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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 6, 2024 5:28:06 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox vs.Chicago White Sox
Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 8:10pm EDT Written by The Tower
It'll be all about socks in the south side of Chicago this weekend. The Boston Red Sox (31-31; 17-13 away) are taking on the Chicago White Sox (15-46; 10-21 home), starting with a Thursday night tilt. At 8:10 p.m. EDT, this series is getting underway from Guaranteed Rate Field. Last season, the (White) Sox won both series against Boston. Will 2024 be similar?
(Published before Chicago's game on Wednesday)
Boston Battling For a Wild-Card Spot The Red Sox left home after trouncing the Braves 9-0. Although the offensive outburst was nice, it was more welcoming to see the pitching staff return to form. This team is fifth in staff ERA, the main reason that they're in playoff contention. Tanner Houck (1.85 ERA) has been phenomenal and will try to keep the ball rolling. Houck leads qualified MLB pitchers in FIP (2.15) and HR/9 (0.1). He has led the Red Sox to a win in three straight games without allowing more than one run in any of them. Houck is backed by a bullpen that's third in FIP and WAR. How will they fare in Chicago?
At the plate, this year's Red Sox have been feast or famine. The overall product is a team tied for 10th in runs per game with 4.44. Boston's bats are 14th in batting average, 13th in OBP, and ninth in slugging percentage. They're 10th in stolen bases. However, the Red Sox are also in MLB's bottom third for walk percentage and strikeout percentage. Despite Fenway Park's hitter-friendly dimensions, Boston's team OPS jumps to .738 on the road. Let's see if they bash in the Windy City.
What Can Go Wrong... The White Sox, losers of 11 straight, took a 5-0 lead into a rain delay against the slumping Cubs. A two-run double sent Chicago's AL franchise home with a 12th consecutive loss. So it goes for the worst team in baseball. A positive from that game is that Luis Robert Jr.'s return helped the White Sox score at least three runs for the fourth game in a row. This team is the only one in the majors averaging fewer than 3.60 runs per game (2.92). Chicago is last in scoring, batting average, OBP, slugging percentage, and home runs. They're 29th in walk percentage and 22nd in strikeout percentage. Will they stay on a heater?
Pitching hasn't been much better, as evidenced by the five-run blown lead on Tuesday. No team has given up more homers, and only one pitching staff issues walks more frequently. Their bullpen is bottom-five in ERA, FIP, and WAR. So, the pressure is on Jake Woodford to put together a strong start. His only start of 2024 ended after 4.1 innings pitched and three runs allowed. For his career, Woodford has a 4.33 ERA, 4.89 FIP, and 1.376 WHIP. What does Thursday have in store?
Red Sox at White Sox Thursday, at 8:10 PM EST Partly Cloudy It's expected to be 70° F with a 1% chance of precipitation and 18 MPH wind blowing out in Chicago at 8:10 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 6, 2024 5:31:35 GMT -5
Probables for rest of series
Friday, 8pm, Criswell 3-2/ 3.92 vs Crochat 5-5/ 3.49
Saturday, 4pm, Bello 6-2/ 4.36 vs Nastrini 0-5/ 9.74
Sunday, 2pm, TBD vs Flexin 2-5/ 5.19
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 6, 2024 5:37:42 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: O'Neill activated; Martin to IL; Kelly recalled June 5th, 2024
MLB.com
LATEST NEWS
June 5: OF Tyler O'Neill activated from 10-day IL; C Tyler Heineman optioned to Triple-A Worcester Given how banged up the Red Sox have been of late, the fact O'Neill was activated after serving the minimum 10 days on the injured list with right knee inflammation was a significant development. O'Neill was immediately thrust into Boston's lineup for Wednesday's getaway game against the Braves, batting fifth and playing right field.
O'Neill started the season red-hot, then was shut down for a week after suffering a concussion on April 15 against the Guardians. In 100 at-bats after coming back from the concussion, O'Neill struggled to find consistency at the plate, producing a batting line of .200/.279/.380 with four homers and nine RBIs. He went 0-for-15 with 10 strikeouts in his final three games before going on the IL with the knee injury. Heineman was on the roster for just a day before being sent down.
June 5: RHP Zack Kelly recalled from Triple-A Worcester; RHP Chris Martin placed on 15-day injured list (retroactive to June 2) due to anxiety Martin, one of Boston's most trusted relievers the past two seasons, revealed to the organization last weekend that he's been dealing with symptoms related to anxiety. The 38-year-old righty last pitched for the Red Sox on May 30. In interviews with the media on Wednesday, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and manager Alex Cora both expressed support for Martin and applauded him for being open about his condition.
"He felt like it was manifesting in some physical ways that were keeping him from competing at the level that he's used to in terms of fatigue and energy and recovery and sleep and some of those types of things," Breslow said. "I think we should applaud Chris' willingness to speak up and confront this challenge head-on."
DH Masataka Yoshida (left thumb strain) Expected return: Some point in June Yoshida is making steady progress and is expected to start a Minor League rehab assignment as early as June 7. He has been taking live batting practice in recent days. Yoshida has been on the injured list since April 29. (Last updated: June 5)
OF Wilyer Abreu (right ankle sprain) Expected return: Later in June In a freak injury, Abreu stumbled on the dugout steps while coming in after an inning on June 2 and suffered a right ankle sprain that led to his placement on the injured list. Abreu has been one of the best all-around players on the Red Sox this season, hitting .272/.344/.485 with six homers, 14 doubles and 22 RBIs while playing excellent defense in right field. Abreu saw a foot specialist, and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said nothing was revealed beyond the initial diagnosis of a sprain.
"It’s just a sprain. It’s kind of a matter of tolerance in terms of the timeline here and hopefully he’ll be back soon, but sprained ankles can be finicky," said Breslow. (Last updated: June 5)
2B Vaughn Grissom (right hamstring strain) Expected return: TBD Grissom, who missed the first 32 games of the season with a left hamstring strain, injured his right hamstring running out a grounder to third base on June 1. The right-handed hitter underwent an MRI that revealed a mild strain.
"Obviously enough that we needed to put him on the IL," said Breslow. "We need to make sure that we're addressing what is pulling on the hamstring or whatever potentially is underlying and contributing to the hamstring injuries. But we'll kind of work to rehab him and get him on the field as soon as we can." (Last updated: June 5)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 6, 2024 6:00:41 GMT -5
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 6, 2024 8:03:34 GMT -5
White Sox look to avoid making history vs. Red Sox FLM
The Chicago White Sox will attempt to end a 13-game losing streak Thursday when they open a four-game series against the visiting Boston Red Sox.
The latest loss came when Mike Tauchman's home run in the ninth inning gave the Chicago Cubs a 7-6 victory Wednesday night. With the defeat, the White Sox tied a century-old mark, joining the 1924 team with a single-season franchise record for consecutive losses at 13.
The White Sox led 5-3 until the Cubs scored three runs in the seventh. The White Sox were up 5-0 on the Cubs Tuesday before losing 7-6, and in the past five games, the White Sox have squandered leads of at least two runs.
Before the latest loss, White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said he was not worried about his job security despite speculation that he could be fired.
"That's part of the job, right?" he said. "I don't focus on that stuff. It's a part of the job. We're not winning. So when you're not winning, speculation gets higher and higher. It's a part of what we do. We get signed up to win baseball games. And when you don't, there's always a possibility of a change being made."
The White Sox rank last among MLB teams in many offensive categories, including team batting average (.217) and OPS (.615). Chicago's pitching staff also owns the American League's highest ERA (4.94) and given up 295 earned runs, far outpacing the 184 put on the board by the offense.
Right-hander Tanner Houck (5-5, 1.85 ERA) is scheduled to start on the mound for Boston. Houck has pitched at least six innings and allowed no more than one earned run in eight of his 12 starts this season. He allowed one run on three hits, walked two and struck out six over seven innings in his most recent start, a 7-3 victory against the Detroit Tigers on Friday.
"He's one of the best pitchers in the big leagues," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "Every outing, he's giving us a chance to win. Changing speeds, throwing strikes with his split. Lefties, righties, it really doesn't matter right now."
Houck has struggled against the White Sox during his career, however. He's 0-3 with a 5.93 ERA in four games (three starts) against Chicago.
Righty Jake Woodford (0-1, 6.23 ERA) is listed as Chicago's probable starter. Woodford has never faced the Red Sox.
Boston's Rafael Devers homered twice during Wednesday's 9-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves. He has 13 home runs this season, including a home run in six straight games from May 15-20. Cora insists Devers wasn't "locked in" at the plate then but has been lately.
"He's using the whole field, not chasing pitches, hitting the ball the other way - that's locked in," Cora said. "He went on a hot streak, hitting six home runs in six days, which is awesome and we celebrated that, but now he's very dangerous.
"He's playing a good third base, too. He made a play today to the backhand side that was nice to see. It's been fun to watch."
Despite Wednesday's win, Boston has a 5-7 record in its last 12 games.
"We gotta go," Cora said. "We gotta play. We have four in Chicago. Just put good at-bats and pitch well. Hopefully win the series. We got Monday off, then we got the Phillies and Yankees. We just gotta play better baseball. That's the bottom line."
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 6, 2024 10:57:15 GMT -5
Game 63: Red Sox at White Sox lineups and notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated June 6, 2024, 2 hours ago Things could not have gone much better for the Red Sox in their finale against the Braves. The 9-0 win on a picture perfect day at Fenway moved the club back to .500, with 100 games remaining in the season. That’s not really a traditional benchmark, but it’s … something. Anywho, the Red Sox will look to build on that win when they head to Chicago for a four-game series with the White Sox, who own the worst record in MLB and are 32 games below .500. A 7-6 loss to the Cubs Wednesday extended their losing streak to 13 games, which tied the 1924 team for the single-season record for most consecutive losses. Tanner Houck will take the mound in hopes of ensuring the White Sox set a record for futility in Thursday’s opener. In his most recent outing, a 7-3 win over the Tigers last Friday, Houck allowed one run on three hits in seven innings. Here is a preview. Lineups RED SOX (31-31): Duran CF Valdez 2B Refsynder RF Devers 3B O'Neill DH Smith, D 1B Wong C Hamilton SS Rafaela CF Pitching: RHP Tanner Houck (5-5, 1.85 ERA) WHITE SOX (15-47): Zach DeLoach (L) LF Nicky Lopez (L) 2B Luis Robert Jr. (R) DH Gavin Sheets (L) RF Andrew Vaughn (R) 1B Paul DeJong (R) SS Korey Lee (R) C Lenyn Sosa (R) 3B Duke Ellis (L) CF Pitching: RHP Jake Woodford (0-1, 6.23 ERA) Time: 8:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Woodford: Dominic Smith 1-2 White Sox vs. Houck: Martín Maldonado 1-1, Danny Mendick 0-0, Luis Robert Jr. 1-7, Gavin Sheets 0-3, Andrew Vaughn 1-2 Stat of the day: In his last 11 games, Rafael Devers is hitting .395/.422/.644 with three homers among seven extra-base hits. Notes: Houck has pitched at least six innings and allowed no more than one earned run in eight of his 12 starts this season. He is 0-3 with a 5.93 ERA in four games (three starts) against Chicago. … Jarren Duran leads the majors with nine triples, and are the most by a member of the Red Sox in a single season since Jacoby Ellsbury had 10 in 2009. No other player in the league has more than six this season. … The White Sox rank last in MLB in many offensive categories, including team batting average (.217) and OPS (.615). The pitching staff also owns the American League’s highest ERA (4.94) and has given up 295 earned runs, far outpacing the 184 put on the board by the offense. … Woodford is making his first appearance against the Red Sox. Song of the Day: Chicago - 25 or 6 to 4 www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9YCg1uQ0ow
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 6, 2024 13:25:20 GMT -5
Red Sox roster move: Reliever reinstated from IL, optioned to Worcester
Published: Jun. 06, 2024, 12:31 p.m.
By
Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
The Red Sox have reinstated right-handed reliever Isaiah Campbell from the 15-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Worcester.
Campbell went on the injured list April 12 with a right shoulder impingement.
Boston acquired the 26-year-old from Seattle in November. He made the Opening Day roster and allowed one run in his first five outings (4 ⅓ innings). But he then gave up nine runs (eight earned) in his next two outings (2 innings) before landing on the IL.
Campbell made six rehab appearances for Worcester. He allowed one run (no earned runs) on three hits and two walks while striking out eight in 6 ⅓ innings.
Boston has had 18 players combine for 21 injured list stints this year. Boston right now has 12 players on the injured list, including six pitchers: Garrett Whitlock (elbow surgery), Chris Martin (anxiety), Lucas Giolito (elbow surgery), Bryan Mata (right hamstring strain, oblique), Chris Murphy (Tommy John surgery) and Liam Hendriks (rehabbing from Tommy John surgery).
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Post by Kimmi on Jun 6, 2024 14:11:56 GMT -5
Probables for rest of series
Friday, 8pm, Criswell 3-2/ 3.92 vs Crochat 5-5/ 3.49
Saturday, 4pm, Bello 6-2/ 4.36 vs Nastrini 0-5/ 9.74
Sunday, 2pm, TBD vs Flexin 2-5/ 5.19 We should be able to take at least 3 out of 4 from the White Sox. That said, you can't take any team for granted. After this series, we play the Phillies and the Yankees at home. Yikes. I might crawl under my rock and stay there for a while.
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Post by Kimmi on Jun 6, 2024 14:14:38 GMT -5
The injury hits keep on coming. It's really quite amazing that the Sox are still treading water. Our starting pitching has kept us there. Pivetta has been inconsistent, but when he is on, he is really, really good.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Jun 6, 2024 20:47:31 GMT -5
Probables for rest of series
Friday, 8pm, Criswell 3-2/ 3.92 vs Crochat 5-5/ 3.49
Saturday, 4pm, Bello 6-2/ 4.36 vs Nastrini 0-5/ 9.74
Sunday, 2pm, TBD vs Flexin 2-5/ 5.19 We should be able to take at least 3 out of 4 from the White Sox. That said, you can't take any team for granted. After this series, we play the Phillies and the Yankees at home. Yikes. I might crawl under my rock and stay there for a while. We really need a sweep if we want to make up some ground, but that's extremely difficult on the road, even against bad teams.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Jun 6, 2024 20:48:14 GMT -5
The injury hits keep on coming. It's really quite amazing that the Sox are still treading water. Our starting pitching has kept us there. Pivetta has been inconsistent, but when he is on, he is really, really good. I'd make him an offer. He can be quite good against anyone.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 7, 2024 5:24:52 GMT -5
Duran, Valdez homer as Red Sox hand White Sox 14th straight loss, 14-2 AP
CHICAGO (AP) Jarren Duran and Enmanuel Valdez homered, Tanner Houck pitched seven solid innings and the Boston Red Sox handed the White Sox their franchise-record 14th straight loss, beating Chicago 14-2 on Thursday night.
The White Sox surpassed a mark set by the 1924 team while extending baseball’s longest slide this season. They are a major league-worst 15-48.
Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela each had four of Boston’s season-high 24 hits. Duran got the rout started with his third career leadoff homer.
Valdez added a three-run drive against White Sox starter Jake Woodford (0-2) in the fourth and Boston scored four in the inning to go up 7-0. Pinch hitter Jamie Westbrook hit his first major league homer in the seventh, and the Red Sox rolled to another easy win after beating Atlanta 9-0 on Wednesday.
“They were relentless today, dominated the strike zone,” manager Alex Cora said. “Tanner, of course from the mound, dominant, throwing strikes, mixing it up. It was a good one.”
For the White Sox, this was about as bad as it gets. The 24 hits allowed and 12-run difference were season highs.
“It was difficult but today’s over, we can flush it and prepare to win tomorrow,” shortstop Paul DeJong said. "That’s all we can really do, is control what we can do in the moment. Right now the game’s over and let’s go home and rest and get ready to go tomorrow.”
Houck (6-5) allowed two runs and three hits, and struck out nine without a walk. The only runner the right-hander allowed through the first five innings was when he hit a batter in the second.
Houck gave up a leadoff single in the sixth to Lenyn Sosa, who scored on Zach DeLoach’s double. Andrew Vaughn homered for Chicago in the seventh.
Woodford got tagged for seven runs and 10 hits - matching a career high and setting one - in four innings.
The game marked the return to Chicago of former White Sox closer Liam Hendriks and starter Lucas Giolito, though both are working their way back from elbow surgery. The two were part of playoff teams - and the sudden decline.
“We failed,” said Hendriks, who signed with Boston after Chicago declined a $15 million option. “We failed the city. We failed the front office. We failed everyone around.”
Giolito, traded to the Los Angeles Angels last July, said his “one regret” is the White Sox failed to take advantage of a “window where we could have really done something special.”
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: DH/OF Masataka Yoshida (strained left thumb), on the IL since late April, remains on course to begin a rehab assignment this weekend, Cora said. ... The Red Sox reinstated RHP Isaiah Campbell (right shoulder impingement) from the 15-Day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Worcester.
White Sox: RHP Mike Clevinger (right elbow inflammation) will likely need multiple rehab outings before he returns to the rotation, manager Pedro Grifol said. ... Grifol said OF Eloy Jiménez (strained left hamstring) could begin a rehab assignment mid to late next week. Jiménez was hurt scoring from second in Chicago's 5-0 win at Toronto on May 21. ... 3B Yoán Moncada's recovery from a strained left adductor has been slowed, though he hasn't suffered a setback, Grifol said. Moncada, who has not played since April 9, is projected to return sometime after the All-Star break.
UP NEXT
The White Sox send LHP Garrett Crochet (5-5, 3.49 ERA) to the mound, while the Red Sox go with RHP Cooper Criswell (3-2, 3.92). Crochet is 4-1 with a 1.03 ERA in his past six starts. Criswell went five innings in a win over Detroit on Saturday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 7, 2024 5:31:08 GMT -5
'Relentless' Red Sox record season-high 24 hits in rout of White Sox 1:52 AM ADT Tim Stebbins
CHICAGO -- Those inside Guaranteed Rate Field on Thursday hardly had time to settle into their seats before the Red Sox put the game’s first tally on the scoreboard.
And in fact, Jarren Duran's leadoff home run off White Sox starter Jake Woodford’s second pitch was only the beginning for the Red Sox. Boston knocked off Chicago, 14-2, behind a persistent offensive effort.
“They were relentless today,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said.
Boston arrived in Chicago to face a White Sox team that had lost straight 13 games, dropping its record to an MLB-worst 15-47 record, entering Thursday. But for as much as Chicago has struggled, the Red Sox know better than to look past any opponent -- even with a big homestand against the Phillies and Yankees on deck.
“You gotta respect the fact that they're a big league club and they can pitch,” Cora said pregame Thursday. “You just gotta play baseball at this level. Stuff-wise, everybody's capable of going out there and shutting you down. We haven't been great. We’re a .500 team, so we cannot take anything for granted.”
Message received. Every player in Boston’s lineup tallied at least one hit, and four players had multiple. Duran went 4-for-5, Rob Refsnyder 3-for-6, Dominic Smith 3-for-5 and Ceddanne Rafaela 4-for-6.
The offense’s big night backed another strong start by Tanner Houck, who carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Houck threw seven innings and allowed two runs on three hits, with nine strikeouts and no walks.
“It’s always nice to get into rhythm on the offensive side,” Duran said. “We got into a good spot early, and we just kept it rolling. We didn't settle, which was really good on us, and I love that out of us.”
Boston scored 11 runs in the game’s first six innings, which included a big swing by Enmanuel Valdez. The second baseman connected on a three-run homer off Woodford in the fourth inning, which pushed Boston's lead to 6-0. The Red Sox scored four times in both the fourth and sixth innings.
When Jamie Westbrook hit his first career home run in the seventh inning, a Statcast-projected 388-foot solo blast, it pushed the lead to 12-1.
Westbrook made his Major League debut on Sunday after more than 10 seasons in the Minor Leagues. Thursday was the latest first for the 28-year-old, who recorded his first career hit in Wednesday’s win over the Braves.
As he rounded the bases after Thursday’s homer, Westbrook cracked a smile.
“I was trying to just slow down, because I didn't want to be sprinting around the bases,” Westbrook said. “I don't know how fast I was going or not. But I wanted to take a moment to smile and appreciate it and just have that one for myself, because it's special, man. It really is.”
When Westbrook got back to the dugout, Duran placed the team’s celebratory home run medal around his neck. Westbrook was then greeted by high-fives from his teammates. Loud cheers and applause could be heard from outside the Red Sox’s clubhouse postgame as the team celebrated Westbrook’s achievement.
Cora light-heartedly pointed out it took Westbrook less than 10 plate appearances to get hit by a pitch, record his first hit, first home run and catcher’s interference.
“It was fun, man,” Cora said. “It's been such a good week for him, and for us, because stuff like that gives us energy, and everybody was excited regardless of the score.”
Westbrook’s homer only added on to the Red Sox’s big advantage, which was more than enough support for Houck. The 27-year-old continued his stellar start to the season, lowering his ERA to 1.91 in 13 starts.
Even with a big lead, Houck’s performance pitching deep was important for a Red Sox pitching staff that will rely on its relievers in a bullpen game in Sunday’s series finale. Houck has thrown seven innings in three of his last four starts.
“I take a lot of pride in it,” Houck said. “I think in years past, I always expected better out of myself. I never wanted to only go five innings. I never wanted to only go through the lineup twice. I always knew that I could do this.
"It was just about putting it all together and continue to show up each and every day … and just putting in that work and trying to get better and everything. But it's just a long time coming. I've always had this plan to work out this way. God is good.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 7, 2024 5:32:37 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Yoshida nearly set to begin Minor League rehab June 6th, 2024
MLB.com ;
5 seconds remaining LATEST NEWS
June 6: RHP Isaiah Campbell reinstated from 15-day IL, optioned to Triple-A Worcester Campbell (right shoulder impingement) landed on the injured list on April 12. The 26-year-old began a rehab assignment with Worcester on May 22 and made six appearances, allowing one unearned run on three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. In seven appearances for Boston prior to going on the IL, Campbell posted a 12.79 ERA, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings.
DH Masataka Yoshida (left thumb strain) Expected return: Some point in June Yoshida is making steady progress and was expected to start a Minor League rehab assignment the weekend of June 7. He had been taking live batting practice in the days prior, and on June 6, hit off a Trajekt machine. Yoshida has been on the injured list since April 29. (Last updated: June 6)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jun 7, 2024 5:39:10 GMT -5
J.P. Long @soxnotes Tanner Houck (2024) and Zack Greinke (2009) are the only pitchers in the last 100 years to record all of the following in their first 13 starts of a season:
- Sub-2.00 ERA
- 2 HR or fewer allowed
- K-to-BB ratio of at least 5-to-1
(Greinke won the AL Cy Young Award in 2009.) 11:35 PM · Jun 6, 2024 · 20.7K Views
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