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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 16, 2021 2:24:50 GMT -5
Houck joining Sox, ready 'to compete' July 15th, 2021 Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
NEW YORK -- Jarren Duran isn’t the only big-name Red Sox prospect who joined the club for this weekend's series in New York.
Righty Tanner Houck -- the club’s No. 6 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- will also be activated for the latest series between the longtime rivals.
With Thursday’s game getting postponed due to positive COVID-19 tests within the Yankees organization, the Red Sox will wait another day to make the roster move official.
Prior to the postponement, the Sox were scheduled to play 18 consecutive days coming out of the All-Star break.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Houck will be available out of the bullpen for this weekend’s series at Yankee Stadium.
The original plan was for Houck to start Wednesday’s game in Buffalo, N.Y., against the Blue Jays, but that might be pushed back given that the opener in New York was postponed.
“Tough stretch here. Lot of games,” Cora said. “We feel like we have to take care of our guys. Adding somebody like him in certain spots can help us. We’ll do that.”
Houck was called up at the end of last season and flourished, going 3-0 with a 0.53 ERA. He made three appearances for the Red Sox earlier this season, including two starts, going 0-2 with a 4.35 ERA.
“In terms of what I want to get out of it, it’s just continuing to grow as a pitcher and just face these elite lineups,” Houck said. “Obviously, every time you go out there, you want to compete. That’s what my goals are going into this. Whatever role I’m thrown into, just go out there, compete and just give what I can to this team.
“It’s an amazing team with a bunch of amazing people on it, so I don’t want to take anything away from that. I just want to give everything I can to this team and just compete in ballgames.”
Houck missed six weeks for Triple-A Worcester this season as he battled back from a strained flexor muscle in his right arm. Since coming back, Houck has made five appearances of four innings or shorter.
“In terms of the rehab, I feel like I came back stronger,” Houck added. “It was a little hiccup in the road. I took the time, took advantage of it in the best way I could in terms of developing the strength side of things as well as the development of the pitching side.
“I had a little bit of downtime there, where in the bullpens coming back from it I could really sit there and focus on individual things -- kind of like last year with the alt site. It was, like I said, just a little hiccup in the road, back now feeling stronger and better than ever. I’m excited to go back out there.”
It is unclear what the corresponding roster move will be to add Houck. Austin Brice is one candidate to come off the roster.
The Red Sox drafted Houck out of Missouri -- a recent hotbed for Major League starting pitchers -- with the 24th overall pick in the 2017 Draft.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 16, 2021 2:27:14 GMT -5
Red Sox-Yankees Thursday game postponed Teams undergoing continued testing and contact tracing July 15th, 2021 Bryan Hoch
Bryan Hoch @bryanhoch
A COVID-19 outbreak within the Yankees' player group has prompted the postponement of Thursday's game between the Yankees and Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, allowing Major League Baseball to conduct continued testing and contact tracing.
The league will continue to provide scheduling updates as available. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that there have been no decisions made regarding the rest of the weekend's scheduled games, calling it "a very fluid situation right now."
Three Yankees players have been confirmed as COVID-19 positive and placed on the COVID-19 injured list: pitchers Jonathan Loaisiga, Nestor Cortes Jr. and Wandy Peralta.
In addition, three other players have received multiple positive diagnoses from rapid testing and are being quarantined while awaiting lab results. Cashman said that he anticipates those players will also be confirmed to be COVID-19 positive.
"We have a couple of them that have had symptoms, but for the most part, they're doing pretty well," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "We’ll just rally around them and give them the support they need and see where this thing goes as the hours unfold.”
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that he hopes a doubleheader will not be scheduled for Friday.
“I think the most important thing is their clubhouse now,” Cora said. “I think we’re going to be aggressive as far as testing; we talked about it today. It doesn’t matter if you’re vaccinated or not. I think the smart thing to do is get back to what we did earlier in the season.”
Loaisiga tested positive during the Yankees’ series this past weekend in Houston and did not travel with the team following its series at Minute Maid Park. According to the Yankees, Cortes, Loaisiga and Peralta are all fully vaccinated, as are most -- but not all -- of the six affected players.
Vaccinations prevent severe effects from COVID-19, and while they do not fully eliminate the possibility of infection, they reduce the risk of people spreading the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Yankees are one of several Major League teams to have reached the 85 percent vaccination threshold. The Red Sox, however, have not reached that threshold.
“I still feel that’s a deeply personal decision,” Boone said. “I have people in my life that have made decisions in both ways. Ultimately, I respect that. I've chosen to get vaccinated and I've encouraged [others] to.”
Out of an abundance of caution, the Yankees did not conduct batting practice prior to Thursday’s postponement. The team also urged media members to leave the field for safety reasons.
The Yankees had more than a half-dozen breakthrough positive COVID-19 tests in May, including third-base coach Phil Nevin, who missed nearly three weeks because of a kidney infection discovered at the same time as his diagnosis.
Pitching coach Matt Blake and first-base coach Reggie Willits also tested positive, though infielder Gleyber Torres is believed to have received a false positive at that time, according to Boone.
“The last year and a half has prepared you for this kind of stuff,” Boone said. “It’s certainly disappointing and frustrating. I don’t want to be sitting here talking about this. I desperately want us to go back to as normal as possible, but that’s out of our control. We’ve just got to do the best with the circumstances.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 16, 2021 2:41:59 GMT -5
Answering’ COVID questions amid new breakout and postponed Red Sox/ Yankees game Updated Jul 15, 2021; Posted Jul 15, 2021 Brian Cashman
Yankees general manager By Randy Miller | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman looked stone-faced during a media Zoom call Thursday with COVID attacking his ballclub again.
May’s outbreak that affected shortstop Gleyber Torres, three coaches and five staffers was bad.
The latest is worse with six players in quarantine due to positive tests, Thursday night’s game at Yankee Stadium with the Boston Red Sox postponed and Friday night’s game perhaps in jeopardy, as well.
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, All-Star right fielder Aaron Judge is among three unannounced Yankees players who tested positive.
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All of the positive tests occurred even though most Yankees players and staffers have been fully vaccinated for months.
“We’re in a very fluid situation right now,” Cashman said. “The vaccines that we encourage everybody to get guarantee not getting hospitalized and not getting death from COVID, which is important, but it doesn’t prevent you for contracting COVID. It just obviously protects us from the severe, worst-case scenario effects from COVID.
“So we’re thankful there we’re vaccinated in most cases — not all cases, but in most cases — so therefore we’re ultimately protected. But it does not prevent contracting COVID. I think it just lessens those effects, so we are still vulnerable as the population is experiencing COVID contracting.”
Here is the latest info on what’s going on:
TIMELINE
This outbreak began last Saturday in Houston with Yankees reliever Jonathan Loaisiga testing positive the morning after he pitched the ninth inning of Friday night’s 4-0 victory against the Astros.
Loaisiga has been in quarantining in Houston ever since, and thus did not return to New York with the Yankees following Sunday’s series finale in Houston.
Five other players tested positive on Thursday after the Yankees reported to Yankee Stadium following a three-day break for Thursday night’s scheduled game against the Red Sox.
The Yankees announced Thursday afternoon that pitcher Nestor Cortes and reliever Wandy Peralta were put on the COVID injury list, then Cashman announced three other players had tested positive multiple times on rapid tests.
The Yankees didn’t reveal the other three players, but ESPN reported that they were third baseman Gio Urshela, catcher Kyle Higashioka and Judge.
“We’re waiting for lab-based tests to give us a final official confirmed, so we could be as high as six from the player population pool right now,” Cashman said. “Until those (lab tests) resolve, I’m not going to say who they are or not. Once I have a confirmation of what we’re dealing with and then permission from the players, if they so provide, then I’ll be able to speak to it a lot better.”
ALL-STAR BREAK RULES
COVID protocols were in place that all MLB players were expected to follow during the All-Star break.
“The players negotiated the system with Major League Baseball and the Players Association about what you can and can’t do,” Cashman said.
It’s unknown if Judge contracted COVID while he was in Denver for Tuesday night’s All-Star Game. He was the starting right fielder for the American League and was 0-for-2 with a walk playing the first 4 ½ innings of his teams’ 5-2 victory.
On Thursday, Cashman said players were encouraged to take COVID tests at Yankee Stadium.
“We’ve offered tests for all players, and we continue to do so,” Cashman said. “Most of the population going into today we’re willing to take those tests and we’re dealing with the results from those.”
POSTPONED GAME
The commissioner’s office made the decision to postpone Thursday’s game, which doesn’t yet have a makeup date.
“I don’t want to speak for the commissioner what led to the final official decision for him to cancel the competition between Boston and New York., but he took all aspects involved,” Cashman said. “I’m sure from his perspective in his chair, until this very fluid situation declares itself and we all really know what we’re dealing with, better safe than sorry. That’s probably what went into his decision-making process.”
That decision was made with a lot of careful thought with safety and health involved for all parties and both teams as well as obviously anybody else that could be within the vicinity (of Yankee Stadium), Cashman said.
FRIDAY’S GAME
No decision has been made yet on whether the Yankees and Red Sox will play Friday night or be canceled again.
“That would be something that again would be directed by Major League Baseball and the commissioner,” Cashman said.
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OUTBREAK INCLUDED MULTIPLE VACCINES
All three of revealed Yankees players who tested positive were fully vaccinated, two from one-shot Johnson & Johnson, and the other from one of the double-dose vaccines, either Pfizer or Moderna.
“So we have experienced breakthroughs on various vaccinations,” Cashman said. “That’s not something that hasn’t happened and it won’t be happening in the future, either. But thankfully I can report that those players are doing well thus far, and doing what they need to be doing in quarantine regardless of being diagnosed post-vaccination. The other three are now in a quarantine situation pending the ultimate outcome of the final lab results, and we’ll see where the things goes.”
MILD SYMPTOMS
Cashman said all six players who tested positive were “doing well,” but manager Aaron Boone stated during his Thursday media Zoom call that “a couple of them have had symptoms, but for the most part are doing pretty well.”
Added Boone, “We’ll tackle it as best we can, first and foremost obviously anyone that’s tested positive making sure we help them be as healthy as can be. We’ll just rally around them and give them the support they need and see where this thing unfolds.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 16, 2021 2:49:59 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 4h So, Aaron Judge may or may not have COVID, and walked Hank Aaron’s widow out during the pregame ceremony prior to the All-Star game? Jeez…
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 16, 2021 2:54:17 GMT -5
Red Sox Notebook Red Sox ace Chris Sale inches closer to return after rehab start By Alex Speier Globe Staff,Updated July 15, 2021, 2:15 p.m.
NEW YORK — While the Red Sox did not play on Thursday due to the COVID-19-induced postponement of their game against the Yankees, a potential game-changing second-half contributor for the team hit a milestone by getting back on the field in Florida.
Lefthander Chris Sale, in his first game action since undergoing Tommy John surgery in March of last year, started his minor league rehab assignment by throwing three scoreless innings for the Red Sox’ Florida Complex League affiliate against the Orioles’ FCL team.
In a nearly empty park — roughly 40 people were in attendance at the Orioles’ Sarasota spring training complex — Sale allowed four hits (a double and three singles) while striking out five. He didn’t walk anyone. In an outing where he threw 39 pitches, Sale topped out at 97 miles per hour while sitting at 93-94 mph, according to Red Sox manager Alex Cora.
“He’s very excited,” said Cora. “Going into the game he felt good, during the game he felt good, after the game he felt good. … He said he got hit around, quote-unquote. They were swinging the bats, which is good. I think competition is always great, not dominating at will. That’s always good confidence wise, but I think the fact that he had to work is a plus for us.”
Cora said that if Sale shows no ill effects of the outing on Friday, his next step likely would be a rehab outing with Double-A Portland on Tuesday. The Sea Dogs host the Harrisburg Senators in Portland next week.
“So far, so good,” Cora said of Sale. Tanner Houck ready to flex
Jarren Duran wasn’t the only potential contributor summoned from Triple-A Worcester. The Red Sox also called up righthander Tanner Houck, providing them with a versatile swingman expected to help balance the workloads of both the rotation and bullpen.
The Sox envision a flexible role for Houck, alternately employing him as a multi-innings reliever (similar to the capacity in which they’ve used Garrett Whitlock) and a starter. Houck will be available out of the bullpen during the weekend series against the Yankees — presuming it is played — before slotting into the rotation against the Blue Jays next Wednesday. He’ll then shuttle between the rotation and bullpen.
With the Red Sox opening the second half with games scheduled on 18 consecutive games (albeit with the first one having been postponed on Thursday), the team believes Houck can help.
“Tough stretch here. Lot of games. We feel like we have to take care of our guys,” said Cora. “Adding this kid is going to make us better.”
The 25-year-old produced a 4.35 ERA with 12 strikeouts and one walk in 10⅓ innings over three early-season big league games (two starts) before starting the minor league season in Triple-A Worcester. He spent over five weeks on the injured list due to a sore flexor muscle but returned to the WooSox in June, forging a 4.50 ERA while striking out 22 and walking seven in 18 innings.
“It was a little hiccup in the road,” Houck said of the injury. “I took the time, took advantage of it in the best way I could in terms of developing the strength side of things as well as the development of the pitching side. … [I’m] back now feeling stronger and better than ever. I’m excited to go back out there.”
When Houck does the rotation, the Red Sox expect his addition to the rotation to be just that — an addition. Cora said that Garrett Richards, who struggled down the stretch in the first half, remains on track to make his start on Monday against the Blue Jays in Buffalo. First look for Christian Arroyo
With Duran on the roster, Kiké Hernández seems likely to see a significant increase in time at second base — a development that would cut into Christian Arroyo’s playing time at the position. In order to increase the pathways for Arroyo to remain available, he’s started working out at first base — a position he’s never played professionally, but where he expressed immediate comfort.
“I talked to him today and said let me know when you’re comfortable, and he said I’m comfortable right now,” said Cora. “We’ll keep getting him at-bats. He’ll play against every lefty we face, we know that. But I do believe facing righties is something that helps him out and we’ll find ways to get him in there against righties.” …
With Thursday’s game postponed, the Red Sox did not have to make official transactions to add Duran or Houck to the roster — and thus did not have to announce corresponding roster moves. But Katie Morrison of MassLive.com reported that righthander Austin Brice —called up by the Sox on Sunday— was at Polar Park in Worcester on Thursday. Meanwhile, Marwin Gonzalez (hamstring) could land on the injured list to open the second roster spot.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 16, 2021 2:57:23 GMT -5
Red Sox prospect Jarren Duran was looking forward to making his Major League debut at Yankee Stadium — until Thursday night’s game was postponed By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated July 15, 2021, 8:05 p.m.
NEW YORK — If rookie outfielder Jarren Duran proves to be as good as everyone in the organization believes he will be, his debut against the Yankees on Thursday night might have been a memorable game in Red Sox history.
But as manager Alex Cora was discussing the high-profile addition to his lineup on a Zoom session with reporters, he was distracted by a text message.
“There’s a lot of stuff going on right now,” Cora said after taking a quick glance.
Major League Baseball announced 16 minutes later the game had been postponed by an outbreak of COVID-19 among the Yankees.
So instead of playing center field and batting seventh at Yankee Stadium with his parents, his brother, his girlfriend and two uncles watching, Duran took batting practice with his new teammates and went back to the team hotel.
“I still don’t think it’s hit me yet,” Duran said before the game was postponed. “Everybody keeps telling me you seem a little too calm for being called up.”
Duran said he expected that to change once he saw those Yankees pinstripes across the field. But it never happened.
The 24-year-old Duran has well above-average speed, surprising power — he hit 15 home runs in 219 plate appearances for Worcester — and a mature sense of how best to use his skills to change the game.
“I’m just trying to keep it rolling,” Duran said. “They’re killing it right now. I’m just hoping to sneak in there and be a little boost of energy at moments when they need me.”
The Sox want more than that.
“This kid, he brings energy on a daily basis. We saw it in spring training, the way he went about it,” Cora said. “We’ve been talking about Jarren for a while as an organization.”
Duran, a lefthanded hitter, actually hit better against lefties in Triple A. But those aren’t major league lefties and the Sox plan to protect him, at least for now.
“I had no idea I hit lefties better,” Duran said. “That’s news to me.”
There will be no reins on Duran otherwise. Cora said Duran will play all three outfield spots to keep his bat and speed in the lineup.
“We can’t predict the future. But the thought process is for him to stick here,” Cora said. Related: Red Sox ace Chris Sale inches closer to return after rehab start
There is some risk in that equation. Kiké Hernández, an excellent defensive center fielder, will now play more second base with Duran on the roster.
Duran, who was drafted as a second baseman out of Long Beach State, is still learning the outfield. Figuring out the tricky angles at Fenway Park in the middle of a pennant race won’t be easy.
Christian Arroyo, who has had a breakthrough season at the plate, will lose some at-bats against righthanders. He started working out at first base on Friday.
So now there’s more pressure on left fielder Alex Verdugo, whose offensive numbers have dropped off sharply after last season. The same is true for first baseman Bobby Dalbec.
That’s a good thing. Competition often produces results.
Assistant GM Eddie Romero told me Duran wasn’t called up because the Sox lost four of five games before the break. They were ready to make the move regardless.
“It was all about making sure his timing was right, that he was in a good spot and 100 percent healthy,” Romero said.
Still, Duran’s presence should give the Sox a jolt as they play 18 consecutive games against division opponents coming out of the break.
“I can’t wait for him to hit a routine groundball and see how close — or how safe — he’s going to be at first base,” Cora said. “And he will do that.” Related: Speier: Why MLB had to get a grip on the sticky stuff
In time, it could be akin to the lift Jacoby Ellsbury gave the Red Sox in 2007. He made his debut on June 30 that season and gave the Sox 31 extra-base hits and 22 stolen bases over the remainder of the season.
Ellsbury wasn’t in the lineup when the playoffs started that season but started every game of the World Series, going 7 of 16 and scoring four runs.
We’re a long way away from the World Series. For now, Duran is still waiting for his first gam
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 16, 2021 3:04:20 GMT -5
no shock the move when made was likely him/Santana
Katie Morrison @katiemo61 · 7h Austin Brice was seen at Polar today and he is not active. Nothing is official but chances are he is the 40-man move for Duran.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 16, 2021 3:21:03 GMT -5
Well, guess we wait again to see what happens big let down last night for sure but it had to be done Social media reaction was as expected a tad warped laying blame and other nonsense this is the way it is now folks.... as bad as I loathe the Yankees I don't want to see this happen or anyone to get the damn Covoid.
Gotta wonder if this effects the crowds at the Boogie Down this week-end, and we all know the TV folks sure as hell want this series to be played... I am gonna temper my expectations...I hope they play tonight, but won't be shocked if this whole thing is banged.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 16, 2021 3:33:42 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Yankees 16th July 2021 7pm @ Boogie Down
E-rod 6-5/5.52
Eduardo Rodriguez allowed four runs on nine hits over five innings on Wednesday and took the loss as the Red Sox fell to the Angels. The 28-year-old surrendered two home runs during the game, one each to Shohei Ohtani and Jared Walsh. Rodriguez did strikeout out five during the game thanks to a 53 percent whiff rate from this four-seam fastball and a 30 percent whiff rate overall. The southpaw earned a respectable 31 percent CSW (called strikes plus whiffs) but simply allowed too many base hits. Rodriguez falls to 6-5 on the year with a 5.52 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in what has been a very disappointing season.
Germain 4-5/4.44
Domingo German, who missed his last start to undergo a root canal, allowed two runs in two-plus innings of relief work Sunday against the Yankees. German did a nice job initially, retiring six of seven batters in the seventh and eighth innings. Unfortunately, the first two batters in the ninth picked up hits against him, and both runners came around to score off Chad Green in what turned out to be a shocking loss for the Yankees. German is expected to return to the rotation after the break.
Yankees-Red Sox game at mercy of COVID-19 According to STATS
If the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox renew their rivalry Friday night at Yankee Stadium, a few key bats could be missing from the Yankees' lineup.
Despite being among the 23 teams to be 85 percent vaccinated, the Yankees are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak that could jeopardize Friday's game at Yankee Stadium and could result in them being without Aaron Judge and Gio Urshela.
Thursday was supposed to be the first of eight games over the next two weekends that could define whether the fourth-place Yankees get back in the AL East race; they entered the All-Star break eight games behind the first-place Red Sox.
Instead, the game was postponed more than two hours before first pitch and the Yankees announced relievers Nestor Cortes Jr. and Wandy Peralta tested positive, joining right-handed reliever Jonathan Loaisiga on the COVID-19 list. The Yankees were awaiting three other results from lab testing after three rapid tests produced positive results; according to ESPN, those players are Judge, Urshela and backup catcher Kyle Higashioka.
"We'll just tackle it as best as we can as far as first and foremost obviously anyone that's tested positive, making sure (to) help them be as healthy as they can be," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
The Yankees reached the 85 percent threshold early in the season, but this is their second outbreak. In mid-May, nine members of their traveling party contracted COVID-19, but no games were canceled. Gleyber Torres missed nearly a week, but it was later revealed to be a false positive. Third base coach Phil Nevin fought a serious bout with COVID-19 that cost him nearly a month and saw him lose 22 pounds.
"I don't want to speak for the commissioner (about) what led to the final official decision for him to cancel the competition between Boston and New York, but he took all aspects involved," Yankees GM Brian Cashman said.
"I'm sure from his perspective in his chair, until this very fluid situation declares itself and we all really know what we're dealing with, better safe than sorry. That's probably what went into his decision-making process."
If the game is played Friday, the Red Sox will try to improve to 7-0 in the season series. While they have won four games by three runs or fewer, they hit three homers off Gerrit Cole in a 9-2 rout on June 27.
The status of Friday's game also could depend on test results of Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez, Matt Barnes and Nate Eovaldi, who shared the clubhouse with Judge at Tuesday's All-Star Game.
"Obviously I'm worried," Red Sox manager Alex Cora told the Boston Globe while not knowing the Yankees were awaiting results for Judge. "Some of (the Boston All-Stars) are vaccinated. Some of them are not. Just a matter of hopefully they get tested today. They got tested this morning, I think it was, and hopefully everything comes back the way it should."
If Friday's game is played, the Red Sox will likely unveil prospect Jarren Duran. He was slated to bat seventh and play center field before the postponement.
Boston's Eduardo Rodriguez (6-5, 5.52 ERA), who is 2-5 with a 6.21 ERA in his past 13 starts, was scheduled to start Thursday and likely would take the mound Friday.
He last pitched July 7 against the Angels, allowing four runs on nine hits in five innings. He had allowed two runs over 12 innings in his previous two outings.
The left-hander is 1-0 with a 3.97 ERA in two starts against the Yankees this season. He is 7-6 with a 3.88 ERA in 20 career appearances (18 starts) against New York.
Domingo German (4-5, 4.44), slated to pitch Thursday for New York, is expected to go Friday. German is making his first start since June 30, when he pitched three innings before a rain delay.
German was scratched from his start July 7 in Seattle due to an emergency root canal and made a pair of relief appearances before the All-Star break.
German is 2-2 with a 4.72 ERA in eight career games (seven starts) against the Red Sox.
--Field Level Media
Red Sox at Yankees Friday, at 7:05 PM EST Partly Cloudy According to Forecast.io, it's expected to be 87° F with a 2% chance of rain and 8 MPH wind blowing right to left in New York City at 7:05 PM EST. Hourly Forecasts: Weather.com Forecast.io
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 16, 2021 7:44:52 GMT -5
Yankees-Red Sox weather: Rain in forecast if clubs meet this weekend at Yankee Stadium amid COVID outbreak Today 5:30 AM
By Mike Rosenstein | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
The New York Yankees could face three opponents at once this weekend: the Boston Red Sox, the coronavirus and Mother Nature.
The blood rivals had the first game of their four-game series postponed Thursday amid a COVID outbreak. If and/or when the clubs take the field this weekend at Yankee Stadium, they will be dodging rain drops. Per the National Weather Service:
Friday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 98. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
Friday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Heat index values as high as 97. East wind 5 to 8 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday Night
Showers and thunderstorms likely before 8pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Sunday
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Sunday Night
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
No announcement has been made regarding a makeup date for Thursday’s game.
The Red Sox head to the Bronx in first place in the American League East, 1.5 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays and eight games ahead of the Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.
This is the third meeting of the season between the Red Sox and Yankees. Boston swept both three-game series before the All-Star break.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 16, 2021 7:58:48 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox’s Jarren Duran ready for MLB debut: ‘Everybody keeps telling me I seem a little bit too calm for being called up’ Today 6:05 AM
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
NEW YORK -- Earlier this week, Red Sox outfield prospect Jarren Duran had just come off the field at Polar Park when WooSox coach Bruce Crabbe told him he needed to visit manager Billy McMillon in his office. When he arrived, McMillon jokingly told Duran -- who played for Team USA in the Olympic qualifying tournament earlier this year -- that he would get another chance to represent his country in Tokyo.
“He actually told me, ‘They opened up a spot on the Olympic roster for you. I was like, ‘Oh, awesome. Cool,’” Duran said Thursday. “Then he goes, ‘Oh, but you can actually go to the big leagues if you want to do that. That could be a side job for you.’”
At that point, Duran realized his lifelong dream of reaching the majors had come true. He first called his father, Octavio, to deliver the news.
“The guy has pushed me since I’ve been little and he got me into baseball, so it only felt right to call him first,” Duran said.
Soon, Duran was on his way to New York ahead of a four-game series against the Yankees, which was scheduled to begin Thursday night. He joined the Red Sox on Thursday and worked out with the club at Yankee Stadium.
“I still don’t think it has hit me yet,” Duran said. “Everybody keeps telling me, ‘You seem a little bit too calm for being called up.’ I still feel like it probably hasn’t hit me yet. Probably not until I see the Yankees across the way from us and I’m going to be playing.”
Duran joked with Red Sox farm director Brian Abraham that the Red Sox could have eased him into big-league action in a less pressure packed way than a primetime series between the Sox and Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
“He couldn’t start me off somewhere a little easier? He had to start me at Yankee Stadium?” Duran joked. “I’m beyond blessed to be here right now and I can’t wait to play tonight and see how it goes.”
Though multiple positive tests among Yankees players forced the series opener to be postponed and Duran’s debut to be pushed by at least a day, the outfielder was ready to get rolling. When he does debut, Octavio will be there, along with Duran’s mother, brother, girlfriend and two his uncles.
Duran has the chance to make an immediate impact in the big leagues.
“I’m just hoping not to get in the way of what these guys are doing,” he said. “Maybe I’ll be able to get on base for J.D. (Martinez) and some of the big guys, but I’m just trying to keep it rolling. They’re killing it right now so I’m hoping to just sneak in there and be a little boost of energy at moments when they need me.
“I don’t think words can put into perspective how I excited I am to be a Red Sox today,” he said.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 16, 2021 9:05:54 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 14m Still no word on status of the rest of the Red Sox-Yankees series. Additional testing is being conducted to determine whether there are additional positives beyond the three confirmed (rapid and PCR tests) and three unconfirmed (rapid test, pending PCR results) Yankees positives
The additional testing is for both teams given concern on the Red Sox side after five of their players shared a clubhouse during the All-Star Game with three Yankees All-Star reps, including Judge (who was among those with a positive rapid test)
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Jul 16, 2021 9:17:27 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 4h So, Aaron Judge may or may not have COVID, and walked Hank Aaron’s widow out during the pregame ceremony prior to the All-Star game? Jeez… But Aaron Judge had to enter Covid protocol following a test result upon returning to YankeesIf Judge was not aware he had Covid at the time of the ceremony, I'm not sure why McWilliams is concerned about it. And Judge seems like a really odd choice to walk with Aaron's widow. Wouldn't have Freeman, a 12-year Atlanta veteran make more sense? Or an elder statesman like Yady Molina?
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 16, 2021 9:21:26 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 4h So, Aaron Judge may or may not have COVID, and walked Hank Aaron’s widow out during the pregame ceremony prior to the All-Star game? Jeez… But Aaron Judge had to enter Covid protocol following a test result upon returning to YankeesIf Judge was not aware he had Covid at the time of the ceremony, I'm not sure why McWilliams is concerned about it. And Judge seems like a really odd choice to walk with Aaron's widow. Wouldn't have Freeman, a 12-year Atlanta veteran make more sense? Or an elder statesman like Yady Molina? She had 2 escorts for the ceremony Judge from the AL Freeman from the NL
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Jul 16, 2021 11:21:28 GMT -5
Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes reports that the Red Sox and Yankees are expected to play on Friday as scheduled.
Thursday's game had to be postponed due to COVID-19 issues on the Yankees, but Rojas is hearing the two clubs are prepared to play on Friday. Martin Perez and Domingo German are expected to start for the Red Sox and Yankees, respectively.
Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that Aaron Judge, Gio Urshela and Kyle Higashioka will be placed on the COVID-19 injured list.
The three players had been quarantined following contact tracing and it's now confirmed that they've all tested positive. They join Nestor Cortes, Jonathan Loaisiga and Wandy Peralta in landing on the COVID-19 IL. The Red Sox and Yankees are tentatively scheduled to play Friday but will have to get through another round of testing without any new positives this afternoon.
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