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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 13, 2021 2:02:21 GMT -5
Red Sox @ Mariners Monday, 13th September 2021 10pm @ Safeco
Erod 11-8/5.15
Eduardo Rodriguez lasted just 3 2/3 innings Tuesday, getting pounded for six runs in a loss to the Rays. Rodriguez had been dominant in three prior outings against the Rays this season, most notably in his last start when he went six shutout frames. He didn't have it Tuesday, though, serving up a couple home runs, three doubles and a triple among the eight hits he gave up. The inconsistency this season with Rodriguez has been maddening, as he will carry a 5.15 ERA into next week's start in Seattle even as his peripherals are good.
Gilbert 5-5/5.10
Logan Gilbert surrendered two runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings while taking a no-decision in Tuesday's 10-inning loss to the Astros. Nothing too flashy in this one. Gilbert struck out five and walked one in the short outing, with the two runs to touch home against him both coming in the third inning, in the form of a solo homer by Jose Altuve and an RBI double by Alex Bregman. The 24-year-old Gilbert will carry an unwieldy 5.10 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 106/21 K/BB ratio (20 starts) into a potentially sticky home showdown with the Red Sox when he next toes the rubber.
Mariners host Red Sox as both battle for playoff spot
With three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Seattle Mariners are still in the hunt for a playoff spot.
It's safe to say not many preseason prognosticators saw that coming, considering the Mariners haven't made the postseason since 2001, the longest drought in the four major professional sports.
The Mariners (77-66) will open a three-game series at home against the Boston Red Sox (81-64) on Monday night, one of the teams they're chasing for an American League wild-card berth.
"No one expected us to even be in this spot, regardless. We've got nothing to lose," Seattle shortstop J.P. Crawford said.
Boston is tied with Toronto for the first wild-card berth, with Seattle three games back. Boston and Seattle split a four-game series at Fenway Park in late April.
The Mariners pulled within a game of a playoff spot Friday before losing two straight to lowly Arizona, including 5-4 Sunday afternoon despite home runs by Mitch Haniger, Dylan Moore and Jarred Kelenic.
"Obviously, all these games are important, they're fun, it's kind of what baseball should be like in September, and I'm really glad we're in this spot," Mariners manager Scott Servais said.
The Mariners have won a major-league-leading 30 one-run games, which has made up for their minus-57 run differential. They are the only AL team with a negative run differential and a winning record.
Servais said the wild-card race can only help his young team.
"Along the way, you're gaining these experiences, you're getting the big at-bats late in games with runners in scoring position," Servais said. "Sometimes, you're better at slowing it down -- slowing your heartbeat down and working through an at-bat -- than other times. But I do know from experience the more opportunities you get to go through that, the better you get at handling it."
Servais also recently downplayed the run differential, saying the Mariners have a "fun differential."
"I've never been in this type of spot before," Crawford said. "It sure is fun."
The Red Sox have remained in the race despite a COVID-19 outbreak that has lasted two weeks and has put a dozen players and coaches on the injured list.
Boston lost 2-1 to the host Chicago White Sox on Sunday, losing two of three games against the AL Central leaders. Each contest was decided by one run.
"We're playing good baseball. The last three games, they have felt like the playoffs. The at-bats, the intensity, the moves," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "Obviously, we didn'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 (in Seattle)."
The left-handed Rodriguez (11-8, 5.15 ERA) is scheduled to start the series opener against Mariners rookie right-hander Logan Gilbert (5-5, 5.10), who will face Boston for the first time.
Rodriguez is 4-3 with a 3.72 ERA in eight career starts against Seattle. He defeated the Mariners 5-3 on April 25 in Boston, going seven innings and allowing three runs on six hits, with no walks and eight strikeouts.
--Field Level Media
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 13, 2021 2:04:16 GMT -5
Probables for series:
Monday, 10:10 p.m. ET -- LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (11-8, 5.15 ERA) vs. RHP Logan Gilbert (5-5, 5.10 ERA)
Tuesday, 10:10 p.m. ET -- RHP Nathan Eovaldi (10-8, 3.57 ERA) vs. LHP Tyler Anderson (6-9, 4.20 ERA)
Wednesday, 4:10 p.m. ET -- TBD vs. LHP Marco Gonzales (8-5, 4.03 ERA)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 13, 2021 2:06:16 GMT -5
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)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 13, 2021 2:16:15 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Nick Pivetta did his best to stay in shape during his time on COVID IL, throwing into a fence at the park By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated September 12, 2021, 7:32 p.m.
When Nick Pivetta went to the COVID-related injured list last week, the righthander said he would go to the park where no one was around and toss a ball into the fence. It was his only way of staying in shape. The Sox reinstated Pivetta from the COVID-IL for his Sunday start where Pivetta lasted 5 ⅓ innings, yielding just three hits and one unearned run.
Pivetta was originally placed on the IL Sept. 5.
“It was an unfortunate break but mentally it was good to recheck,” Pivettta said,” I just tried to stay focused and watch the baseball games. I felt fine the whole entire time. I tried to get in as much work as possible to just keep myself in shape as best I could.”
During his start Sunday, Pivetta was in constant communication with the Sox’ staff. They wanted to make sure that he had his wind and could eat up the innings in front of him. But the Red Sox’ COVID issues aren’t going away. Phillips Valdez tested positive, marking the 12th player since Aug. 27 to do so.
With Chris Sale out and the outbreak remaining situated in the Red Sox clubhouse, Pivetta is now even more important to the rotation. While it was a mental recheck, Pivetta knew the importance of keeping tabs on his team.
“I’m pretending I’m there with everybody,” Pivetta said of his time on the COVID-IL. “And when I’m throwing against a fence, I’m throwing against a fence like I’m playing catch or throwing in a game. I think it’s just all mental and keeping yourself checked in, locked in for that.” Here come the Blue Jays
The Blue Jays are on a roll and are currently the most dangerous team in the American League. They have won the last 14 of 16 contests after battering the Orioles, 22-7. The Blue Jays rattled off consecutive sweeps in that span against two teams vying for a postseason berth. The Jays handed the A’s a three-game sweep at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Then they visited New York and rattled off four straight against the Yankees. The Blue Jays have outscored their opponents, 120-65, in that 16-game span, belting 41 homers. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has 44 homers, tying Shohei Ohtani for the most in baseball. Marcus Semien has 39. When George Springer is on the field, he’s a key contributor to their lineup. At the All-Star break, the Jays were 4 ½ games out of the second wild-card spot in the American League. Now, they are tied with the Red Sox for the first wild-card spot. Semien somewhat predicted this surge.
“We’ve kind of been up and down now, right?,” Semien said at the All-Star break. “We show signs of greatness some nights. Other nights are tough nights. But I think with a young team, you’re going to see that. I also know that with a young team usually the second half is better. There are a lot of young players and I’m looking forward to seeing what everybody’s going to do. We’ve had young guys who are All-Stars already. I think the second half is when a young team takes off.” Martinez scratched again
J.D. Martinez (back spasms) was originally in the lineup for Sunday’s game, but was again a late scratch for the third day in a row … Xander Bogaerts, who just returned from the COVID-related injured list, sat for most of Sunday’s game but came in during the eighth inning. Manager Alex Cora said he would likely give Bogaerts another day of rest in one of the three games with the Mariners ... Speaking of the Mariners, the pitching matchups in that three-game set are as follows: Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Logan Gilbert, Nate Eovaldi vs. Tyler Anderson. Marco Gonzalez will take the ball for the Mariners Wednesday. The Red Sox starter is still to be determined. Matt Barnes and Martín Pérez both pitched scoreless innings in Worcester. Pérez, Cora said recently, likely would be back after that one outing, but Barnes would need two. Considering where the Sox are bullpen-wise, though, Barnes could come back sooner … Jay Groome impressed during his second start in Double-A Portland. He tossed six shutout inning allowing two hits, and striking out nine. He issued one walk. He hasn’t allowed a run in his first starts with the Sea Dogs (11 IP).
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 13, 2021 2:18:32 GMT -5
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.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 13, 2021 2:32:02 GMT -5
Mastrodonato: Wild Card race heating up, but Red Sox barely hanging on
By Jason Mastrodonato | jason.mastrodonato@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald PUBLISHED: September 12, 2021 at 6:54 p.m. | UPDATED: September 12, 2021 at 7:15 p.m.
You have to appreciate Alex Cora’s optimism, but the words he’s saying don’t match up with what the Red Sox are doing on the field.
“We’re playing good baseball,” Cora said after his club’s 2-1 loss to the White Sox on Sunday afternoon.
The Red Sox lost two of three in Chicago, continuing a trend that’s almost six weeks old: they aren’t playing good baseball against good teams.
Since the trade deadline, the Red Sox haven’t won a series against a team currently over .500. They’ve lost six and tied once, going 6-17 across seven series against the Rays, Blue Jays, Yankees and White Sox.
“The last three games, they have felt like the playoffs,” Cora said. “The at-bats, the intensity, the moves. Obviously we don’t win the series but we played well. … We’re playing good baseball and I think offensively we’ll be a lot better.”
The good news is there aren’t many games left against winning teams.
The Red Sox have three against Seattle this week and three against the Yankees at home on Sept. 24, 25 and 26. Those are the only two teams remaining on the schedule who have a winning record.
There are 11 games left against losing teams.
At this point, the Red Sox look poised to limp into the playoffs playing arguably their worst baseball of the season. There are few players offering reliably consistent performances these days.
Of course, they’ve had 14 players go on the COVID-19 related injury list in the last 16 days. After playing the outfield for the majority of two weeks, J.D. Martinez is now dealing with back spasms. Xander Bogaerts needed the day off Sunday after a bout with COVID-19.
The Sox have called up just about everybody who is playing halfway decently in Triple-A Worcester. Two of them, Connor Seabold and Ryan Brasier, had non-competitive stuff as the Red Sox allowed eight runs on Saturday.
They’ve done everything possible to add talent since mostly whiffing at the trade deadline. They picked up two players who were let go by other franchises in Travis Shaw and Jose Iglesias and immediately made them key components of their roster.
They’re desperate, clearly, and it’s hard to say where they’d be if not for the COVID outbreak, though nobody is going to feel sorry for one of the three least-vaccinated teams in MLB having a COVID outbreak. Most of what’s happening to the Red Sox was of their own doing.
But no, they aren’t playing good baseball.
They’re hanging in games because they have enough talent to do so. Watching them play the White Sox felt like watching two evenly matched teams for most of the series. The difference is that the White Sox have a handful of elite relievers coming out of the bullpen and the Red Sox are tying it together with other teams’ castoffs and minor leaguers.
Can the Red Sox compete with the White Sox in a five-game series, should they make it that far in the playoffs? Of course. Getting Chris Sale and Matt Barnes back from the COVID list will help a lot.
But have the Red Sox done anything since July 30 to inspire confidence? Not really.
The most impressive thing was watching Cora manage his COVID-ravaged squad to win some series against some mediocre teams in the Twins and Indians.
Points can be given to Bobby Dalbec, who finally found his swing, Kyle Schwarber, who has infectious patience at the plate, and Nathan Eovaldi, for continuing to look like an ace deep into the season. Hunter Renfroe has also been dominant over the last two months.
But otherwise, it’s been a little bit like Groundhog Day these last few weeks of Red Sox baseball.
They scrape together wins some against bad teams, they lose most of them against good teams, and there isn’t a whole lot of new and/or exciting things happening.
The Wild Card race should come down to the wire. The Blue Jays are on a roll. The Yankees are falling apart. Oakland and Seattle are hanging around. It could be an exciting final three weeks.
The Red Sox are barely hanging on.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 13, 2021 2:38:54 GMT -5
Tom Caron @tomcaron · 3h Yankees, Mariners, & A’s all lose by a run. Red Sox and Blue Jays (tied) now hold the 2 Wild Card spots. Season ends three weeks from today. Buckle up.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 13, 2021 8:48:58 GMT -5
Assessing the wildcard competition
Where do the Red Sox stand with just a few weeks left to go? By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins Sep 13, 2021, 9:01am EDT
The Red Sox are caught up in a, well, wild Wildcard race right now, just barely holding onto a playoff position. They are technically tied with Toronto for the top spot (though the Blue Jays hold the edge in the loss column) while the Yankees trail by one game as Seattle and Oakland both trail by three. For all my math heads out there, that’s five teams within three games, all fighting for two spots. There are now just three full weeks remaining on the schedule until this all has to be figured out, so it seems like an opportune time to take a minute to acclimate ourselves with the competition. We’ll go in order of their current standing. Toronto Blue Jays
Record: 89-54
Trend: Impossibly Hot
Strength: Star Power
I was tempted to just say Vlad Jr. here, but the son of a Hall of Famer is just one of the concerns when looking at this Blue Jays roster. They are absolutely stacked with players to fear, and that’s both in their lineup and rotation. With the bats, there is the aforementioned Guerrero, who probably wins the MVP in a non-Ohtani year, but also Marcus Semien, George Springer, Bo Bichette, and Teoscar Hernández. And then in the rotation they have a top three of José Berríos, Robbie Ray, and Hyun-Jin Ryu. There are so many guys on this roster that can take a team on their back for stretches at a time. And when they have multiple players clicking? Well, they play like they are right now, winning 14 of 16.
Weakness: Bullpen
This is more in theory than reality, at least lately, but it’s the closest thing to a weakness I can find right now. Toronto’s bullpen has pitchers who can get hot at the right time and provide more than serviceable performances in the late innings. That said, they don’t have the same kind of star power here, and if they are going to hit a road block before the end of the season it seems reasonable to look for it in late and close games.
X-Factor: Alejandro Kirk
The one weak spot in this Blue Jays lineup, on some days at least, can be found with the catching position. Danny Jansen plays there most of the time, and while he’s a solid hitter for a catcher he’s still below-average overall. Kirk being able to catch every day is probably a pipe dream for 2021, but if they can get him in more often that certainly adds even more punch to their lineup and could make this a group that truly has no holes.
Schedule: Mixed
The Blue Jays look like they can beat anyone right now, and that will be put to the test with six of their next nine games coming against the Rays. That said, they also have two more series with the Twins, and one more with the Orioles, along with a matchup against the Yankees. New York Yankees
Record: 79-64
Trend: Impossibly Cold
Strength: Power in the lineup
The Yankees lineup still has more bark than bite, meaning the names are more intimidating than the results have seemingly been. But that threat is still there. This is still a lineup with a heart consisting of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rizzo, Joey Gallo, and Gary Sánchez. All of those hitters have their flaws, and we’ve certainly seen those more than the strengths of late, but if this group gets going it doesn’t matter who they are facing. They will put up runs, and just generally terrify every opponent.
Weakness: Defense
Seems like we can pick everything here, but the Yankees defense is something of a mess right now. They don’t really have a true center fielder, with Judge having to play there sometimes or them having to sacrifice offense and putting Brett Gardner in. And even then, Gardner is not the athlete he once was. And then in the infield, Gleyber Torres has been a mess at shortstop, and Gio Urshela isn’t the sure-handed third baseman he used to be. And that says nothing of the problems from Sánchez behind the plate. They have enough problems right now, and they’re making things worse by creating their own jams.
X-Factor: Bullpen
On paper, the Yankees should be able to shut things down late in games. That’s been their MO for years now, and they still have Aroldis Chapman and Chad Green. But they haven’t been as consistent as they should be. It’s hard to expect it at this point, but if those two get back to form and Jonathan Loaisiga can get back in the fold, their games can become significantly shortened.
Schedule: Soft at first before hardening
One saving grace for Yankee fans right now is that they have a chance to get on track right now with a soft schedule for the next week or two. They have one game coming up against the Twins Monday afternoon, then their next three series are against the Orioles, Cleveland, and Rangers. They need to take advantage because they then finish with Boston, Toronto, and Tampa Bay. Oakland Athletics
Record: 77-66
Trend: Neutral
Strength: Top of the rotation
The Athletics are honestly kind of a difficult team for me to figure out right now. They don’t have anything that stands out as particularly horrible, but nothing really stands out as great either. That said, their top two right now is scary. Former Red Sox prospect Frankie Montas is pairing with former first rounder Sean Manaea to give quality innings twice every five days. Neither of these pitchers are going to carry a team like, say, the Blue Jays top-end is capable of, but they’re hitting their strides and are tough matchups.
Weakness: Reliable offense
The Athletics are a mix and match kind of team, which can work with the right group (see: The Rays for the last half decade) but can also just prevent hitters from getting in rhythms. Starling Marte and Matt Olson are doing well for the lineup right now, but it’s been a bit of a mystery lately where that extra help will come from beyond those two right now. They’re using a lot of platoons, and it’s only resulting in a middling offensive performance.
X-Factor: Chris Bassitt
Bassitt could really take that top of the rotation to another level if he can make it back to the group. The righty has been their best pitcher this year, but was struck in the face with a line drive. It’s not clear if he’ll be back this year, but the team seems to think so. That said, even if he does return it’s also not clear whether or not it’ll be in the rotation. If it is, they can flash back to the Moneyball days when their top three starting pitchers helped carried them to postseason play.
Schedule: Getting tough late
The Athletics really need to use this time right now to gain momentum with their next two series coming against the Royals and Angels, because after that all of their remaining games are against the Mariners and Astros. Seattle Mariners
Record: 77-66
Trend: A little cold
Strength: Bullpen
The Mariners are the big surprise in this group, and it doesn’t get any less surprising when you look at run differential. Their -57 run differential is far and away the worst of this group, with New York being second worst at +27. Some of that is certainly luck, but the other way you outperform run differential is with a great bullpen. And Seattle has that. They don’t have the biggest names, but they really go four deep with guys they can trust in the highest leverage situations. Especially when games get this important and the urgency rises, having that many guys you can trust as a manager is a game changer.
Weakness: Offensive star power
The Mariners are here and have some talented hitters, but they don’t really have the kind of middle-of-the-order star power that can really change the game. Ty France is having a phenomenal season, but it’s not really in terms of game-changing power. Kyle Seager can hit the ball a long way, and he’s gone on some hot streaks, but the overall batting profile is more good than great. There are players who are capable of covering this weakness, but not enough players who can count on to do just that.
X-Factor: Jarred Kelenic
The guy who has the best potential to mask that weakness is Kelenic, who was one of the best prospects in the game coming into the season before serving as the biggest reminder of the current gap between Triple-A and major-league pitching. But the talent is still very much there, and he’s been above-average in September. If he can flip that switch another notch or two for the final couple weeks of the month, he can be the superstar bat they ride to a shocking playoff bid.
Schedule: Opportunity abound
The Mariners get a whole lot of face time with the teams they’re competing with in this race, including three starting tonight against the Red Sox. They also have two series against Oakland before the close of the season, as well as two against the Angels and one against the Royals.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 13, 2021 8:50:57 GMT -5
Deciphering the Red Sox' path to the postseason Current Time 0:03 / 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.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 13, 2021 10:37:46 GMT -5
It’s go time for Eduardo Rodriguez
We’ve said it before, but we really mean it this time. By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins Sep 13, 2021, 10:30am EDT
I’ve been writing about the Red Sox in some capacity since 2011, and I think Eduardo Rodriguez has been my favorite pitcher in that time to write about. That’s not saying he’s necessarily my favorite to watch, and it’s certainly not saying he’s been the best, but rather that he’s just a really interesting pitcher to me. Everything about his pitching, when compartmentalized, suggests he should be great. And at times, he is. But it seems like he never really has everything going at once for any significantly long stretch, and the results are more often just frustrating.
The issue for Rodriguez is that he’s now less than a month from free agency, and nothing has really changed. And certainly nothing over the next three-to-seven weeks is going to drastically change the way teams view him. But that doesn’t mean they’re not important. He could really use a strong finish to his season, and the team definitely could use one.
This is something that we’ve seemingly been saying about Rodriguez all year, and it’s been true. He was always going to be a big story coming into the year, not only because of the talent and frustration mentioned up top but also that he was coming off a bout with COVID and myocarditis. No one knew what to expect. And we’re here in mid-September, and that’s still the case.
As the team was coming out of the All-Star break, Rodriguez was a guy I was looking at to take a leap forward and help carry the rotation. Nathan Eovaldi has taken that mantle instead, but Rodriguez has had his flashes of good. But he’s also had his flashes of bad. Since the break, he’s had four starts in which he’s allowed one or fewer runs (this does not count his start that he had to leave after one inning in which he allowed one run), but he’s also had three in which he’s allowed at least five.
That kind of inconsistency is a little easier to swallow when there are other starters who can clearly pick up the slack. But that’s not the case for the Red Sox rotation at the moment. Eovaldi has been great, and he’s the de facto ace at the moment. Chris Sale has mostly been good, but there are still some questions and he’s currently on the COVID list. And then you have the total wildcards that are Tanner Houck and Nick Pivetta. The team needs Eduardo Rodriguez to be consistently good, at least keeping them in every game and going ahead and leading the charge in some wins. They can’t afford for him to still be figuring some things out.
Unfortunately, that seems to be the case right now. He’s still throwing some great starts as recently as two outings ago when he tossed six shutout innings against the Rays. But what’s been strange lately is that he hasn’t really been missing bats. Typically, Rodriguez is always striking batters out, and the issue is that he’s not very efficient as he’s doing it. Right now, he’s not getting deep into many games while also not striking out many batters, setting down three or fewer in three of his last four outings.
And again, it seems to be a matter of him just not having everything working at the same time. Rodriguez has settled in to mostly being a three-pitch guy, though a couple other offerings can be thrown in sporadically at times. But mainly, he needs his fastball, cutter, and changeup working at the same time. If they are, that is enough change of speed, eye level, and movement to keep batters off-balance and induce whiffs at a high rate. But he’s gotten whiffs on at least 15 percent of each of those three pitches in the same start just once since the start of August. For some context, he did it twice in July, three times in May, and twice in April.
The Red Sox need him to figure things out, starting tonight out in Seattle. They are not longer at a point where they can afford to give away games, especially not against a team like the Mariners with whom they are competing for a postseason spot. The rotation is enough in flux right now that they need Rodriguez to be a stalwart. That’s not really something he’s ever been for long periods in his career, but he’s done it over shorter bursts. Right now, all Boston needs is that short burst.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 13, 2021 11:35:34 GMT -5
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.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 13, 2021 13:26:13 GMT -5
Fate keeps gifting the fumbling Red Sox opportunities, and Seattle’s another The Red Sox appear as willing as anyone to let October be taken from them.
By Jon Couture September 13, 2021 | 12:30 PM
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COMMENTARY
In the Sunday Red Sox linescore, there are 1s in each half of the ninth inning. They did not end up there via equal means, but that doesn’t change their value one iota.
One came via Craig Kimbrel, who gave up a leadoff double and walked the bases loaded in the top of the ninth. One came via Garrett Whitlock, who was a pitch from mowing through the heart of the White Sox order in the bottom when his 0-2 fastball to Leury García left his hand.
Supposed to be up and away, it missed in the guts of the zone, and García did with his one opportunity what multiple Red Sox hitters couldn’t with their slew. 430 feet later, it was a 2-1 loss for both the game and the series.
“It had to end that way, I think,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa told reporters. “We had the last hero.”
“We had our chances at the end there against Craig and we did a good job,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters, saying later “we’re playing good baseball.”
Remind me again which one is the out-of-touch 76 year old?
I kid, a little. Cora’s team going 8-8 amid a COVID-19 outbreak that’s literally ensnared half a major-league roster is quite good in a macro sense. To whatever degree it is a mess of their own making doesn’t change that, nor did anything that happened at Guaranteed Rate Field leave Boston looking out of place.
Chicago, safely playoff ensconced for months because the American League Central is abysmal, sits just two games ahead in the overall standings. They are no fundamental masterwork either.
And yet, that increasingly feels like the nicest thing to be said about these Red Sox. That they are, in fact, no worse than anybody else.
Five teams, two wild-card spots, three weeks to play. Peaking Toronto, with a comically deep lineup and the potential AL Cy Young in Robbie Ray, but who needed two late comebacks Saturday to not get swept in a doubleheader by Baltimore. The Yankees, an MLB-worst 3-12 since that 13-game win streak.
Oakland, whose bullpen blew eight saves in a 19-game stretch ending Saturday. (The A’s lost Sunday, too, and barely won the season series with the last-place Rangers.) Seattle, hanging around despite being outscored by 57 runs thanks to 14 extra-inning and 30 one-run wins.
And the Red Sox, who fell behind Sunday on another fielding mistake when Kiké Hernández threw away a grounder, who let Kimbrel escape three pretty pedestrian performances by chasing too many curveballs, and who appear as willing as anyone else in the group to let October be taken from them.
Harsh? Maybe. But we’re going on two full months of squandering opportunities to deliver the happy ending to the feel-good story they spent most of the season building. That they still have that chance feels like something they’ve been given rather than something they’ve earned, and that they can’t close the deal only backs the theory.
I’m a lot more willing to forgive a game like Saturday, when another error lit the fuse on a five-run inning, but the offense capitalized on an early opportunity and Xander Bogaerts was stellar even beyond his ninth-inning magic behind second base. It was just nice to see a crooked number, and a promising rally not end up a sacrifice fly and a couple of strikeouts.
But a wild-card chase that’s going to come down to games, to at-bats, to pitches, still somehow feels maddeningly beyond this team’s means. Garrett Whitlock has been a revelation. Hunter Renfroe and Hernández superb additions. And yet, as a group, they are consistently exposed in losses as the fundamentally flawed bunch they probably always were.
I don’t blame Chaim Bloom for that; given a directive and a budget, who could ask for more out of Kyle Schwarber, Travis Shaw, and Austin Davis? I don’t even really blame Cora, who’s stuck throwing Hansel Robles and the WooSox All-Stars out there.
They aren’t executing. They do the little things wrong even when they do the big things right. They’re a transitional bunch that had an October opportunity fall into their lap, and they’re in danger of letting it pass them by.
The Red Sox are down to six series: Three at Seattle; an eight-game homestand with the Orioles, Mets, and Yankees; and a Mid-Atlantic trip through Baltimore and Washington. Three of those teams are playing out the string. Two have a faint pulse in their wild-card races.
Who will step forward? The Mariners are nothing special, and for as difficult a place as Seattle is to play — Boston hasn’t won its annual (outside of 2020) series there since 2013 — the rotation lines up with Eduardo Rodriguez and Nate Eovaldi before the Tanner Houck spot on Wednesday.
The Mariners just lost a home series to 96-loss Arizona, for goodness sakes. The last Red Sox series win against a team currently better than .500 was seven weeks ago. Forget the outbreak.
If not now, when?
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 13, 2021 14:53:59 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 2h Red Sox pitcher ranking with 2-strikes since the 4th of July: AVG - 21st, OBP - 27th, SLG - 24th, wOBA - 24th
Teams with higher OPS allowed with 2-strikes: PIT BAL ARI TEX WSH CHC
All comes down to execution.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 13, 2021 14:59:53 GMT -5
Game 146: Red Sox at Mariners lineups and pregame notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated September 13, 2021, 10:07 a.m. After losing two out of three to the White Sox, the Red Sox continue their road trip on Monday with the first of a three-game set in Seattle. All three games with the American League Central leaders in Chicago were decided by one run, with the Red Sox dropping the finale on Leury Garcia’s walkoff home run. Despite the loss, the Red Sox are tied with the surging Blue Jays for the top wild-card spot, and one game ahead of the Yankees. There will be plenty on the line for both teams in Seattle, as the Mariners are still in contention for the wild card as well, tied with Oakland at three games back. Here are the standings. Lineups RED SOX (81-64): 1. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF 2. Kyle Schwarber (L) 1B 3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 5. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 6. Alex Verdugo (L) LF 7. Hunter Renfroe (R) RF 8. Christian Vazquez (R) C 9. Jose Iglesias (R) 2B Pitching: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (11-8, 5.15 ERA) MARINERS (77-66): 1. J.P. Crawford (L) SS 2. Mitch Haniger (R) RF 3. Ty France (R) 1B 4. Kyle Seager (L) 3B 5. Abraham Toro (S) 2B 6. Luis Torrens (R) DH 7. Tom Murphy (R) C 8. Jarred Kelenic (L) CF 9. Dylan Moore (R) LF Pitching: RHP Logan Gilbert (5-5, 5.10 ERA) Time: 10:10 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Gilbert: José Iglesias 1-4 Mariners vs. Rodriguez: J.P. Crawford 2-6, Ty France 1-5, Mitch Haniger 4-18, Dylan Moore 1-5, Tom Murphy 2-7, Kyle Seager 3-15 Stat of the day: The Mariners are the only American League team with a negative run differential (-57) and a winning record. Notes: Rodriguez is 4-3 with a 3.72 ERA in eight career starts against Seattle. The last time he faced the Mariners was April 25 when he went seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits, with no walks and eight strikeouts for the win … The Sox have been without J.D. Martinez (back spasms) for the last three games … The Mariners have won a major-league-leading 30 one-run games … Gilbert is facing the Red Sox for the first time … The pitching matchups for the rest of the series are Nate Eovaldi vs. Tyler Anderson on Tuesday. Marco Gonzalez will take the ball for the Mariners Wednesday, but the Red Sox have yet to determine a starter for the series finale. Song of the Day: Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 13, 2021 16:34:12 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 2m Hello from Seattle. Red Sox are here for the first time since the opening series of the '19 season.
A few things have happened since then, eh?
Dombrowski fired, Bloom hired, Cora fired and rehired, Betts traded, Benintendi traded, Sale's TJ, etc.
#RedSox were 28-17 on the road when they beat the Yankees in the first game after the break.
They are 9-18 since.
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