Red Sox @ Mariners Game Thread/ 13th-15th September 2021

Injuries & Roster Moves: Valdez to COVID IL
September 12th, 2021

ROSTER MOVES

Sept. 12: RHP Phillips Valdez placed on COVID-19 IL
The COVID outbreak with the Red Sox has been going on for more than two weeks now, and Valdez was the latest to test positive, the team announced just minutes before Sunday’s game. The 29-year-old has pitched in 28 games for Boston this season, notching a 5.85 ERA.

Sept. 12: RHP Brad Peacock selected from Triple-A Worcester
Peacock remained on the taxi squad after being sent down two days ago, so the Red Sox were able to bring him back to replace Valdez on the roster. The 33-year-old veteran has made two appearances for Boston, including one start, allowing nine runs in 5 1/3 innigns.

Sept. 12: RHP Nick Pivetta reinstated from COVID-19 injured list
Pivetta was activated for a start on Sunday -- his first since Aug. 30 and 27th of the season. Pivetta was supposed to start on Sept. 5 at Fenway, but he was scratched due to an inconclusive COVID-19 test that was finally ruled as positive a couple of days later. Thanks to being vaccinated, Pivetta was cleared to return to the roster just a week after being taken off.

INJURY UPDATES

Day to day

DH J.D. Martinez (back tightness)
Expected return: Monday or Tuesday
Once again, Martinez tried to give it a go on Sunday, but his back wasn’t where he needed it to be. The DH missed all three games of this weekend's series against the White Sox, but the Red Sox hope he will be recovered enough to start Monday’s opener of a three-game series in Seattle. (Last updated: Sept. 12)

COVID-19 IL

RHP Matt Barnes
Expected return: Next homestand or sooner
Barnes, Boston’s closer for most of the season, started a rehab assignment for Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, throwing a scoreless inning that included one strikeout. Barnes did hit a batter and threw 12 pitches, seven for strikes. Though manager Alex Cora originally wanted Barnes to pitch twice in the Minors, there’s at least a chance the Red Sox will bring him to Seattle given the importance of the games and the bullpen being short-handed. (Last updated: Sept. 12)

LHP Martín Pérez
Expected return: Within a week
Pérez also started a rehab assignment for Triple-A Worcester on Sunday and threw a scoreless frame, allowing one hit while getting one strikeout and earning the win. There’s a chance Pérez will join the Sox for the upcoming series in Seattle that starts on Monday. (Last updated: Sept. 12)

RHP Phillips Valdez
Expected return: TBD
The righty is expected to miss at least 10 days after being the latest Red Sox player to test positive for COVID-19. (Last updated: Sept. 12)

Red Sox hope being careful with Xander Bogaerts now will mean more later
By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated September 12, 2021, 7:12 p.m.

CHICAGO — The Red Sox are fighting for their playoff lives and Xander Bogaerts essentially had the day off Sunday against the White Sox.

The All-Star shortstop made a brief cameo in the eighth inning of a 2-1 loss, grounding out to second and playing two innings in the field.

Bogaerts was out for nine days after testing positive for COVID-19, returned to the team Friday and was 2 for 6 with three walks in two games.

Bogaerts also made what may have been the best defensive play of his career in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday night.


In an 8-8 game, Bogaerts ranged far to his left, slid on his knees to stop a sharply hit ball by César Hernández. While still sliding, he twisted around and made a strong throw to first.

The Red Sox went on to win, 9-8, in 10 innings.
Related: Leury Garcia's walkoff homer lifts White Sox over Red Sox in series finale

But Bogaerts was bolted to the bench when the game started Sunday with the Red Sox a game ahead of the Blue Jays and Yankees in the chase for the first wild-card spot. They had only four hits and struck out 13 times.


The plan is for Bogaerts to play only two of the three games against the Mariners in the now-crucial series that starts Monday night in Seattle.

That will likely be Monday and Tuesday with Bogaerts out of the lineup Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s day off so he can get two in a row.

After that he’ll play out the schedule.

So what gives? Bogaerts is 28, not 38.

Manager Alex Cora pointed out that Sunday was a day game after a night game. It’s also true that the first two games of the series took eight hours to play and Bogaerts was on the field for all 19 innings.


“We have to make sure he’s close to 100 percent and that’s why we gave him [Sunday] off,” Cora said.

Let’s pause here to remember that Bogaerts tested positive for COVID-19. He felt no symptoms but was quarantined in a Florida hotel room for those nine days. His chief baseball activity was watching it.

This is largely uncharted territory for every team’s medical staff. So the Red Sox are being careful with one of their cornerstone players. The hope is that less now will mean more later.

“It’s hard. But you still have to be smart,” Cora said. “This is a give-and-take, right? I love the fact that sometimes they fight it.”

Cora managed this way in 2018 to the team’s benefit. He doled out ample time off and the Red Sox roared through the playoffs.

The extra rest is what allowed Chris Sale to come out of the bullpen and close out Game 5 by carving up villainous Manny Machado.

It can go wrong, too. A year later, the Red Sox were so careful with how they used the players in spring training who weren’t prepared when the season started.

Fans and media often romanticize the idea of “grinding it out” or “playing hurt” and those are tangible qualities. We appreciate a player who is always in the lineup.

But data has replaced emotion. Teams have dozens of measurables that let them know when somebody needs a rest. They chart how fast a player is running, throwing, and swinging. Every rep in the weight room is recorded, too.


When the arrows start to point down, Cora gets a nudge that a day off is needed sometime soon.

“We pick and choose the days,” Cora said. “There are certain times we go against it … it’s constant communication. In the end, you have to trust the whole process.”

Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, and other players over the years have told Cora that the days off they initially resisted benefited them.

The Red Sox also are reading the room a bit. They’re 8-8 since the start of their COVID outbreak, which is pretty good considering all the call-ups they’ve had to use.

They also play nine of their remaining 17 games against the Orioles and Nationals.

The Red Sox didn’t give the game away Sunday, but they decided it was the right time to give Bogaerts a break and would live with the results.

What they got was a walkoff loss when Leury Garcia homered off Garrett Whitlock. The Sox have lost 5 of 7 but aren’t too concerned.

“We feel good going to Seattle,” Cora said.

Deciphering the Red Sox' path to the postseason
Current Time 0:03
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Duration 1:25


By Rob Bradford
17 minutes ago

The Red Sox just suffered a 2-1 loss Sunday to the White Sox, with the game ending when Garrett Whitlock couldn't quite get through his second outing in any many days unscathed.

Leury Garcia's walk-off homer was the punctation for a series that saw three straight one-run games.

But in this COVID-induced roller coaster of a month, Alex Cora is heading into the last three weeks with his glass half full.

Starting pitcher Nick Pivetta came out of quarantine to turn in one of his really good Nick Pivetta outings, giving up just one unearned run in his 5 1/3 innings. And across the board, Cora relayed the feeling that his bunch had been the gritty, gutty group that is up to these sort of tasks.

"We’re playing good baseball," the Red Sox manager said. "The last three games, they have felt like the playoffs. The at-bats, the intensity, the moves. Obviously, we don’t win the series but we played well. We’ll be ready. We’ve got Eduardo (Rodriguez), Nate (Eovaldi) and we’ll go from there. Obviously, bullpen-wise we’ll see where we’re at. We’ll see how the guys did today and reassess our situation. But we’re playing good baseball and I think offensively we’ll be a lot better. (White Sox starter Lance) Lynn was really good for five innings. He was outstanding, to be honest with you. We just didn’t score enough runs. But we feel good going into Seattle."

They have no choice. There is no time for any of these teams to feel bad about themselves.

So, with all that optimism, what are the Red Sox realistically staring down at in these last 17 games?

For starters, let's look at the schedule ...

They at Seattle (3), home against the Orioles (3), off day, two at Fenway vs. the Mets, off day, three home games against the Yankees, off day, finishing with six on the road against Baltimore and the Nationals.

The first takeway is that there shouldn't be any more need or resting regulars (as Cora attempted to do with Xander Bogaerts Sunday before putting him up to pinch-hit). Those four off days should guarantee that.

The three off days before the Yankees series should also allow to temper the pain of going without Chris Sale while the Sox' ace goes through COVID protocol.

Then there is what the other postseason contenders are facing ...

The Red Sox currently sit virtually tied with the Blue Jays for the top spot in the Wild Card race, with the Yankees sitting one game out and both Oakland Seattle sitting three games in back of the current Wild Card leaders.

Some might argue that the way the Blue Jays are playing it doesn't matter who they play, but as we witnessed with the Yankees it can certainly change the narrative in a hurry. Here are what the Red Sox' top two competitors are looking at:

Toronto: It faces the Rays six times, the Yankees for three at home and then get the opportunity to feast on the Twins bizarrely for seven late-season meetings. The Jays finish with three at Rogers Centre against the Orioles.

Yankees: Like the Blue Jays, they only have two off days the rest of the way. Their next 10 games, however, come against the Twins, Orioles, Indians and Rangers. The last three series, however, makes up for the scheduling soft spot, going on the road to play both the Red Sox and Blue Jays before finishing things off with three games at home against the Rays.

One thing to note about the Red Sox' slate is the potential discomfort that might come with that final series in Washington. Remember, there will be no designated hitter, not only forcing one of the Sox' primary bats out of the starting lineup but most likely necessitating an additional reliance on relievers.

Speaking of relievers ...

If you want to look at how the Red Sox' roster can feel a bit less patchwork, Matt Barnes' return would go a long way. Even if he doesn't close, a productive Barnes - who may rejoin the Red Sox as soon as Monday - should have a huge impact on how Cora can manage. (Put it this way, in that scenario Whitlock isn't called upon to squeeze three outs out of the ninth.)

Even with Barnes, the Red Sox still need at least one more late-inning arm. Josh Taylor is showing signs he is back to his first-half form. Darwinzon Hernandez has looked solid in his two outings since returning. Hansel Robles has been a lot more good than bad over his last six appearances (only 1 of his 5 inherited runners have scored, while not giving up a run and just 4 baserunners). And Ryan Brasier is a guy who has the stuff and has been there before, which are both of value at this point in the game.

Perhaps the biggest key in the coming days will be the Red Sox getting the best versions of Rodriguez, Eovaldi, Tanner Houck and Pivetta. It's simplistic, but hard to ignore. It has to start with Monday's starter, ERod, who will try to avenge the last time he pitched at Safeco Field in that horrific season-opening series two years ago (4 1/3 innings, 6 runs).

The lineup? Don't look now but it appears, other than Christian Arroyo, the Red Sox have everyone at their disposal. One of the key elements of this equation figures to be J.D. Martinez's back, which has sidelined him the last two games.

We said it throughout the first few months: This is an imperfect team facing a plausible path to the postseason. That hasn't changed.

Red Sox vs. Mariners Series Preview

Previewing a pivotal three-game series between two Wild Card contenders
By BMCampbell Sep 13, 2021, 12:01pm EDT


Lookout Landing
The opponent in one sentence

With less than three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Mariners still find themselves in the thick of the American League Wild Card race as they come into play Monday just three games back of the Red Sox for the second and final spot.
Record

77-66
Head-to-head record

2-2
Trend

Slightly downward. While the Mariners have certainly exceeded preseason expectations set for them in the spring, they are coming off a disappointing weekend in which they dropped two out of three to the lowly Diamondbacks at home after losing another three-game series in Houston last week.
Pitching Matchups

9/13: Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Logan Gilbert, 10:10 PM ET

The Red Sox will hand the ball to Rodriguez to kick off what has the makings to be an extremely crucial series. September has been a mixed bag for the left-hander thus far, as he hurled six scoreless innings in a winning effort against the Rays at Tropicana Field on September 2 before getting shelled for six runs in just 3 2⁄3 innings by a similar Tampa Bay lineup at Fenway Park five days later.

Opposing Rodriguez will be rookie right-hander Logan Gilbert for the Mariners. Since getting called up to the majors for the first time in May, Gilbert has posted a 5.10 ERA through his first 20 starts and 95 1⁄3 innings pitched of the season. There was a stretch from May 25 through July 30 where Seattle went unbeaten in Gilbert’s outing, but they are just 1-6 in his last seven starts. A former first-round draft pick out of Stetson University, the 24-year-old primarily relies on his four-seam fastball and also throws a slider, changeup, and curveball.

9/14: Nathan Eovaldi vs. Tyler Anderson, 10:10 PM ET (MLB Network for out of market)

Eovaldi has undoubtedly been the Red Sox’ best starting pitcher over the last month-plus. The veteran righty has put up a 1.91 ERA in his last six starts (37 2⁄3 innings pitched) dating back to August 11 and ranks third among qualified American League starters in fWAR (1.0) over that stretch. What has stood out in regards to Eovaldi’s performance as of late is the fact that the 31-year-old hurler is striking out nearly one-third of the batters he has faced while waking less than 5 percent of them. He will look to do more of that on Monday.

Opposite Eovaldi will be veteran left-hander Tyler Anderson, who the Mariners acquired from the Pirates ahead of July’s trade deadline in exchange for a pair of prospects. Since the move to Seattle, Anderson has pitched to the tune of a 3.83 ERA over eight starts with the M’s spanning 44 2⁄3 innings of work. The 31-year-old, who also wears the No. 31, is similar to Eovaldi in that he also uses five pitches, though his arsenal consists of a four-seam fastball, a cutter, a changeup, a sinker, and a rarely-featured curveball.


9/15: TBD vs. Marco Gonzales, 4:10 PM ET (MLB Network for out of market)

The Red Sox have yet to name a starter for Wednesday afternoon’s series finale against the Mariners, though it seems likely that responsibility would fall to Tanner Houck since his last start came on Friday — meaning he would be working on regular rest.

The Mariners, on the other hand, will roll with left-hander Marco Gonzales, who got his 2021 season off to a shaky start but has been significantly better going back to the All-Star break. In 10 starts since the Midsummer Classic, the 29-year-old has posted an ERA of 2.74 to go along with 39 strikeouts to 13 walks over his last 61 2⁄3 innings of work. Gonzales, like Anderson, throws five different pitches: a sinker, a changeup, a curveball, a cutter, and a four-seam fastball.
Old Friends

Shortly after being released by the Red Sox last month, veteran right-hander Matt Andriese inked a major-league deal with the Mariners. Andriese’s time in Boston did not go well, but it appears as though a change of scenery has benefitted the 32-year-old since he has only allowed one unearned run through his first four appearances with Seattle.

Ryan Weber, meanwhile, was first claimed off waivers by the Brewers when he was designated for assignment by the Red Sox in June, but the righty was later scooped up the Mariners when Milwaukee designated him for assignment in July. Weber has appeared in two games for Seattle since then and was optioned to the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma on July 29.

As for Marcus Wilson, the outfield prospect acquired from the Diamondbacks in the Blake Swihart trade two years ago was designated for assignment by the Red Sox in the wake of the team’s flurry of trade deadline moves back in July. Wilson, like Weber, was later claimed off waivers by the Mariners, though he is still waiting to make his major-league debut.
Notable Position Players

Ty France was one of four players the Mariners acquired from the Padres that sent Austin Adams and Austin Nola to San Diego last August. In his first full season with Seattle, France has been a sparkplug who has proven that he can play every infield position besides shortstop. As a former 34th-round draft pick out of college in 2015, he is easy to root for.

For a Mariners team that seemingly endures endless roster turnover year after year, veteran third baseman Kyle Seager has proven to be a steady presence in Seattle’s lineup. He has also belted a career-high 34 home runs this year.

J.P. Crawford may be one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball that no one really talks about. The 26-year-old is currently in the midst of a career year and came into play Sunday having posted a positive-7 defensive runs saved over 1,234 1⁄3 innings at shortstop so far this season.

Mitch Haniger clubbed his 32nd home run of the year and his second homer in as many games in Sunday’s 5-4 loss to the Diamondbacks. The right-handed hitting slugger will certainly be a threat to go deep off of the left-handed Rodriguez later Monday night, assuming he is in Seattle’s starting lineup.

Abraham Toro was one of two players the Mariners picked up from the Astros when they dealt relievers Kendall Graveman and Rafael Montero to Houston ahead of the trade deadline. Since then, Toro, a 24-year-old first baseman, has posted an OPS of .813 through his first 42 games with Seattle.

Jarred Kelenic came into the 2021 season as one of the most hyped-up prospects in baseball. The young outfielder was called up for the first time on May 13, but struggled mightily in his first big-league stint before getting optioned to Triple-A in early June. Upon returning to the Mariners after the All-Star break, Kelenic has still endured his fair share of difficulties, but has begun showing some signs of promise. He is, for instance, hitting .231/.310/.538 over his last seven games and mashed his 10th home run of the year on Sunday.


Bullpen Snapshot

Since the Mariners traded Graveman to the Astros in late July, right-hander Drew Steckenrider has emerged as the club’s top reliever, as evidenced by the fact that he has allowed just two earned runs over his last 19 1/3 innings pitched.

Casey Sadler has also been impressive out of the Seattle bullpen, as the righty extended his scoreless appearances streak to 20 straight games in the sixth inning of Sunday’s loss to Arizona.

Also of note, former Rays reliever Diego Castillo has posted a 3.38 ERA and 5.79 FIP across 14 appearances and 13 1⁄3 innings pitched for the Mariners since he was traded from Tampa Bay to Seattle on July 29.
Injuries

Former Boston College standout Justin Dunn opened the 2021 season in the Mariners’ starting rotation, but has been held out of action since late June on account of right shoulder inflammation. Seattle transferred the 25-year-old from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on Aug. 19, but he did pitch in a simulated game over the weekend, so he could be nearing a return.

On April 26, left-hander Nick Margevicius was placed on the 10-day injured list one day he left his start against the Red Sox in the first inning due to left shoulder inflammation. As they did with Dunn, the Mariners transferred Margevicius to the 60-day IL in May and there has not been much word on him since.

Andres Munoz, a 22-year-old right-hander, underwent Tommy John surgery last March and was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Mariners at the start of the 2021 season.

Ljay Newsome, a 24-year-old right-hander, experienced inflammation in his right elbow back in May and was later diagnosed with a UCL injury that would require the Mariners to place him on the 60-day injured list shortly thereafter. He apparently underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery at some point this summer.

James Paxton’s reunion with the Mariners was a short-lived one, as the veteran left-hander sustained a forearm strain in early April and later underwent Tommy John surgery that same month.

Joining this long list of Mariners pitchers who recently had Tommy John surgery is former Astros and Blue Jays closer Ken Giles, who inked a two-year, $7 million deal with Seattle in February that includes a team option for 2023 despite going under the knife last September.

Among Mariners’ position players who are currently sidelined, second baseman Shed Long Jr. suffered a stress fracture in his right shin last September and is still feeling the effects of that today, as he was most recently transferred to the 60-day IL towards the end of August.

Evan White, meanwhile, won a Gold Glove for his defensive efforts at first base during his rookie season last year, but has been limited to just 30 games this season on account of being sidelined with a left hip flexor strain since May 13.

Jake Fraley has been on and off the injured list for a variety of reasons so far this season. The 26-year-old has most recently been hampered by right shoulder inflammation, though he did start a rehab assignment with Tacoma over the weekend.

Sam Haggerty is another Mariners player currently dealing with inflammation in his right elbow, as the second baseman was initially placed on the 10-day IL in late May because of the ailment before being transferred to the 60-day IL in early June.

Reining American League Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis did not make his 2021 debut until April 20 because of a bone bruise is right knee and later suffered a meniscus tear in early June. Just last week, the M’s shut down the outfielder for the remainder of the 2021 campaign due to a setback in his rehab.
Weather Forecast

According to the National Weather Service, the forecast for the Seattle-area this week looks pretty encouraging. Monday is expected to be a mostly sunny day with temperatures in the 60s, Tuesday should be clear before rain showers roll in later that night, and Wednesday looks good once those showers pass through in the morning.

That said, T-Mobile Park does have a retractable roof, so it’s not like a slight chance of rain would prevent these next three games from getting played.