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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2021 2:04:00 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Araúz, Muñoz recalled August 27th, 2021
ROSTER MOVES
Aug. 27: INF/OF Kiké Hernández placed on COVID-19 injured list Boston’s leadoff man, who has swung the bat well for a solid two months, will be out indefinitely after testing positive for COVID-19. Hernández is experiencing symptoms, according to Red Sox manager Alex Cora. At a minimum, Hernández will miss this entire seven-game road trip, which includes three games at Progressive Field against the Indians and four at Tropicana Field against the Rays. The Red Sox will miss Hernández -- who, in his last 192 at-bats (since June 27), has a line of .297/.409/.563 with 11 homers.
“It’s something we’re dealing with in our world, outside our world, and I don’t want to say we’re lucky, but we’ve been OK throughout the season, but it happened. It’s happened to a lot of teams, so we’ve got to find a way to keep moving forward and keep playing good baseball,” Cora said.
Aug. 27: INF Christian Arroyo placed on COVID-19 IL Every time Arroyo comes back from the injured list, something else seems to go wrong. This time, he has been identified as a close contact of Hernández’s and will be out for the foreseeable future. Arroyo has been a stellar defender at second for the Red Sox this season. Offensively, he’s been a force against lefties, producing a line of .328/.357/.537.
“They’ll be out for an extended period,” Cora said of Hernández and Arroyo, who are the team’s two regular second basemen.
Aug. 27: INF/OF Yairo Muñoz selected from Triple-A Worcester With Hernández down, the Red Sox are fortunate enough to be able to call up a player who has just as much versatility. But Muñoz’s calling card is his bat. The right-handed hitter recently had a 35-game hitting streak for Worcester, the longest in the history of the Red Sox organization. Muñoz hit well in a late-season stint with Boston last season, belting five doubles to go with a homer and an .844 OPS in 45 plate appearances. In 336 at-bats at Triple-A this season, Muñoz hit .318/.346/.461 with eight homers and 36 RBIs. He has started games at every position but pitcher or catcher this season.
Aug. 27: INF Jonathan Araúz recalled from Triple-A Worcester Just four days after he was sent down, Araúz is back due to Hernández and Arroyo being out. The switch-hitter has played in 16 games and has had 29 at-bats for the Red Sox this season, hitting .207 with no homers and two RBIs. Araúz has played second, short and third for Boston this season.
INJURY UPDATES COVID-19 IL
INF/OF Kiké Hernández Expected return: TBD The invaluable infielder/outfielder, who has been red hot for the Red Sox in recent weeks, will be out for at least a bit after testing positive for COVID-19. Hernández is experiencing symptoms. For the season, Hernández is slashing .258/.346/.465 with 71 runs, 30 doubles, three triples, 17 homers and 51 RBIs. (Last updated: Aug. 27)
INF Christian Arroyo Expected return: TBD This has been one of the most fortunate and unfortunate seasons of Arroyo’s career. Whenever Arroyo plays, he seems to contribute. However, staying on the roster has been a challenge. After three stints on the IL with three separate injuries, Arroyo now finds himself on the COVID-19 IL due to being identified as a close contact of Hernández. Provided his tests remain negative in the coming days, Arroyo will likely be back before Hernández. (Last updated: Aug. 27)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2021 2:11:33 GMT -5
For Red Sox, it’s better late than never as Jonathan Araúz’s home run delivers comeback win over Indians By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated August 27, 2021, 10:10 p.m.
Jonathan Araúz wasn’t supposed to be here.
Not in Cleveland, at least. Not immersed in this moment. But sometimes you’re thrust into that moment unexpectedly with little time to process. Only the expectation to perform.
On Friday at Progressive Field, Araúz had his moment against Indians reliever James Karinchak.
The Sox offense looked weary the entire evening against the Indians. Yet with no outs in the eighth and Cleveland hanging on to a two-run lead, Araúz struck a match with a go-ahead three-run home run, what was ultimately the deciding factor in the Sox’ 4-3 victory.
Just like his homer that suddenly changed the complexion of the game, Araúz ’s day happened at a rapid pace.
Kiké Hernández tested positive for COVID-19, which meant a trip to the COVID-related injured list. Christian Arroyo was considered a close contact, so that put him there, too.
That’s when the Red Sox called on Araúz and Yairo Muñoz, both of whom were with Triple A Worcester in Buffalo. A three-hour trip via the WooSox team bus got the pair to Cleveland a little more than an hour before first pitch. Both were in the starting lineup, and it was Araúz who ended up being the difference maker.
“It meant a ton,” Araúz said afterward. “Obviously I’m very aware of what happened today, what happened to the team, and where the team was at. It’s my first home run of the year. It was a huge home run. I know I’m not going to forget this home run.”
The Red Sox had just three hits in the game to Cleveland’s eight. But Araúz ’s homer shifted the weight just enough in the Sox’ favor to pull out a win. It came after a pair of unsuccessful attempts at a bunt. He reset himself, and made a difference in an even more impactful way.
“I do believe in his mind-set after not getting the bunt down, he was like, ‘I’m not going to strike out in this situation,’ ” manager Alex Cora said. “Because that was a very short, compact swing and his takes were on time.”
Following Eduardo Rodriguez’s recent outing against the Rangers when he lasted just 3⅔ innings, Cora offered a blunt assessment regarding his starter’s performance.
“There’s not much to talk about with him,” Cora said. “He didn’t give us enough innings to win the game.”
It was a different story Friday night. Rodriguez gave his team more than a chance, turning in seven innings, enough time for the Red Sox to get the offense going. His only hiccups on the evening were a two-run shot by Jose Ramirez and a solo homer by Yu Chang in the seventh.
“It feels really good,” Rodriguez said. “It was good to go seven innings. That was the best part and to keep the game where it was. Now it’s about winning games.”
The Red Sox managed just one hit through seven innings, before Christian Vázquez drew a walk off Karinchak and Jarred Duran followed with an opposite-field single to left, setting the stage for Araúz.
On the other side, Indians starter Logan Allen worked his way through the Red Sox lineup in dominant fashion.
Allen came into the game with a 9.13 ERA, yet the Red Sox made him look like Sandy Koufax. Allen gave the Indians six strong innings of one-run ball, allowing just one hit and striking out five.
The Sox scored their only run off Allen in the fifth inning when Vázquez grounded into a double play that scored Verdugo.
But Araúz came through and, as a result, so did the Sox
“I didn’t necessarily change anything,” Araúz said “I just wanted to make sure I put a good swing on it.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2021 2:14:39 GMT -5
Jonathan Araúz, arriving shortly before Sox played Indians, missed two bunt attempts, but made up for it By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated August 27, 2021, 11:57 p.m.
CLEVELAND — It’s about a three-hour ride from Buffalo to Cleveland, a relatively straight line southwest on I-90 along the shore of Lake Erie.
Jonathan Araúz and Yairo Muñoz were not expecting to take that ride on Friday afternoon. But the Red Sox needed two players in a hurry after Christian Arroyo and Kiké Hernández went on the COVD-19 related injured list.
Fortunately for the Sox, Triple A Worcester was playing in Buffalo. The WooSox team bus carried Araúz and Muñoz to Progressive Field, arriving around 5:30 p.m.
Four hours later, Araúz was the hero in one of the unlikeliest victories of the season. And maybe one of the most important, too.
After twice failing to bunt, Araúz lined a three-run homer to right field in the eighth inning as the Sox beat the Cleveland Indians, 4-3.
It’ll take a few days before we know if this game is what galvanizes the Red Sox. But how could it not?
“Those are fun. That’s why I do this, to enjoy stuff like this,” manager Alex Cora said. “I know I suffer and I get frustrated. But this is very gratifying … Games like that, this is why we’re here.”
Cora has been juggling flaming chainsaws for a few weeks, trying to work around injuries and roster changes as the Sox plummeted down the standings.
The latest blow came Friday with the loss of Arroyo and Hernández. On the first day of a seven-game road trip, Cora’s pregame session with reporters was somber because Hernández, one of the team’s hottest hitters in the second half, could be out as long as 10 days.
Araúz, an athletic infielder who was a Rule 5 Draft pick from Houston before the 2020 season, figures to be playing a lot until Hernández returns.
He had driven in only two runs in 29 previous at-bats with the Sox this season. But on a night when the first five hitters in the order were 0 for 19, Araúz delivered against hard-throwing righthander James Karinchak after Christian Vazquez drew a walk and Jarren Duran singled.
“I know I’m not going to forget that home run,” Araúz said.
Araúz, who was sleeping when he got the call to come here, didn’t necessarily change his approach after twice missing on bunt attempts.
“I kept my head up,” he said via an interpreter. “I said, ‘All right, if I didn’t get the bunt down, I have to move them over somehow. Move the runners, make good contact.’ ”
Cora called the 100-m.p.h. line drive “a laser.” It stunned the crowd of 20,881 and put the charge through the Sox players.
“We’re all excited about it for sure,” said Adam Ottavino, who walked the leadoff hitter in the ninth, then closed out the Indians for his ninth save.
Araúz probably will be back in the lineup on Saturday afternoon.
“I feel ready,” he said. “I feel I prepared myself. It’s been an up-and-down season for me. I’ve had some things not go my way. I think if I can continue to keep my focus on what I can do today to help the team and how I can fit within the lineup to help the club, that’s what I’m going to rest on.”
Ottavino said some victories mean more than others over the course of a long season.
“There are some, but sometimes it’s hard to tell in the moment,” he said. “For sure, sometimes you look back on it and be like, ‘That win really got us going in the right direction.’
“Hopefully this is one of those.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2021 2:16:09 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Red Sox’ Kiké Hernández out indefinitely after testing positive for COVID-19 By Peter Abraham and Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated August 27, 2021, 5:28 p.m.
CLEVELAND — The Red Sox will be without Kiké Hernández indefinitely after the super utility player tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday.
Another utility player, Christian Arroyo, was deemed a close contact of Hernández’s and will miss at least this weekend’s series against the Cleveland Indians.
Hernández, who told reporters in April that he had been vaccinated, has a breakthrough case. Manager Alex Cora said Hernández is experiencing symptoms.
“They will be out for an extended period of time,” Cora said.
A player who tests positive is generally out for 10 days per Major League Baseball’s protocols. Because Hernández is vaccinated, he could miss less time.
Arroyo could be out for up to seven days.
The Sox are already without right fielder Hunter Renfroe, who went on the bereavement list Thursday.
Jonathan Araúz and Yairo Muñoz were summoned from Triple A Worcester, arriving just before game time from Buffalo. When the lineup was announced less than a half hour before first pitch for Friday night’s series opener, Muñoz was in the leadoff spot, playing left field. Araúz, at second base, batted ninth.
“We have to find a way to keep moving forward and keep playing good baseball,” Cora said.
Hernández has started 108 games this season and is fifth on the team with an .811 OPS. He has hit .300 with a .937 OPS since the All-Star break.
Arroyo has hit .264 with a .777 OPS in 53 games. This marks his fourth time on the injured list this season.
Cora said more roster moves are coming, perhaps as soon as Saturday. One could be activating utility player Danny Santana off the injured list. He has been out since July 22 with a strained left groin.
The Sox have had 10 players land on the COVID-19 related injured list this season. Most have missed only a game or two.
Bench coach Will Venable was recently away from the team for 12 days after testing positive. First base coach Tom Goodwin also missed time after being in contact with Goodwin and ordered to quarantine in Canada.
“We’ve been very disciplined,” Cora said. “Just talking to other people on other teams, we probably are the most aggressive team testing wise throughout the process.
“It’s not Kiké's fault. I know for a fact that he’s been great about all this stuff and taking care of his family for obvious reasons . . . It’s something that we don’t control. We’re fighting an invisible enemy.”
The Sox are one of six teams yet to have 85 percent of their core group of players, coaches and staffers vaccinated. Landing spot for Gonzalez
Marwin Gonzalez was designated for assignment, then released by the Sox earlier this month. But the utility player found a landing spot Friday with his old team, signing a minor league deal with the Astros.
Gonzalez was one of the better Sox defenders up the middle, particularly at second base, and provided a veteran presence for the club. Nevertheless, he couldn’t get going with the bat, slashing .202/.281/285 in 271 plate appearances.
Eovaldi next in rotation
Nate Eovaldi takes the ball against Cleveland’s Cal Quantrill on Saturday, and Tanner Houck will pitch Sunday in the series finale against the Indians’ Eli Morgan. Houck has a 3.43 ERA in 39⅓ innings this year. He tossed 4⅔ innings in his most recent start against the Twins, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out six.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2021 2:21:28 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 4h Alex Cora said Yairo Munoz and Jonathan Arauz arrived in Cleveland around 5:30 this evening. #RedSox
Cora -- 'It felt good. We grinded today.'
'This year you've got to deal with a lot of stuff -- roster moves, injured guys. It's 162.' #RedSox
Cora -- 'That's why I do this -- to enjoy stuff like this.'
'It's very gratifying.' #RedSox
Cora on Richards in the 8th -- 'We were very short. The reason he pitched yesterday was I wanted him to get some repetitions. I felt like with that lineup the slider was going to play.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2021 2:22:25 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 4h Cora on Arauz -- 'That was a very short, compact swing. The takes, he was on time.' #RedSox
Cora on Eduardo Rodriguez -- 'Good fastball. He was in control. Obviously the last one wasn't great. We know this kid. We know he can help us. His stuff was a lot better today.'
'He felt like it was his best changeup of the year.' #RedSox
Cora -- 'I don't want to say we needed this one, but it felt awesome to pull this one.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2021 2:23:56 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 5h Replying to @billkoch25 Cora said Munoz and Arauz had to go through COVID-19 intake protocols. That includes a rapid test. #RedSox
Cora on Arauz's home run -- 'It's huge. We've seen it around the league. If you want to look back -- the Yankees started getting hot, and it was guys who came up from Triple-A.' #RedSox
Cora confirms he wanted Arauz to sacrifice. That was called from the bench.
Needless to say, he's happy with how things turned out. #RedSox
Cora on Richards in the 8th -- 'We were very short. The reason he pitched yesterday was I wanted him to get some repetitions. I felt like with that lineup the slider was going to play.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2021 2:25:05 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 4h Rodriguez -- 'Right now it's just about winning every game we play to make it to the playoffs.' #RedSox
Rodriguez on the Arauz home run -- 'That was great, man. Hitting the ball out like that after trying to bunt twice -- that was something that surprised everybody.'
'He's just a really good kid.' #RedSox
Eduardo Rodriguez -- 'I was available to go seven innings. Overall I'd say that's the best part.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2021 2:25:59 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 4h Ottavino said Christian Vazquez and Xander Bogaerts both were in his ear with some encouragement after the leadoff walk in the 9th.
'Those guys, they're leaders for a reason.' #RedSox
Ottavino -- 'I like the way we're competing. I think our best baseball is still ahead of us.' #RedSox
Adam Ottavino -- 'Big series for us to try to get some wins on the board here.'
'It took us a while. We had that great rally.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2021 2:26:59 GMT -5
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 4h Arauz said he and Munoz came to Cleveland on the Worcester team bus. It was just the two players and the bus driver. #RedSox
Arauz -- 'It meant a ton. Obviously I'm very aware of what happened today and what happened to the team.'
'It was a huge home run for me.' #RedSox
Jonathan Arauz, with mental skills coordinator Rey Fuentes -- 'I was actually sleeping when they called around 1.'
'Everything happened really quick.' #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2021 2:27:52 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 5h
Sox (74-56) have won 4 of 5. They snapped a four-game losing streak on the road.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2021 2:40:07 GMT -5
Alex Cora after Boston Red Sox comeback win: ‘I know I suffer and I get frustrated but this is very gratifying’ Updated: 1:28 a.m. | Published: 1:12 a.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Manager Alex Cora has expressed his frustration after multiple games during an 11-13 August. He called the performance last Saturday “embarrassing” and “not acceptable” after the Red Sox made five errors in a 10-1 loss to the Rangers.
He described his team as “getting punched” after a lifeless 8-1 loss in Detroit on Aug. 5.
But Boston’s 4-3 comeback win over the Cleveland Indians here at Progressive Field on Friday reminded Cora why he loves his job so much.
Jonathan Araúz — who Boston recalled from Worcester before Friday’s game — was unsuccessful trying to bunt during the eighth inning with runners at first and second and no outs. But with two strikes and the bunt sign off, Araúz connected on a 96.9 mph four-seam fastball from Indians righty James Karinchak and lined it 375 feet into the right field stands for his second career homer.
Araúz’s three-run blast turned a 3-1 deficit into a one-run lead.
“It’s very gratifying when kids like Jonathan come up (and succeed),” Cora said. “He didn’t do the job when we put the bunt sign. And then he was patient enough and he got a pitch up in the zone and hit a laser to right field. So those are fun. Those are fun. That’s why I do this. To enjoy stuff like this. I know I suffer and I get frustrated but this is very gratifying.
“All the sacrifices that the organization has to go through with everything that goes on. And every organization,” Cora added. “And games like that, it’s like, ‘Yeah, this is why we’re back. This is why we’re here.’”
Friday was a difficult day with a lot of uncertainty for Cora and the Red Sox after Kiké Hernández tested positive for COVID-19. Both Hernández and Christian Arroyo (close contact to Hernández) were placed on the COVID-related IL.
Cora was unsure if Araúz and Muñoz — who rode on Triple-A Worcester’s team bus from Buffalo to Cleveland — would even make it to Progressive Field and clear protocols in time to play. The Red Sox sent out a lineup less than 20 minutes before first pitch.
“It was huge,” Cora said about Araúz’s homer. “And we’ve seen it around the league. If we want to look back, when the Yankees started getting hot, it was guys that came up from Triple A and played good baseball for a while. And then they got healthy and they are where they are. These are the circumstances. We have to live with it. We’re not going to make excuses. I think every team has to go through it.”
Eduardo Rodriguez went 7 innings to earn the win. Garrett Richards pitched a perfect eighth (nine pitches, eight strikes) and Adam Ottavino closed it out in the ninth after a leadoff walk.
“It was a cool game,” Cora said. “It was a fun game to manage with what we have and to be around the guys and to grind together. Eduardo was outstanding. G-Rich was great and Adam shut the door. It was a fun game.”
Cora continues to stay the course and look at the season as a 162-game marathon, not a sprint.
“The good thing is we put ourselves in a situation to win the series right away,” Cora said. “And we’ve been talking about that. You don’t have to win 30 in a row. You’ve just got to keep winning series.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2021 2:41:36 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox notebook: Garrett Richards’ ‘wild year’ continues with perfect eighth inning (9 pitches, 8 strikes) Updated: 2:14 a.m. | Published: 2:09 a.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Red Sox righty Garrett Richards pitched a perfect eighth inning to hold a one-run lead Friday. He helped Boston win 4-3 over the Indians here at Progressive Field.
“That was terrific,” Adam Ottavino said about Richards’ eighth. “He’s been really good out of the pen since he’s come out here. The type of stuff he has. He has a good head on his shoulders. He’s kind of had a wild year I would say for him. But he’s done a really good job of getting locked in and being ready for anything right now. He went out there, put a good eighth inning together, set us up to win. So that was huge.”
Richards struck out leadoff hitter Myles Straw looking on a slider. He struck out Amed Rosario swinging on a slider. He then used a changeup to retire José Ramirez who popped out to first baseman Kyle Schwarber in foul territory.
“The reason he pitched yesterday (Thursday vs. the Twins) was I wanted him to get some repetitions because I felt today, with that lineup, his slider was going to play,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “I said it a few weeks ago. We don’t have a guy that has a real slider in the bullpen. We’ve been facing teams that they have a lot of those and they’re doing a good job. I felt like yesterday was good for him to go out there and work. And today, he was going to come in regardless (leading or behind). And he did an amazing job.”
Ottavino earns save
Ottavino earned the save after walking the leadoff hitter in the ninth. He closed in place of struggling Matt Barnes.
“We’re not really worried about roles,” Ottavino said. “We haven’t defined anything. We’re just trying to pick each other up. Anybody who gets the ball is the right guy for the job whatever inning it is, whatever situation. We’re just pulling for each other and trying to do our part for the team.”
Rodriguez had ‘best changeup of the year’
Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez — who went just 3 ⅔ innings in his previous start against the weak-hitting Rangers — tossed 7 innings, allowing three runs, all earned, eight hits (two homers) and one walk while striking out two. He earned the win.
It was just the second time this season Rodriguez pitched 7 innings. He also did it April 25 at home vs. the Mariners.
“Good fastball. He was in control,” Cora said. “Obviously the last one (last Saturday) wasn’t great. And we know this kid. We know he can help us. And his stuff was a lot better today. We talked a little bit after I took him out. He felt like it was his best changeup of the year.”
Santana could return soon
Danny Santana went 2-for-3 with a homer in a rehab game for Double-A Portland on Friday. He played seven innings in center field. It was his fourth rehab game.
The Red Sox could use him with both Kiké Hernández and Christian Arroyo on the COVID-related IL.
Hernández tested positive and is experiencing symptoms. Arroyo is considered a close contact and must quarantine.
“We’ve got guys on rehab assignments that are probably going to be with us sooner rather than later,” Cora said. “We’re going to have to speed up the process with Danny probably.”
Cora said the Red Sox might make more roster moves before Saturday’s game at 4:05 p.m.
Team has remained vigilant, Cora says
Cora said the Red Sox have remained vigilant with COVID protocols off the field.
“We’ve been very disciplined,” Cora said. “Just talking to other people on other teams, we’re probably the most aggressive team testing-wise throughout the process. Even this weekend, with the situation with the Rangers because of some people that tested positive over there, we had to do our due diligence over here to make sure our group was clear, was sound regardless if you were vaccinated or not. So I think we’re doing a good job. It’s just happened that this is what we’re fighting against. It’s not Kiké fault. I know for a fact that he’s been great about all this stuff and taking care of his family for obvious reasons with the baby and his dad and everything that comes with the territory in his situation. But it’s something that we don’t control. We’re fighting an invisible enemy and it just happened that he tested positive.”
Houck to start Sunday
Tanner Houck will start for the Red Sox here Sunday against the Indians, Cora announced before Friday’s game. He’ll start opposite righty Eli Morgan (2-6, 5.98 ERA).
Red Sox righty Nathan Eovaldi (10-8, 3.72 ERA) will start opposite Cleveland righty Cal Quantrill (4-2, 3.04 ERA) on Saturday.
Quantrill has a 1.45 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in five starts during August. He tossed 7 shutout innings against the Angels last Sunday.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2021 2:43:54 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 11h The Sox seemed 12 hours away from being at full strength, and then comes bereavement and covid. Sums up August.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 28, 2021 2:45:09 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 5h No matter Richards or Ottavino, it feels like there is a 99% chance either is going to end up walking the first batter of the 9th
One thing is for sure, Barnes the the most relaxed guy in America right now
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