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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2021 2:31:30 GMT -5
White Sox @ Red Sox Friday, 16th April 2021 7pm at Fenway Park
Dylan Cease 0-0/3.86
Has made 2 starts lasting just over 4 innings per. He has allowed 4 runs while striking out 9 though he has walked 6. He could not pitch this dame due to sickness.
Nick Pivetta 2-0/ 3.27
Became the first Red Sox pitcher since Wakefield in 1995 to win his first 4 starts with the team. Has pitched vs the Pale Hose in relief roles in 2019 but this will be his first start against them.
Red Sox hot, confident entering series with White Sox
Despite their nine-game winning streak coming to a close, the Boston Red Sox have plenty to feel bullish about as they get set to welcome the Chicago White Sox for a four-game series beginning Friday.
The Red Sox fell 4-3 to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday afternoon for their first loss since dropping to 0-3 on April 4. Boston's Alex Verdugo hit a game-tying, three-run double in the eighth inning before Adam Ottavino allowed the winning run to score in the bottom of the ninth.
The defeat brought to an end Boston's longest winning streak since 2018, but the fight the club showed was still reason for positivity in the clubhouse postgame.
"It's been fun," said starter Garrett Richards, who allowed two runs, both unearned, over five innings on Thursday. "I told you guys earlier in the year that this was a sneaky good team and we're going to do our thing on a daily basis. At the end of the year, we'll be where we are."
The White Sox enter Friday with some spark of their own after the benches cleared in a 4-2 loss to the visiting Cleveland Indians on Thursday. Adam Eaton was called out for coming off the bag on a play at second base before shoving Indians shortstop Andres Gimenez after feeling he was pushed off, starting the fracas.
"Things kind of escalated a little bit there," Eaton said. "I let the emotions kind of get the best of me there just because I felt like any time you get pushed off the bag when you are safe, it's a little frustrating."
Chicago has alternated wins and losses across its past eight games.
Right-hander Dylan Cease (0-0, 3.86 ERA) is scheduled to start for the White Sox in the series opener after testing negative for COVID-19 following a symptoms scare. Right-hander Nick Pivetta (2-0, 3.27) goes for the Red Sox.
Rain is in the forecast for the Boston area all day Friday. Should the teams play, the Red Sox can expect to be at full strength after resting designated hitter J.D. Martinez and utility man Marwin Gonzalez from the starting lineup Thursday.
"We've just got to be careful with the workload with all those guys," manager Alex Cora said.
The White Sox on Thursday welcomed back star shortstop Tim Anderson from a stint on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. Anderson went 2-for-5 in his return.
Cease will make his third start of the season, having pitched 4 2/3 innings in each of his first two outings. He allowed one run on four hits against the Kansas City Royals last time out, on Sunday. Cease, in his third year, has never faced Boston.
Pivetta went six innings in his last start, getting the win against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday despite allowing four runs on seven hits. Pivetta will make his first start against Chicago.
The Red Sox will play their next 10 games at home. The White Sox are kicking off a six-game road trip.
--Field Level Media
White Sox at Red Sox Friday, at 7:10 PM EST Rainy According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 42° F with a 50% chance of rain and 10 MPH wind blowing in in Boston at 7:10 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2021 2:37:27 GMT -5
Laundry SP Probables
Friday.....Cease vs Pivetta
Saturday....4pm.....Keuchel 0-0/ 6.43 vs ( Houck 0-0/ 3.00)
Sunday...1pm....Giolito 0-0/2.55 vs Perez 0-0/5.40
Monday....11am ( Patriots Day) Rondo 2-0/000 vs Nasty Nate 2-1/2.08
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2021 3:24:20 GMT -5
Red Sox Notebook Red Sox to open four-game set against White Sox Friday at Fenway By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 15, 2021, 8:18 p.m.
The Red Sox will host the Chicago White Sox for a four-game set beginning Friday. White Sox manager Tony La Russa, who served as an adviser with the Red Sox from 2018-19, is also a mentor to manager Alex Cora.
“I’m looking forward to seeing Tony on the other side,” Cora said after the Red Sox’ 4-3 loss to the Twins Thursday. “You know, managing against a Hall of Famer, a guy that really helped us in 2018 and ’19. A guy that I look up to. He’s one of the best in the history of the game and to manage against somebody like that is a privilege.”
Much like the Twins series, the Red Sox will face their share of proven pitchers with Dallas Keuchel set to pitch Saturday, followed by Lucas Giolito Sunday and Carlos Rodón Monday. Rodón threw a no-hitter against the Indians Wednesday night.
The Red Sox are geared for the challenge but also understand it’s just one series in a marathon of a season. Alex Verdugo, who hasn’t seen a lot of the pitchers in the American League after spending the beginning part of his career in the National League, is using this series, in part, to get a good look.
“It’s going to be great,” Verdugo said. “It’s always one of those things, you face these really good pitchers, you see these guys that are having a lot of success against people. And at the end of the day, I think, you know, for me, I want to face the best of the best.”
The Sox gave J.D. Martinez Thursday off, but he will be back in the lineup Friday. As for Verdugo, he couldn’t help but remind the public of the type of streak the Sox have been on at the plate.
“We bang,” Verdugo said. “We’re going to swing. We’re going to put up good at-bats. If anything, I have confidence that we’re going to bring those pitch counts for those guys up and we’ll get them out relatively early.” Dangerous lineup
After a cold start to the season, hitting coach Tim Hyers is pleased with the offensive production lately. He’s also pleased with the amount of dialogue the players have about hitting during their downtime, which brings back memories of the 2018 club.
“Guys were not afraid to talk hitting, and not afraid to share opinions, share how they feel in the batter’s box,” Hyers said of the 2018 World Series team, before pivoting to the current roster. “That’s what we’re trying to accomplish, that goal. It started in spring training. It’s a group that, you know, has a lot of depth, and a lot of experience.”
The batting order, Hyers said, top to bottom has balance.
“It’s fun to watch the depth we have all the way up and down the lineup,” Hyers said. “At the bottom of our lineup, we have Franchy Cordero at times, and then Hunter Renfroe, who just doesn’t give pitchers relief. The [pitcher has] to make quality pitches or you know, we can do some damage.”
A pleasant surprise has been Christian Arroyo, who had one of the Sox’ four hits Thursday, a double off the base of the left-field wall. Arroyo is 10 for 32 (.313) and is confident at the plate.
“The thing that is impressive is how he uses the whole field,” Hyers said. “I think that’s when he’s at his best. And I think he’s more comfortable doing that now.”
Pivetta up next
Nick Pivetta will take the ball for the Red Sox Friday. In two starts, Pivetta has a 3.27 ERA. He has won all four of his starts with the Red Sox dating to last season … Triple A Worcester manager Billy McMillon said pitchers Stephen Gonsalves and Kyle Hart are stretched out enough in case a starter is needed at the big league level on Saturday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2021 3:26:48 GMT -5
Jeff Passan @jeffpassan 2h The first-place teams in the American League today are the Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners, just like everyone thought it would be.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2021 3:32:11 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 10h Ottavino has put 11 runners on base in 3.2 IP. Four have scored.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2021 3:37:59 GMT -5
Tomase: Winning streak was fun, but Sox must beware of trouble spots 9H ago / by John Tomase John Tomase RED SOX INSIDER
The streak is over, and it was a hell of a thing while it lasted. Now comes the hard part: making it sustainable.T
The Red Sox have given us so much to like over the last 10 days that it's easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. After an 0-3 start vs. the woeful Orioles that had some knee-jerk types declaring them "sneaky gross," the Red Sox started an annihilation tour that swept through the Rays and Orioles before nearly victimizing the Twins on Thursday.
Out-hit and outplayed all afternoon, the Red Sox still managed to pull even in the eighth inning on Alex Verdugo's bases-loaded double to conclude an epic 10-pitch at-bat, but it wasn't meant to be, and reliever Adam Ottavino got walked off in the bottom of the ninth of Minnesota's 4-3 victory.
Still, after taking three of four from a very good Twins team, the Red Sox return to Boston for a weekend series with the White Sox feeling good about themselves and their place atop the AL East.
"We just beat the American League Central champions three out of four, so I mean we've been playing good baseball," said manager Alex Cora. "We were down 3-0, put up good at-bats, tied the game. We didn't play great overall, but we did everything possible to win the game and that's what we take out of this one."
As well as the Red Sox have played, they are not a dominant team. They must do all of the little things to give themselves a chance, and the start to the season has proven it. Defensive miscues cost them two games vs. Baltimore, and then clutch hitting, opportunistic small ball, and steady defense keyed the winning streak.
That's not an accident. Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom targeted players with winning pedigrees this winter, adding World Series champs Kiké Hernández and Marwin Gonzalez, as well as battle-tested reliever Adam Ottavino. Even outfielder Hunter Renfroe is coming off a World Series appearance with the Rays.
Adding them to a core of holdovers from the 2018 title like Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez, Rafael Devers, Christian Vazquez, Nathan Eovaldi, and Matt Barnes gave the Red Sox a stable base of veterans who know what it takes.
"It's going to take all the way to that ninth inning and that last out," Verdugo said. "You can't go too easy on us. We're a team that's resilient and we're going to fight and I feel like we might start off a little slow, but we know that fourth, fifth, sixth inning comes that we all start locking it in even extra."
There's a fine line between being able to come back and just expecting it to happen. Vegas put Boston's over/under at only 80.5 wins, and even if the club's internal projections were better than that, the front office recognized that a LOT would need to go right to reach 90 wins and a shot at the playoffs.
The Red Sox need to pitch, which they've done tremendously well. Since the Orioles lit up Richards in the third game of the season, Red Sox starters have thrown at least five innings in 10 straight starts and only allowed four runs once. Their 3.06 ERA over that span illustrates how they've kept the Red Sox in every game.
"We push each other," Richards said. "This is a unique group."
If there's a drawback to their performance, it's that they've only reached the sixth inning twice in the last 10 games, meaning the bullpen has been asked to record at least 12 outs on a regular basis. The expanded roster and 14th pitcher helps limit the wear and tear, but Cora will have to manage his relievers carefully if they're going to pitch that much on a nightly basis, especially considering that one reliever is coming off Tommy John (Garrett Whitlock), one is debuting after a decade in Japan (Hirokazu Sawamura), two were limited by COVID last season (Josh Taylor, Darwinzon Hernández), and one is 35 years old and coming off heavy usage seasons with the Rockies and Yankees (Ottavino). Verdugo earns praise from Big Papi after big day vs. Twins
That's an area to watch, but it's not the only one. Offensively, the Red Sox cooled after dominant performances vs. the Rays and Orioles. They only scored in seven innings over four games against the Twins, and their offense downgrades when Martinez and Devers are staying in the ballpark.
The Red Sox won playing small for the most part in Minnesota, and while that's the mark of a good team, it also leaves little margin for error. They've already won two games in extra innings and two others that they trailed in the fifth. A 9-1 stretch can very quickly become more of a pedestrian 5-5 one if some of those close games go against them, as happened on Thursday. Advertisement
The greater point is that they can't simply show up and win. They're good, maybe even really good, but not great. They'll need to stay humble and hungry to keep this thing rolling.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2021 3:42:34 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox notebook: Alex Cora ejected for first time in 2021, Adam Ottavino’s struggles continue; No starter named for Saturday Updated Apr 15, 2021; Posted Apr 15, 2021
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
Red Sox manager Alex Cora was in his office when Max Kepler ended Thursday’s game with a walk-off single off Adam Ottavino. That’s because Cora had been ejected an inning earlier.
In the bottom of the eighth, with the game tied, 3-3, Minnesota had two men on with one out when catcher Ryan Jeffers stepped to the plate. Sox reliever Matt Andriese got ahead 1-2, then threw Jeffers a sinking changeup that he clearly swung at and missed.
Home plate umpire Jordan Baker saw differently, ruling that Jeffers had fouled the pitch off. For a moment, the call cost the Red Sox a major out at a crucial time in the game. So Cora, who was only ejected twice in his last season as manager in 2019, made sure Baker heard his two cents.
“You saw the runner, he took off to first base,” Cora said. “In ’19, I didn’t want to get thrown out. I didn’t want to make a scene early on. (The media) asked me all that stuff. Hey, there were some people who thought I wasn’t into this. You saw it. I’m into it.”
On the NESN broadcast, Baker was heard saying that the call was his to make and that the other umpires were not going to overturn it. A quick huddle between the group led nowhere.
“He did say that. I was like, ‘Well, yesterday, you guys got together, so please, get together again,’” Cora said. “They decided it was a foul tip. Jordan stayed with the call and I got thrown out.”
The missed strike was not the first weird play of Thursday’s series finale. Three plays led to replay reviews, with two -- both in the second inning -- being overturned after another look.
Luckily for the Red Sox, Baker’s mistake in the eighth inning didn’t end up mattering. Andriese struck out Jeffers on the next pitch and Darwinzon Hernandez got J.T. Riddle to line out to third to end the threat.
“It’s a tough one, especially in that situation,” Cora said. “We come back, we’re scratching and we’re fighting. We know we got a strikeout. It didn’t work out right there, but then we got the strikeout and got out of the inning.”
Ottavino’s struggles continue
Quietly, Ottavino has been a liability for the Red Sox so far this season, allowing runs in three of his five outings. He gave up a single to Luis Arraez and hit Jorge Polanco to lead off the ninth Thursday before surrendering the game-winning blooper to Kepler.
In 3 ⅔ innings over five appearances, Ottavino has allowed four earned runs (9.82 ERA) on seven hits while walking five and striking out three. Though it’s now clear Matt Barnes will be the closer -- even if Cora won’t say so -- Ottavino will still be tasked with a key role late in games and will need to get right quickly for the bullpen to be operating at its full potential.
Richards has second straight strong outing
Starter Garrett Richards has rebounded nicely from his disastrous Red Sox debut, going five innings in back-to-back starts. On Thursday, he allowed two unearned runs on four hits while striking out four in a no decision.
“He threw the ball well,” Cora said. “Good movement. He gave us a chance. We didn’t make a play at second base. Besides that, a lot of weak contact. This guy, he’s going to give us a chance to win. Two runs, five innings. That’s not enough against us. We feel that way. We feel we can score with the opposition. His last two have been solid.”
The damage against Richards came in the second inning, when he issued a one-out walk to Miguel Sanó and then allowed Jake Cave to reach on a Bobby Dalbec throwing error. Dalbec’s throw to second base pulled Rafael Devers off the bag; Arraez then hit a two-out, two-run single to put Minnesota up 2-0.
Richards wasn’t about to blame Dalbec for the miscue.
“I’m good with it, to be honest with you,” he said. “I want my guys behind me to be aggressive and to play to win. He didn’t hesitate, he fielded the ball and threw it to second base. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out but I’m fine with that. I don’t want anybody behind me playing scared.”
Cora monitoring Gonzalez’s workload, satisfied with Arroyo’s contributions
Utility man Marwin Gonzalez was out of the lineup for the second time in four games and the third time in eight games after starting both halves of Wednesday’s doubleheader. The Red Sox are actively trying to be cautious with the veteran, who has already played five positions this season.
“We’ve got to be careful with the workload for all those guys,” Cora said, citing Gonzalez and fellow utility man Kiké Hernández. “Christian (Arroyo) has been swinging the bat well. (Marwin) played two games yesterday, we took him out. We’ll give him today, see how the weather goes tomorrow but you have to do that. It’s very important.”
Making it easier to rest players has been the emergence of Arroyo, who entered Thursday hitting .310 with five doubles and a .793 OPS. Arroyo has been starting at second when Hernández plays the outfield.
“That’s why he made the team,” Cora said. “He can play short, which is very important, too. He swung the bat well in spring training. Last year, for this team, they were very excited and it was eye-opening what he did in a small sample size with them. He showed up in great shape, he’s putting great at-bats. He understands the game and he does all the little things. A good runner. It’s very helpful.
“The good thing is we’ve got capable guys,” Cora added. “It doesn’t matter who you put out there. You feel comfortable offensively and defensively.”
White Sox up next
The Red Sox flew home after Thursday’s game and will play again Friday, when they host the White Sox for the first game of a four-game series at Fenway Park. The matchup will bring the return of Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa, who worked as a special assistant for Boston under Dave Dombrowski in 2018 and 2019.
“It’s going to be a different weekend but we’re ready for it,” Cora said. “Looking forward to seeing Tony on the other side. Managing against a Hall of Famer, a guy who really helped us in ‘18 and ’19. A guy that I really look up to. It should be fun. He’s one of the best in the history of the game and to manage against somebody like that is a privilege.”
Sox mum on Saturday starter; rain might change plans again
The Red Sox still haven’t named a starter for Saturday’s game, though Tanner Houck is the most likely option to start. Of course, that’s weather-permitting. The forecast calls for rain all day Friday, so the Red Sox may need to readjust their pitching plans again.
“We’re going to have to make an adjustment,” Cora said. “That’s the way it adds up. We’ll see how it goes weather-wise. Conversations are going right now. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2021 3:45:31 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 11h This needs to improve
BB K K Rate 3 5 22% Ottavino 2 2 14% Brice 6 6 21% Hernandez 4 5 20% Sawamura 3 3 11% Taylor 2 2 11% Valdez
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2021 8:39:17 GMT -5
Red Sox Notes @soxnotes · 8m Most recent Red Sox teams with a 3.75 ERA or lower through 13 games:
2004 – 3.69 (won World Series) 2007 – 2.55 (won World Series) 2013 – 2.64 (won World Series) 2018 – 3.15 (won World Series) 2021 – 3.56 (best record in AL)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2021 8:40:56 GMT -5
Christopher Smith @smittyonmlb · 13m Nick Pivetta is 4-0 with a 2.57 ERA (six runs, 21 innings) for the Red Sox dating back to last year. But he has 12 walks in 21 innings, including seven walks in 11 innings this season. So that's one area that needs to improve.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2021 9:14:35 GMT -5
Christopher Smith @smittyonmlb · 32m The Red Sox scored only five runs in their first three games. But they are tied with the Dodgers and Reds for the major league lead in runs (75) through 13 games.
The Red Sox 11th in the majors in starter ERA (3.72) and seventh in reliever ERA (3.35). Really only one bad start through 13 games.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2021 10:01:39 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 47m Devers is in the top 2% of the league in xwOBA, Martinez is in the top 9%, both raking. So far they are both swinging at 89% of pitches seen over the heart of the plate which is right near the top. Swing at good pitches.
Devers 71, 79, 80, 78, 89% Martinez 83, 83, 81, 82, 89%
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2021 10:03:33 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 43m Mentioned Dalbec and Kiké yesterday, definitely not off to the starts they wanted, but if they keep making contact like they have they are going to be just fine.
Also, Verdugo has an awesome line drive stroke going right now.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2021 10:04:07 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 5m There's like 5" of snow on the ground and it's coming down harder now than at any point during the winter, wtf man.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 16, 2021 11:21:06 GMT -5
Red Sox vs. White Sox Series Preview
A look ahead to this weekend’s four-game set against the other Sox. By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins Apr 16, 2021, 12:01pm EDT
South Side Sox The opponent in one sentence
The White Sox have scuffled a bit out of the gate, but with a combination of youth and veterans they are one of the most talented rosters in the American League and should be at least pushing for a playoff spot all year. Record
6-7 Head-to-head record
0-0 Trend
Down, a bit. The White Sox, as mentioned above, came into this season expecting to be fighting for a postseason spot all year but to this point they’ve been hovering around .500, alternating wins and losses. That has been the case recently as well, as they have not had a streak of more than one consecutive win or loss since their fifth and sixth games. More recently, they split a four-game set against Cleveland. Pitching Matchups
4/16: Nick Pivetta vs. Dylan Cease, 7:10 PM ET (MLB Network for out-of-market)
The Red Sox have had a lot of surprises early in this season, but Nick Pivetta can be at the top of the list, at least if you’re only looking at results. The righty was the biggest question in a rotation that was full of them, with some (including yours truly) thinking he’d be out of the equation relatively soon. There have certain been some issues in his game, most notably his command, but he’s been able to keep runs off the board. Through his first two starts and 11 innings, he’s allowed four runs, albeit with seven walks. The stuff has looked good, but against a lineup like Chicago’s that is deep one through nine is going to be a big test.
This has the potential to be a high-scoring affair, as Cease is a similar type of pitcher as Pivetta in that he has impressive stuff but the command makes it easy to hit. The righty just had a brief stay on the COVID list but he is expected to be ready for his return in this series opener on Saturday. Over his first two starts this season he has tossed a total of 9 1⁄3 innings, allowing four runs with nine strikeouts and six walks. Control has been a consistent issue throughout his career, walking 12 percent of his opponents to this point in the majors. I would expect the Red Sox to look to work some counts on Friday night. Cease will feature a fastball that gets up to the high 90s along with a slider, to go with the occasional changeup and curveball mixed in.
4/17: TBD vs. Dallas Keuchel, 4:10 PM ET (FS1)
Officially the Red Sox have not yet announced a starter for Saturday’s game, and they are more than likely waiting to see if Friday’s game is going to be played. As of this writing on Friday morning, that is still appearing unlikely. Either way, I would expect Tanner Houck to be called back up for this game to make his second start, and this appearance overall, of the season. There hasn’t really been room in the rotation for him to this point in the year, but that doesn’t speak to his rotation as his performance clearly points to him being ready for the bright lights. So far this year he has pitched to a 3.00 ERA with 10 strikeouts and one walk over six innings, which comes after his 0.53 ERA last season. Whatever happens in this start, he is unlikely to stick in the rotation.
Keuchel was brought to Chicago on a three-year deal prior to last season to serve as a veteran rotation anchor on a roster that was filled with youth. He’s not their best pitcher, but he is a reliable lefty who will generally always keep his team in games. He did that and more last season, however, pitching to a 1.99 ERA over 11 starts in the shortened 2020 campaign. This season has been a different story, as he’s pitched to a 6.43 ERA early on this year. Generally, he is a pitcher who is not going to miss many bats but when he is going well he will control the zone and generally induce plenty of weak contact. That has not been the case to this point this season. Keuchel leans heavily on a sinker that sits in the high 80s and mixes in a changeup and a cutter.
4/18: Martín Pérez vs. Lucas Giolito, 1:10 PM ET
This is the biggest mismatch in terms of pitching matchups for this series, and the Red Sox are on the wrong end of it. That said, Pérez has been solid so far this season after holding up as a miscast “ace” last year. Now in the back of the rotation where his skillset is better suited, he’s proven able to keep the team in most games even with lackluster stuff and command. Last time out against the Twins, he overcome spotty control on an extremely cold day and managed to allow the Red Sox to stay in it long enough for the win. On the season, he has a 4.50 ERA.
On the other end of this matchup is the ace of the White Sox staff. Giolito was once the top pitching prospect in all of baseball with the Nationals, but his early exposure in the majors had him looking like a bust. He has turned his career around in a big way over the last few years, however, to the point where he entered this season on the shortlist of AL Cy Young favorites. He has some of the best strikeout stuff in the majors — he’s had rates over 30 percent in each of the last three seasons — and he’s managed to hover around average with his control as well. So far this season the righty has pitched to a 2.55 ERA with 26 strikeouts to just five walks over 17 2⁄3 innings. Giolito will work heavily off his mid-90s fastball while also featuring nasty secondaries with his changeup and slider.
4/19: Nathan Eovaldi vs. Carlos Rodón, 11:10 AM ET (MLB Network for out-of-market)
Pitching on Patriots Day for the Red Sox will be Eovaldi, who has looked extremely strong atop the Red Sox rotation early this season. He wasn’t quite as sharp last time out as he had been in his first couple of starts, but in a way it’s shown how different of a pitcher he is. In the past, with his limited repertoire he was always in major trouble if one pitch wasn’t working. With a new diversified arsenal for this season featuring more breaking balls than ever before, he is able to shift his strategy more effectively. The righty may not be dominant, but with his command he’s proven to be a reliable mid-rotation arm at the very least.
The Red Sox have the good fortune of facing Rodón coming off a momentous no-hitter in his last time out. That start came against Cleveland and was the second no-hitter of the season already. A former top five pick, he was available to everyone this winter after being non-tendered but eventually made his way back to Chicago. The early returns have been great. It’s only been two starts, but he hasn’t allowed a run over 14 innings, striking out 16 and walking only three. The Red Sox will put to the test if this is really the new him or if it’s just a flash in the pan. Rodón’s fastball is up in the mid 90s this year and he also heavily features a slider while mixing in a changeup against righties.
Old Friends
Yoán Moncada was the main piece that went back to Chicago in the Chris Sale trade. The talent that made him such a big signing for the Red Sox is still present, but it’s not always as consistent as fans would like. He’s a good piece in their lineup, though, even if he’s not quite a star.
Michael Kopech was another part of that Sale trade. He was one of the most exciting pitching prospects in the Red Sox system at the time of the trade, and the big stuff is still present in his righty arm. Unfortunately, he’s been set back by injury and he’s being eased back into things, currently pitching in a relief role. Notable Position Players
Moncada is indeed a starter for the White Sox, hitting in the middle of their lineup and playing third base. Early on in this season it’s been a struggle as he’s been unable to make consistent contact.
Yermín Mercedes has been the story of this White Sox lineup early in the year and one of the stories of baseball. His defense is shaky behind the plate, but he’s mostly been a DH this year. And at the plate, he’s been a monster, regularly hitting huge home runs. He already has six this year.
José Abreu is the reigning AL MVP and is the heart and soul of the White Sox lineup. A veteran first baseman, he’s been a bit disappointing this season with a whole lot of strikeouts preventing him from tapping into his power.
Tim Anderson is one of the most exciting and fun to watch players in the league. Hitting at the top of the lineup, he’s still trying to get going.
Yasmani Grandal is one of the best all-around catchers in all of baseball, showing power, tremendous plate discipline and one of the best pitch framing skillsets in baseball.
Adam Eaton is back in Chicago after a couple of years with the Nationals and hits towards the top of this lineup. He makes a lot of contact, but as he’s gotten older it hasn’t always been consistently as loud.
Luis Robert is one of the most talented and athletic young players in the game, and while there are still raw qualities at the plate he looks like he should make a whole lot of All-Star games over the next decade.
Andrew Vaughn is another great young hitter. He’s being forced into left field right now which could be an adventure this weekend, but at the plate he has all the tools.
Nick Madrigal is a throwback as a small middle infielder with virtually no power but also one of the best hit tools in baseball. Bullpen Snapshot
Liam Hendriks was the best reliever on the free agent market this winter and ended up choosing Chicago for his new home. It’s always risky paying big money for a reliever, but he is a bonafide bullpen ace. He’s had some trouble with the long ball so far this season, but it’s too early in the season to be too worried about that.
Aaron Bummer and Garrett Crochet combine for the late-inning setup men, and both throw from the left side. The former is a veteran who has had a whole lot of walks and strikeouts this year. The latter is a recent draftee who has quickly emerged as an impact reliever with big stuff. Injuries
Eloy Jiménez had one of the big early-season injuries in baseball as he hurt his oblique trying to rob a home run. That will cause him to miss most of the season.
Adam Engel would have taken much of the playing time after the Jiménez injury, but he is also dealing with issues of his own. For him it’s a hamstring, but his return shouldn’t be too far off.
Billy Hamilton is another injured part of the outfield depth chart. He’s also dealing with a hamstring injury and will likely be out for most, if not all, of April.
Jace Fry underwent back surgery back shortly after the New Year and is expected to miss about half of the season, at least.
Jimmy Cordero underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire season. Weather Forecast
As I mentioned above, it is not looking great for Friday’s game as there is rain in the forecast for pretty much the entire night. The rest of the weekend should get progressively better, though.
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