changes speeds real well, and he’s done a really good job so far.”
Crawford can say the same about his season to date. Once again, he showcased a full mix, throwing 29 cutters, 29 four-seamers, 13 sweepers, nine splitters and five knuckle curves. He generated 12 swings and misses.
“He was awesome,” O’Neill said of Crawford. “He always gives us a chance to win when he goes out there. They were just finding holes out there, stringing some singles together. A couple good at-bats by them today. Too bad we couldn’t do a better job on our end.”
The Red Sox are eager to buck an early-season trend of not playing well at Fenway Park, where they are 3-8, compared to 11-5 on the road.
“We’re still over .500 [overall],” O’Neill said. “Obviously, we want to be better than that, but tomorrow is a new day.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 27, 2024 5:51:36 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Grissom could debut in SF series April 26th, 2024
MLB.com LATEST NEWS
April 26: 2B Vaughn Grissom (right hamstring strain) could return against Giants The activation of Grissom at last seems in sight. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that the plan is for the second baseman to play nine innings on Saturday and Sunday in Minor League rehab games for Triple-A Worcester at Toledo. If that goes well, there's a chance he could make his debut for the Red Sox during the three-game series at Fenway against the Giants that starts on April 30. Grissom arrived at Spring Training with a left hamstring injury and also dealt with soreness in his left groin.
"This is kind of like the last hurdle probably as far as time. We're almost there," said Cora. "So he's doing good. Took off a few times to steal bases, which means that he's feeling great. He's playing good defense, putting together some good at-bats. It feels like it's getting close."
April 26: RHP Nick Pivetta (right elbow flexor strain) could return for Braves series Pivetta, who has been on the injured list since April 6, is scheduled to throw roughly 50 pitches of live batting practice at Fenway Park on Saturday. If that goes well, he could make a Minor League rehab start by May 2 and perhaps be back in Boston's injury-depleted rotation for the two-game series in Atlanta that begins on May 7.
• All Red Sox transactions 10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
2B Vaughn Grissom (right hamstring strain) Expected return: Late April/early May Grissom will play nine innings for Triple-A Worcester on April 26-27, and the Red Sox could activate him as early as the series against the Giants that starts on April 30. Position players are allotted 20 days on a rehab stint, and Grissom's is set to expire on May 1. (Last updated: April 26)
RHP Nick Pivetta (right elbow flexor strain) Expected return: May After Pivetta was diagnosed with a flexor strain in his right elbow, the Red Sox placed the righty on the injured list, retroactive to April 6. Pivetta threw his first bullpen session on April 20 at PNC Park, and he's slated to throw a live batting practice at Fenway Park on April 27. The next step should be a Minor League rehab start. Pivetta could be positioned to rejoin the Red Sox during their series in Atlanta on May 7-8. (Last updated: April 26)
RHP Garrett Whitlock (left oblique strain) Expected return: Some point in May Whitlock still is waiting for all of the symptoms of his injury to subside. Until that happens, he will only throw off flat ground. The key step will be when he feels well enough to throw off the mound. The righty had a 1-0 record and a 1.96 ERA in four starts before the injury. (Last updated: April 26)
INF/OF Romy Gonzalez (left wrist sprain) Expected return: TBD Gonzalez was placed on the IL on April 13, retroactive to April 11, with a sprained left wrist. An MRI taken on April 17 showed no structural damage. After nearly two weeks of minimal progress, Gonzalez finally seemed to be turning a corner as of April 26.
"Romy finally feels good today," manager Alex Cora said on April 26. "He had an injection a few days ago where it bothers him. But as far as the other stuff, the wrist, he's feeling a lot better. This is kind of changing in two days. Two days [ago], when he texted me, I was like, ‘Oof, this is not going the right way.’ And it feels better." (Last updated: April 26)
1B Triston Casas (torn cartilage in left rib cage) Expected return: TBD Casas suffered torn cartilage in his left rib cage fouling off a 3-1 pitch on April 20, and he is going to miss a significant portion of time. Doctors told Casas the injury could take anywhere from three to nine weeks to fully heal. Casas had one of the best starts offensively for the Red Sox this season, hitting three doubles and six homers with a .857 OPS in 22 games. (Last updated: April 26)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 27, 2024 5:58:25 GMT -5
Red Sox want struggling rookie (.163 batting average) to take ‘baby steps’
Updated: Apr. 26, 2024, 7:13 p.m.|Published: Apr. 26, 2024, 6:57 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — The Red Sox expected Ceddanne Rafaela to struggle some offensively early on because of his aggressiveness. But the rookie looks lost the plate right now. He’s just 14-for-86 (.163) with a .204 on-base percentage, .279 slugging percentage and .483 OPS in 26 games.
His 41.4% chase percentage is in the third percentile among major league hitters. Keep Watching 5 Aaron Judge's Struggles & Fan Reactions: An Analysis
Manager Alex Cora said Rafaela is not only chasing but also missing pitches in the zone.
“Both. Everything. It’s not that we’re worried but we have to help him get back to who he is,” Cora said before Boston’s game against the Cubs at Fenway Park on Friday. “I think he did a good job in spring training not missing his pitches in the zone. Whenever he got something he could handle in the zone, he put a good swing on it. That’s spring training, right? Now scouting reports are going to come into play, tendencies, trends.”
Red Sox hitting coaches are trying to take a simple day-by-day, week-by-week approach with Rafaela.
“This is our guy. This guy’s going to be here. How are we going to help him to be better this week?” Cora said. “Let’s not talk about next month or the whole season. Let’s take it series by series, at-bat per at-bat and hopefully we can get him there.”
Rafaela is in the fourth percentile in both expected weighted on base-percentage (.239) and average exit velocity (84.2 mph). He’s in the ninth percentile in both expected batting average (.196) and walk percentage (4.3%). He’s in the 12th percentile in hard hit percentage (29.0%). His 31.7% whiff percentage ranks in the 19th percentile and his 28% strikeout percentage is in the 23rd percentile.
“As of right now, it’s baby steps. Step by step,” Cora said.
Cora was pleased with the two-strike contact Rafaela made Thursday in Cleveland. Rafaela connected on an 80.6 mph 1-2 slider for an RBI groundout to second base in the sixth inning.
“He had second and third with two strikes and he made sure he made contact,” Cora said. “And we made sure we celebrated that because that’s what winning baseball is. Do we want him to hit homers and run around? Of course. But you have to take it step by step.”
Cora said he also liked Rafaela’s at-bats against hard-throwing Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase.
“His best swings, ironic enough, this season have been against Clase,” Cora said. “And I think he tried to hit the ball the other way. And this guy is throwing 99 (mph). He can hit the ball to right-center. But we have to get him there. I think little by little, he’s been feeling comfortable. He had a good game yesterday. He was a little bit out of control but that’s youth.”
The Red Sox have worked with Rafaela on his pregame (pre-series) preparation.
“We have to support the player,” Cora said. “We have to help him. There’s adjustments that we have done as far as like preparation, watching video, studying pitchers.”
Cora said it’s important to be patient with Rafaela and Boston’s other young hitters.
“It’s really hard to hit there right now,” Cora said. “Guys have four-seamers, cutters and sinkers at 95, 96. So from our end, all we can do is keep teaching them, helping them out, win the little battles. And then hopefully it unlocks and he is the player we envisioned.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 27, 2024 6:00:41 GMT -5
Red Sox DH has acted like ‘pro’ despite limited ABs, should return Saturday
Updated: Apr. 26, 2024, 10:52 p.m.|Published: Apr. 26, 2024, 10:51 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Manager Alex Cora said after the Red Sox’ 7-1 loss to the Cubs on Friday that Rafael Devers is ready to play third base Saturday.
It will be Devers’ first game in the field since April 16 when he left in the eighth inning because of a bone bruise in his left knee. Devers missed five straight games before returning as the DH on Wednesday. He has started in the DH spot each of the past three games, including Friday when he went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
Cora also confirmed that Masataka Yoshida will return to the DH role with Devers heading back to third base. Yoshida has not started a game since Saturday.
The Red Sox started Tyler Heineman at DH on Sunday, then had Tyler O’Neill in the DH spot Tuesday when he returned from the 7-day IL (concussion).
Cora has insisted that Yoshida is still the everyday DH despite his lack of playing time. He said Yoshida has sat simply because of the Red Sox wanting to ease O’Neill and Devers back from their injuries in the DH spot.
Cora said Yoshida — who is batting only .233 — has handled the situation “excellent.”
“Like a pro, man,” Cora said. “He’s great. He understands. We talk on a daily basis. This is not like I send the lineup out and I don’t talk to the players. We’re in constant communication. And he understands that when Tyler came back, he needed to DH. And with Raffy obviously he understands that.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 27, 2024 6:02:16 GMT -5
As FA target holds them to one run, Red Sox can only think what might have been
Published: Apr. 26, 2024, 11:01 p.m.
By
Sean McAdam | sean.mcadam@masslive.com
BOSTON — The top Japanese pitching free agent of last winter may have been Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but in truth, the Red Sox probably had a better chance of landing lefty Shota Imanaga.
The Red Sox were said to be aggressive in their pursuit of Imanaga and met with him via Zoom. According to the Boston Globe, they offered a two-year $26 million deal with an additional two vesting options. The Chicago Cubs trumped that offer, giving Imanaga a four-year $53 million contract. The Red Sox’ proposal actually featured more guaranteed money for the first two years, but the Cubs’ willingness to go to four guaranteed years sealed the deal.
After coming up short in January, the Red Sox did so again Friday night, falling to Imanaga and the Cubs, 7-1.
Imanaga was brilliant over 6.1 innings, allowing a single run on five hits — two of them of the infield variety. He improved to 4-0 with a 0.98 ERA through his first five MLB starts.
“More of the same,” gushed Cubs manager Craig Counsell of Imanaga. “Just attacking the strike zone and, again, in the strike zone with competitive pitches every single time. By being in the strike zone so much, you get hitters who start to be aggressive on him, and he’s getting some quick outs. He was in the seventh inning with less than 80 pitches, which is awesome.”
Imanaga retired the first 10 Red Sox hitters he faced before Tyler O’Neill tagged him for a homer into the center field bleachers. A walk and single followed, but Imanaga pitched out of that threat and after the fourth, allowed just two more singles before being removed with one out in the seventh inning.
Imanaga lacks the overpowering stuff of Yamamoto, but he thrives by changing speeds and pitching with precise command, keeping hitters off-balance.
He acknowledged that the Red Sox were among the first teams to contact him after he was posted in the free agent process. He proved somewhat inscrutable when it came to the details.
“There’s things I can talk about and things I can’t talk about,” Imanaga began, as he spoke with the aid of a translator. “But we talked about what kind of pitches I throw and then how unique it is, especially in MLB. And how I can use those pitches.”
Imanaga was intrigued by the Red Sox, but ultimately opted for the longer deal from the Cubs.
“Both teams, the Cubs and the Red Sox, have a lot of tradition, a lot of history,” Imanaga said. “(But) it was really just me and talking to other guys around me and I came to the decision. But I can’t really talk about that.”
The pitcher was asked if, during his preparation for his first start at Fenway, he allowed himself to think about what might have happened had he taken Boston’s offer and become a member of the Red Sox. His answer provided little sentimentality, or even any second-guessing of his choice.
“That’s a hard question, just because I’m on the Cubs,” said Imanga. “It’s something that’s not really a possibility because I’m on the Cubs, so....”
For now, it would appear the Sox’ loss is the Cubs’ gain. He’s been their best pitcher in the face of injuries to fellow starters Kyle Hendricks and Justin Steele.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 27, 2024 6:05:52 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats Joely Rodriguez now has 4 meltdowns in 11 appearances. His win probability added ranks 246th/225 MLB relievers.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 27, 2024 6:16:19 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Red Sox will miss Triston Casas for weeks, if not months, with chest injury he described as ‘a car crash within my body’ By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated April 26, 2024, 7:42 p.m.
Though Triston Casas was told he didn’t actually suffer a rib fracture, his timeline for returning from what he described as a cartilage injury will be measured in weeks, and perhaps months.
Casas said he initially experienced pain in his rib cage when swinging at a pitch from Cleveland starter Ben Lively in a game at Fenway on April 17. He tried to play through the condition, but another swing on April 20 in Pittsburgh was accompanied by pain that was too sharp to continue.
“There’s the ribcage and then there’s the sternum, and there’s pieces of cartilage that are in between those that connect the two. And that was what was torn, was the cartilage,” said Casas.
The doctor examining Casas said such injuries are more commonly seen in hockey and football players following collisions, and expressed surprise Casas suffered the cartilage damage solely based on swinging.
“He pretty much chalked it up to me being so big, rotating so fast so many times that I pretty much created a car crash within my body, and it was a matter of time before this happened,” said Casas. “He said it was something similar to a pitcher needing Tommy John, just an inevitable thing that was going to happen sooner or later.”
Casas — who said it remains painful to breathe, thus rendering any cardio or strength training impossible — said he will require “a lot of rest to help it heal.” The medical team he saw offered numerous possibilities for the duration of his recovery.
“They said anywhere from three weeks to six weeks to nine weeks, they don’t know,” said Casas. “It’s just depending on how my body is feeling. But for right now, I’m still in pain to breath.”
Though Casas expressed frustration about an injury that came at a time when he was heating up at the plate — in the 14 games preceding the Lively at-bat, he hit .314/.407/.667 with five homers — he took some solace in what he views as a certainty he’ll return this season.
“Very optimistic,” he said of playing again in 2024. “I’m feeling better right now with movement every single day . . . I’m happy about where I’m at compared to where I was feeling five days [ago]. So hopefully I keep getting better every day. That’s the plan, and hit the ground running right when I get off the IL. So, yeah, I anticipate playing for a good amount of the season.” Grissom getting close
Second baseman Vaughn Grissom — acquired from Atlanta this winter in a trade for Chris Sale — could make his Red Sox debut as soon as Tuesday. Grissom is slated to play nine innings on both Saturday and Sunday with Triple A Worcester.
“This is kind of like the last hurdle, probably,” said Sox manager Alex Cora. “We’re almost there.”
If the weekend goes well, Grissom could be activated Tuesday for the start of a home series against the Giants. The 23-year-old is hitting .227/.346/.318 in a seven-game rehab assignment with the WooSox, including a .333/.474/.467 line in his last five games. The Sox have also been pleased with his work at second base — a relatively new position — where they have seen Grissom demonstrate a hunger to learn.
“He wants to do it right. That’s something people are going to enjoy about him,” said Cora. “Very good kid, humble kid, but hungry. And I think that’s the way he plays, too. So it should be fun.” Devers still at DH
Rafael Devers served as DH for the third straight game in Friday’s 7-1 loss to the Cubs, thus leaving Masataka Yoshida on the bench for a fifth straight game. Cora said Devers — recovering from a bone bruise in his knee — will be back at third base on Saturday, with Yoshida returning to the lineup as DH.
With lefty Shota Imanaga starting for the Cubs, Wilyer Abreu was also on the bench. Pivetta going live
Nick Pivetta (flexor strain) is scheduled to face hitters in a 50-pitch live batting practice session Saturday. Barring a setback, he’d likely follow with a minor league rehab start next week . . . Righthander Garrett Whitlock (left oblique) is throwing on flat ground, but has yet to be cleared to throw off a mound . . . Infielder Romy Gonzalez (wrist sprain) has improved significantly since receiving a cortisone injection this week . . . The Red Sox signed righthander Sal Romano to a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple A Worcester. Romano, a Southington, Conn., native, spent parts of five years in the big leagues with the Reds and Yankees from 2017-21. He elected to retire in spring training in 2022, but that decision proved short-lived, with Romano returning to pitch for the independent Gastonia Honey Hunters last year.
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow spent time before the game catching up with several members of the Cubs, with whom he worked from 2019-23 . . . Cubs first-base coach Mike Napoli, an iconic member of the Red Sox’ 2013 World Series team, received a hero’s welcome . . . Actor and Maine native Patrick Dempsey threw out the first pitch in recognition of the work of the Dempsey Center, offering treatment and support to Mainers with cancer . . . Prior to the game, there was a moment of silence to honor former Red Sox player Dave McCarty, who passed away last week at age 54.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 27, 2024 6:21:55 GMT -5
Chicago Cubs vs.Boston Red Sox Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 4:10pm EDT Written by Michael Briggs
The Boston Red Sox will host the Chicago Cubs on Saturday at Fenway Park. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET.
Chicago (16-9 SU, 17-8 RL, and 11-14 O/U) will likely use an opener for Saturday's game, as it was supposed to be Kyle Hendricks' (back injury) turn in the rotation. The Cubs have options, including Ben Brown and Hayden Wesneski, per beat reporter Tony Andracki.
Boston (14-12 SU, 14-12 RL, and 11-13-2 O/U) is countering with right-hander Josh Winckowski. The 25-year-old is 1-1 with a 4.20 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in eight outings (one start) this year.
*Article published before the conclusion of Friday night's game.
Injury Report
Cubs: CF Cody Bellinger (.226 BA/.320 OBP/.760 OPS) is out indefinitely with injured ribs.
Red Sox: 3B Triston Casas (.244 BA/.344 OBP/.857 OPS) is out indefinitely with injured ribs.
Will Chicago compete for a division title in 2024? Chicago arrived in Boston on the heels of a sweep of Houston. The Cubs outscored the Astros 14-6 in the three-game set. Will they sustain their momentum in Beantown?
Chicago ranks 7th in OBP (.328), 7th in OPS (.738), 6th in home runs (28), and 6th in RBI (123). The Cubbies pitching staff sports a 3.82 ERA (12th) and 1.26 WHIP (14th).
The visitors are expected to use an opener on Saturday following Hendricks' injury. The 24-year-old Brown has appeared in six games and made two starts this season, posting a 3.72 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 19.1 innings. He was roughed up in his first appearance but responded by holding his next five opponents to two combined runs with 17 Ks in 17.2 IP. Wesneski has earned two wins in his two appearances versus Arizona and Houston. He has allowed just one hit and hasn't surrendered a run or a walk in his 6.1 innings. Boston has held up well despite several injuries After sweeping Pittsburgh, Boston lost some of its momentum in Cleveland, losing two of three games to the Guardians. The Red Sox return home two games over .500 and just three games out of first place in the AL East despite various setbacks to its lineup and starting rotation. Can they hold their pace against the Cubbies?
Boston ranks 17th in OBP (.310), 12th in OPS (.712), 2nd in home runs (33), and 12th in RBI (110). The Red Sox pitching staff boasts a 2.60 ERA (1st) and 1.13 WHIP (3rd) this season.
Winckowski will toe the slab for the Sox on Saturday at Fenway. The third-year pro appeared in 60 games (one start) last year, posting a 2.88 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 84.1 innings. In his most recent appearance, he served as the club's opener, holding the Pirates to one run on three hits in 3.1 innings. Boston's bullpen sports a 3.40 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 101 strikeouts.
Cubs at Red Sox Saturday, at 4:10 PM EST Partly Cloudy It's expected to be 62° F with a 0% chance of precipitation and 11 MPH wind blowing right to left in Boston at 4:10 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com
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