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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 28, 2021 13:08:57 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles preview: TV schedule, pitching probables, key stories, how to watch (Sept. 28-30) Updated: 1:29 p.m. | Published: 1:29 p.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BALTIMORE -- The Red Sox are licking their wounds coming off a brutal sweep at the Yankees over the weekend at Fenway Park. Despite being beat three straight times, Boston is still in position for a playoff berth and currently holds a one-game lead over the Blue Jays for the second American League wild-card spot. With New York in Toronto for a three-game set starting Tuesday, the Red Sox have a great chance to pick up ground on their two chief competitors by beating up on the lowly Orioles.
Here’s a series preview of this week’s action at Camden Yards: Boston Red Sox (88-68) vs. Baltimore Orioles (50-106) · Oriole Park at Camden Yards · Baltimore, MD
SERIES SCHEDULE (and TV information):
Tue. September 28, 7:05 p.m. ET -- NESN
Wed. September 29, 7:05 p.m. ET -- NESN
Thu. September 30, 7:05 p.m. ET -- NESN
HOW TO WATCH:
Tue. September 28, 7:05 p.m. ET -- NESN (Channel finder: Comcast Xfinity, Verizon Fios, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish, AT&T U verse, fuboTV and Sling) · Live stream: Watch NESN Live, fuboTV, MLB.tv (out of market)
Wed. September 29, 7:05 p.m. ET -- NESN (Channel finder: Comcast Xfinity, Verizon Fios, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish, AT&T U verse, fuboTV and Sling) · Live stream: Watch NESN Live, fuboTV, MLB.tv (out of market)
Thu. September 30, 7:05 p.m. ET -- NESN (Channel finder: Comcast Xfinity, Verizon Fios, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish, AT&T U verse, fuboTV and Sling) · Live stream: Watch NESN Live, fuboTV, MLB.tv (out of market)
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT:
The Orioles are, unsurprisingly, at the bottom of the standings in the American League. Baltimore is 50-106, which is good for the worst record in the majors, and 47 games back of the first-place Rays in the AL East.
Baltimore’s offense has been below-average but not abysmal, as the O’s are tied for 15th in the majors in homers (190) and rank 19th in average (.239) and 22nd in OPS (.708). Their pitching staff has been among the worst in the league, ranking last in both ERA (5.83) and opponent average (.272) and 27th in strikeouts (1,202).
The O’s had one All-Star: outfielder Cedric Mullins. The club had a quiet deadline, making two small trades. Reliever Shawn Armstrong went to the Rays for cash and shortstop Freddy Galvis was dealt to the Phillies in exchange for righty Tyler Burch. Currently, Baltimore has a few key pieces on the injured list, including pitchers Keegan Akin (abdominal surgery) and Matt Harvey (knee inflammation) and outfielder D.J. Stewart (knee).
PITCHING PROBABLES:
Tuesday, 7:05 p.m. ET -- LHP Chris Sale (5-0, 2.57 ERA) vs. LHP Bruce Zimmermann (4-4, 4.83 ERA)
Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. ET -- RHP Nathan Eovaldi (10-9, 3.88 ERA) vs. LHP Zac Lowther (1-2, 7.66 ERA)
Thursday, 7:05 p.m. ET -- RHP Nick Pivetta (9-7, 4.52 ERA) vs. LHP Alexander Wells (1-3, 7.61 ERA)
THREE SOX TO WATCH:
Chris Sale
Sale will pitch Tuesday’s series opener in Baltimore. In his last 13 starts vs. the Orioles, Sale is 10-0 with a 1.92 ERA (17 ER/79.2 IP). In the Expansion Era (1961-present), he is one of four pitchers to win 10 straight decisions against Baltimore, joining Jamie Moyer, Roy Halladay and Jon Lester. Sale’s teams have won each of his last eight starts at Camden Yards; he owns a 1.38 ERA in those outings.
Rafael Devers
Devers has eight home runs in his last 15 games in Baltimore, including five in only seven games this season. He’ll look to take advantage of Camden Yards once again, though the Orioles are starting three lefties in the series.
Hansel Robles
Quietly, Robles has been dominant for the Red Sox in September. All 10 of his appearances (9.0 IP) in September are scoreless (3 H, 1 BB, 13 SO, 0.44 WHIP). Sunday’s outing against the Yankees extended his season-best scoreless streak to 11 games (10.0 IP, 2 BB, 15 SO, .091 AVG, 3-for-33).
SERIES NOTES:
At 88-68 (.564), the Red Sox own the AL’s 2nd Wild Card spot, 1.0 game ahead of TOR... They rank 5th in the AL and 8th in MLB in win percentage. The Sox have lost their last 3 games, after winning each of their previous 7....They are 13-9 in September. The Red Sox lost their first 3 games to the Orioles but have won 12 of the last 13, including each of the last 6...The visiting team won each of the first 9 meetings, but the home team has won the last 7. The Sox are 27-7 in their last 34 games in Baltimore. Since the start of 2018, J.D. Martinez has hit 13 HR at Camden Yards, more than any other visiting player. The Red Sox entered today with the AL’s largest increase in win % from 2020 (.400) to 2021 (.564). Boston has 46 come-from-behind wins, tied with the Rays for most in the majors. The Red Sox lead MLB in doubles (326) and XBH (556)...They rank among the top 5 in runs per game (4th, 5.15), AVG (3rd, .262), SLG (2nd, .450), and OPS (3rd, .779). In their last 43 games (beginning 8/8), the Sox lead the majors in AVG and OPS with runners in scoring position (.309/.919). The Red Sox have been charged with 0 errors in their last 8 games (beginning 9/17), tied for their longest streak of the season (also 7/22-29). The Sox are 11-5 (.688) in extra-inning games, MLB’s 3rd-best record...They are 8-1 in extra-inning games on the road, the best record in the majors among teams who have played at least 5 extra-inning road games.
UP NEXT:
The Red Sox will make the short trip to Washington, D.C. on Thursday night and finish off their season with a three-game series against the Nationals. A potential American League Wild Card game looms Tuesday night.
Fri. Oct. 1 - Sun. Oct. 3 -- @ Nationals (3)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 28, 2021 13:23:54 GMT -5
Red Sox look to hold onto wild-card spot as they open series at Orioles | Lineups and pregame notesBy Andrew Mahoney Globe Staff,Updated September 28, 2021, 10:26 a.m. The Red Sox will look to get back on track when they open a three-game series against the Orioles in Baltimore on Tuesday. The Yankees swept the Red Sox last weekend to take control of the top wild-card spot, continuing a pattern of the Sox struggling against the postseason contenders, going 16-26 since the All-Star break. The series with the last-place Orioles bodes well for the Sox, who are 17-6 against teams with losing records in that same span. Alex Speier took a deeper look at how the Sox have fared. Speier also examined the wild-card race, and how it relates to the Sox. Here are the latest standings. Lineups RED SOX (88-68): 1. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF 2. Hunter Renfroe (R) RF 3. Rafael Devers (L) 3B 4. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS 5. J.D. Martinez (R) DH 6. Kyle Schwarber (L) LF 7. Bobby Dalbec (R) 1B 8. Jose Iglesias (R) 2B 9. Christian Vazquez (R) C Pitching: LHP Chris Sale (5-0, 2.57 ERA) ORIOLES (50-106): Pitching: LHP Bruce Zimmermann (4-4, 4.83 ERA) 1. Cedric Mullins (L) CF 2. Ryan Mountcastle (R) 1B 3. Austin Hays (R) RF 4. Trey Mancini (R) DH 5. Pedro Severino (R) C 6. Ryan McKenna (R) LF 7. Pat Valaika (R) SS 8. Jahmai Jones (R) 2B 9. Kelvin Gutierrez (R) 3B Time: 7:05 p.m. TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7 Red Sox vs. Zimmermann: Christian Arroyo 2-6, Xander Bogaerts 1-7, Bobby Dalbec 0-6, Rafael Devers 2-5, Kiké Hernández 2-4, J.D. Martinez 2-5, Kevin Plawecki 2-3, Hunter Renfroe 1-3, Kyle Schwarber 1-1, Alex Verdugo 0-8, Christian Vázquez 1-5. Orioles vs. Sale: Kelvin Gutierrez 1-4, Austin Hays 2-8, Trey Mancini 11-30, Richie Martin 1-7, Ryan McKenna 1-3, Ryan Mountcastle 0-2, Cedric Mullins 1-5, Anthony Santander 1-6, Pedro Severino 2-10, Pat Valaika 0-4, Austin Wynns 1-5. Stat of the day: Second baseman José Iglesias is batting .405 over his 12-game hitting streak (.405, 15-for-37, four doubles, one triple, one home run, four RBIs, three walks, and two hits-by-pitch). Notes: Since returning from the COVID-19 injured list, Sale is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in two starts. Lifetime against the Orioles, Sale is 10-2 with a 2.58 ERA in 22 games, 16 of them starts. Two of Sale’s seven 2021 starts have come against Baltimore and he is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in those games. ... Zimmermann made two starts against the Red Sox in April, going 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA, striking out nine batters in 12 innings. Song of the Day: Van Halen- "Right Now"www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMV-fenGP1g
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 28, 2021 17:53:44 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 3h #RedSox were last at Camden Yards on May 10. Marwin Gonzalez hit leadoff, Franchy Cordero played left and Matt Andriese pitched two innings.
Whitlock (60 throws today) is eligible to to return Thursday. Cora said they would want him to throw in the bullpen first. So Saturday seems more likely.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 28, 2021 17:55:04 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 3h Cora on Barnes: ‘At one point, I guarantee you, he’ll be part of something important here’
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 28, 2021 17:59:55 GMT -5
Red Sox Notebook: Garrett Whitlock takes ‘big step,’ but rookie reliever unlikely to return in Baltimore Whitlock recovering from right pectoral strain
By Steve Hewitt | stephen.hewitt@bostonherald.com | Boston Herald PUBLISHED: September 28, 2021 at 6:10 p.m. | UPDATED: September 28, 2021 at 6:41 p.m.
Manager Alex Cora knows he needs everyone as the Red Sox enter their biggest week of the season, but they may need to wait a little longer for their best reliever to help them.
Garrett Whitlock, recovering from a right pectoral strain that landed him on the 10-day injured last week, made significant progress Tuesday by making 60 throws before the Red Sox’ series opener against the Orioles in Baltimore.
“He’s doing better,” Cora said. “He felt good. Now, we’ll see how he reacts tonight and (Wednesday), and then we’ll see if we take the next step. But a big step for him, obviously, to be able to go out there and play catch.”
Whitlock is eligible to come off the injured list Thursday, but at this point, it’s unlikely he’ll be ready to return by then, Cora said. He still needs to pitch on a mound first.
“As of right now, I think it’s too soon to be honest with you, but you never know how guys will react,” Cora said. “I think not throwing a bullpen, being realistic, for me, I don’t think Thursday will be the day.”
Whitlock, with a 1.99 ERA in 72 1/3 innings across 45 appearances this season, has been the Red Sox’ best rookie and reliever after being snatched in last year’s Rule 5 draft. But there’s no question they’ve missed him after a pair of eighth-inning meltdowns this weekend against the Yankees.
Not so fast
The Red Sox were one game behind the Yankees and one up on the Blue Jays in the wild card standings entering Tuesday after being swept by the Yankees this weekend, but with six games against the Orioles and Nationals — who have combined for 198 losses this season — this week, they have by far the easiest path to a berth in next Tuesday’s wild card game.
Don’t tell that to Cora, though. Despite winning 12 of their last 13 games against the O’s, the Red Sox’ first three games of the season, when they were swept by them at Fenway, is enough reason for them to not be complacent this week.
“If we go over the schedule, we are in this situation because we lost the first three games of the season against Baltimore,” Cora said. “So, we don’t need reminders. In any given series at this level, you can get beat by the best team in the big leagues or the team with the worst record in the big leagues. You still have to execute. You still have to play. …
“I think for this group, the first weekend of the season is a reminder of that. You have to show up and you have to play good baseball. If not, there’s a chance you can get beat.”
Foul troubles
Bobby Dalbec has played much improved defense at first base since he started hitting the ball better at the beginning of August, but there remains a need for improvement in possibly an overlooked area: Catching foul pop-ups.
Dalbec has looked hesitant in chasing foul pop-ups that verge on the dugout and out of play recently, including during a game-changing at-bat in Sunday night’s loss to the Yankees. Before Christian Vazquez’s controversial dropped strike three, Adam Ottavino induced Aaron Judge into a pop-up into foul territory near the Red Sox’ home dugout. But Dalbec never looked sure of it and couldn’t corral a catch. Judge eventually hit a two-run double in the at-bat to give the Yankees the lead.
“Obviously, he feels like he should make those plays,” Cora said. “There was a little hesitation on the last one. He had plenty of room, but it’s not as easy, right? I’ve been saying all along, at Fenway, the foul balls have been playing differently this year. We saw it with Houston early in the season. I think they dropped two in one inning. We saw it with the Yankees. We’ve seen it with us. It’s not an excuse obviously, but I think the more innings, the easier it is. You don’t get too many of those in practice, you don’t get too many of those in games and obviously, he’ll be the first one to admit he needs to make those.” …
Cora didn’t have any updates on Josh Taylor, who was placed on the 10-day IL Sunday with a back strain. … Kevin Plawecki, who left Saturday’s game after getting hit by a pitch on his foot, was “good to go,” per Cora.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 29, 2021 2:22:27 GMT -5
3 hits 2 errors Red Sox mailed a game in in late September disgusting
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 29, 2021 2:45:18 GMT -5
'It’s us versus us': Sox's margin for error slims 2:26 AM ADT Ian Browne
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne
BALTIMORE -- The pressure is mounting, and perhaps that’s why the Red Sox looked out of sorts Tuesday night at Camden Yards, taking a 4-2 loss to the Orioles that put them two games behind the Yankees for the top American League Wild Card spot and just a half-game ahead of the fast-closing Mariners for the second spot.
It was the fourth loss in a row for Boston, coming directly on the heels of a seven-game winning streak. This, with a mere five games left in the regular season.
“That [expletive] sucked, there’s no question,” said Red Sox ace Chris Sale, who took his first loss since coming back from Tommy John surgery on Aug. 14. “We’ve got to win these games. That’s it. Any game we lose, it [expletive] sucks. Any game we win, we’re one step closer.”
The advantage the Red Sox supposedly have this week on their competition for the Wild Card spots is strength of schedule.
While the Yankees (90-67) and Blue Jays opened their three-game series in Toronto on Tuesday, with a New York win, Boston (88-69) started a stretch with three games against the 51-106 Orioles and three more against the 65-93 Nationals. Toronto (87-70) remained a game behind Boston with its loss, and also has five remaining on the schedule. Meanwhile, the Mariners (88-70) won their series opener against a competitive Oakland team and have only four games left.
The Red Sox were swept by the Yankees in agonizing fashion last weekend, losing the lead with four outs left on Saturday and five outs to go on Sunday. They hoped Monday’s off-day would be a good tonic to regroup for a strong opener in Baltimore. As it turned out, not so much.
“We’ve been getting [dragged] through mud the last four games,” said Sale. “We’ve gotta find something, man. These games, they’re not making any more of ’em, and we’re getting toward the end. We know where we’re at. We know what we’re up against. It’s not even really us versus anybody. It’s us versus us. We’ve gotta win games, and the more we can get back to that, the better off we’re going to be.”
To get back on track, it’s pretty simple what the Red Sox need to do -- start hitting again.
Facing the team with the worst ERA in the Major Leagues, Boston mustered only three hits at Camden Yards. This, after scoring three runs in all three games at Fenway over the weekend against the Yankees.
“Offensively we didn't do much. There were a lot of empty at-bats,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “We didn't put pressure on them. We are an offensive team. We're a lot better than what we showed today. A lot of quick outs.”
Never was that more evident than in the eighth inning, when the Sox made three outs on just four pitches against Joey Krehbiel, a 28-year-old righty making his sixth MLB appearance.
Offensively, the Sox couldn’t generate anything more than two solo homers off the bats of Kyle Schwarber and Hunter Renfroe. And after Renfroe’s shot led off the sixth, the next 12 Red Sox batters were retired in order to finish the game.
“They got us out, and there’s not much left to say,” said Schwarber. “You’ve got to be able to move on from it. It’s just one of those that leaves you scratching your head. And you’ve got to be able to turn the page. There’s nothing that we can do about this game anymore. We have to focus on tomorrow.”
On many occasions, a 2-0 lead with Sale on the mound would have been enough. The lanky Sale cruised through the first five innings. But the momentum shifted in the sixth when AL Rookie of the Year candidate Ryan Mountcastle blasted an equalizing two-run shot. Cora came out to get Sale when Austin Hays followed with a hard single up the middle.
Righty Hansel Robles, who had been red-hot of late, couldn’t get Sale out of trouble. Trey Mancini followed with a single and Pedro Severino stung a grounder by Rafael Devers and into left for a go-ahead RBI single.
“I felt good. I obviously had a pretty good thing rolling, and then just cut off a changeup,” Sale said. “Inconsistencies, especially in that moment, in that inning, later in the game. Just gotta be better.”
Sale will be ready and waiting to start again on Sunday in Washington in Game No. 162 if the Red Sox are still fighting for a spot in the postseason. The best-case scenario would have him resting for a tiebreaker game on Monday or the Wild Card Game on Tuesday.
The stakes will be high every day this week.
“We talked about it before. We know what we have to do,” said Cora. “Today, it wasn't a good start for us. Our goal is to win both series, one here, one in Washington, and they know it. Everybody knows where we're at. It's not like we're hiding from it. Of course they know what's at stake.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 29, 2021 2:50:38 GMT -5
Jon Couture @joncouture · 6h Just the fourth time this season the Orioles have allowed as few as three hits in a game not started by John Means.
Embarrassing. #RedSox
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 29, 2021 2:53:03 GMT -5
Orioles get the better of Chris Sale, Red Sox By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated September 28, 2021, 11:33 p.m.
BALTIMORE — When compared with their weekend series against the Yankees, Tuesday night’s Red Sox-Orioles game at Camden Yards had all the passion of a Parcheesi game against your grandparents.
Only 8,098 fans showed up for the game, which is more than could be said for the Red Sox, who lost, 4-2.
The Sox had a 2-0 lead with Chris Sale on the mound in the sixth inning. A game seemingly in control soon wasn’t as the 106-loss Orioles scored three runs on five hits.
Once they fell behind, the final nine Red Sox hitters went in order on only 24 pitches. The Sox had only three hits in the game and advanced two runners beyond second base, both on solo home runs.
In all, Baltimore pitchers retired the final 12 Sox batters in a row.
“There were a lot of empty at-bats,” Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We didn’t put pressure on them. We are an offensive team and we’re a lot better than we showed today.”
Sale, as is his way, was more direct.
“Yeah, that sucked,” he said. “There’s no question. We’ve got to win these games. That’s it.”
The Sox have lost four straight games with their playoff hopes on the line.
But with the Yankees beating the Blue Jays, 7-2, the Sox somehow remain in second place in the American League wild-card race. They are two games behind the Yankees and still one ahead of the Jays with five games to play.
Sale (5-1) allowed three runs on four hits over 5⅓ innings. He did not pitch well, but the blame falls on a lineup that showed little life against an Orioles team it had averaged 6.75 runs against in 16 previous meetings this season.
The game ended with left fielder Ryan McKenna making a leaping catch to take an extra-base hit away from J.D. Martinez. That clinched the eighth save for Cole Sulser.
The Sox have scored 11 runs in the last four games and hit .213.
“We’ve been getting drug through the mud the last four days,” Sale said. “You’ve got to find something, man. These games, they’re not making any more of them and we’re getting towards the end.
“We know what we’re up against. It’s not really us vs. anybody. It’s us vs. us. We’ve got to win games.”
Baltimore starters came into the game with a 5.99 earned run average, the highest in the majors. Bruce Zimmerman, a 26-year-old rookie lefthander, was part of the problem, posting a 5.17 ERA in 11 starts.
But Zimmerman has improved in recent weeks, allowing eight earned runs over 21 innings in his four starts, prior to Tuesday.
That trend continued as Zimmerman held the Sox to one run on two hits over four innings and 70 pitches. He walked two and struck out two.
Kyle Schwarber did the only damage, drilling a high fastball over the wall in center field in the second inning for his 32nd home run, the seventh with the Red Sox.
Righthander Marcos Diplán replaced Zimmerman in the fifth inning and retired the side on nine pitches. But Hunter Renfroe went the other way with the second pitch of the sixth inning for his 29th homer.
A 2-0 lead with Sale working on a one-hitter is usually a runway to victory.
“Felt good. Obviously had a pretty good thing rolling,” the lefty said.
But that lead vanished quickly in the bottom of the inning.
No. 9 hitter Kelvin Gutierrez reached on an infield hit to bring the top of the order up for a third time. Sale retired Cedric Mullins on a fly ball. But his first pitch to Ryan Mountcastle was a flat changeup over the plate that the rookie hammered to left field for his 32nd homer.
“Just got to be better,” said Sale, who wanted the ball down and away.
Austin ays followed with a single to center and Sale was lifted after 85 pitches.
Hansel Robles came in and allowed singles by Trey Mancini and Pedro Severino as the Orioles took a 3-2 lead.
Severino’s single was a hard one-hopper that deflected off the glove of Rafael Devers and rolled into left field.
The Orioles added an insurance run in the eighth inning when Tanner Houck allowed three consecutive two-out hits. McKenna’s single drove in the run.
As Baltimore built its lead, the Sox hitters offered little resistance. They averaged only 3.74 pitches per plate appearance in the game, 2.82 over the final four innings. The game lasted 2 hours, 37 minutes, the shortest nine-inning game of the season for the Sox.
“We learn from it and move on,” Schwarber said.
Sale was asked if it was hard for the Sox to get up for the game given the opponent and atmosphere.
“Better not be because we have two more against them and we need both of them,” he said.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 29, 2021 2:57:41 GMT -5
Red Sox notebook Sigh of relief: Garrett Whitlock on track for weekend return By Peter Abraham Globe Staff,Updated September 28, 2021, 11:39 p.m.
BALTIMORE — Garrett Whitlock made 60 throws in the outfield at Camden Yards on Tuesday afternoon and is on track to come off the injured list this weekend.
“A big step for him, obviously, to be able to go out there and play catch,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said before a 4-2 loss against the Orioles.
The valuable rookie righthander, who has a 1.99 earned run average in 45 relief appearances, hasn’t pitched since Sept. 19 because of what the team has said is a strained pectoral muscle.
Whitlock is eligible to return Thursday, but Cora suggested the Sox would want him to throw in the bullpen first.
“As of now, as of right now, I think [Thursday] is too soon to be honest with you,” Cora said. “But you never know how guys will react.”
The time off could serve Whitlock well. He allowed five earned runs on nine hits, two of them home runs, over 7⅓ innings in the six outings before he went on the IL.
As Whitlock recovers, the Sox are evaluating how best to use deposed closer Matt Barnes. The righthander threw a scoreless sixth inning against the Yankees on Friday, striking out two but also allowing a double.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Cora said. “We need everybody this week. That’s the reality of this. At one point I guarantee you he’ll be part of something important here.”
Lefthander Josh Taylor, who is on the IL with a sore back, has not yet resumed throwing. Getting a feel
Rajai Davis, a senior director of on-field operations with Major League Baseball, was on the field before the game showing players and coaches from both teams the new experimental baseballs MLB has developed.
The balls have a tacky coating, which would allow for their use out of the box without being first rubbed down with mud. Professional leagues in Asia use similar baseballs.
In June, MLB prohibited pitchers from using sticky substances to improve their grip and started in-game inspections by umpires.
A tacky ball would further advance the idea of creating a level playing field and having a “standard” ball. Here’s to Nate
The Red Sox paid tribute to Nate Eovaldi recently achieving 10 years of service time in the majors by wearing red T-shirts on the trip from Boston to Baltimore.
“Ten years of Nasty Nate. Domi-Nate” they read across the front.
“That’s how much he means to this group,” Cora said.
Eovaldi, who is scheduled to start Wednesday, said he saved one of the shirts as a souvenir.
Eovaldi is 10-9 with a 3.88 ERA in 31 starts. He has faced the Orioles twice and allowed four earned runs on 11 hits over 10⅓ innings with two walks and 12 strikeouts. A bright spot
The 51-106 Orioles will finish with the worst record in the American League. But they have a core group of hitters to build around led by 26-year-old Cedric Mullins.
The center fielder gave up switch hitting before this season and has hit .297 with an .898 OPS, 30 homers. 59 RBIs, 89 runs, and 30 stolen bases.
Mullins is the first 30-30 player in Orioles history and his 49 hits are the most in the first inning in the majors this season.
He’s also the first player since Mookie Betts in 2018 with at least 30 homers, 35 doubles, five triples, and 30 steals.
“He made a decision to stop switch hitting and he’s been really good since,” Cora said. “Hitting the ball hard, running the bases, playing great defense . . . it’s something that gets your attention. It really does.” Yorke recognized
MLB Pipeline named Nick Yorke as the second baseman on its Prospect Team of the Year. The 19-year-old hit .325 with a .928 OPS Single A Salem and Greenville this season . . . Eduardo Rodriguez took batting practice before the game in anticipation for his start at Washington on Friday. Rodriguez is 0 for 23 with 12 strikeouts in his career . . . The Sox have used 56 players this season, tying the franchise record first set in 2012.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 29, 2021 2:58:59 GMT -5
John Tomase @jtomase · 6h Twitter's default tweet text sums up too many Red Sox games in the second half: "What's happening?"
Well, this is a disaster.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 29, 2021 3:01:23 GMT -5
Jon Wallach @kengriffeyrules · 6h The sooner you get Raffy away from 3rd base, the better off the defense will be for this team. The problem is there is nowhere else to put him, considering the roster.
Bill Koch @billkoch25 · 6h This applies to at least three other #RedSox regulars in what would be considered their best offense.
The construction of this everyday lineup wasn't particularly well-rounded.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 29, 2021 3:02:34 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 6h Cora said the Red Sox had a lot of empty at-bats tonight.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 29, 2021 3:04:34 GMT -5
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 6h How many times are the Sox going to walk the #9 hole hitter?
If a RHP was throwing the next couple games, I’d sit JD and DH Schwarber. Let him watch video for a few days and try to figure it out
Houck is one of the guys you feel pretty good about and he’s going to be burned for this series in order to keep it here. Brutal loss if they can’t pull it out.
What a joke.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Sept 29, 2021 3:15:51 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 6h Orioles No. 9 hitter Kelvin Gutierrez came into the game with a .596 OPS and 40 Ks in 117 ABs.
He's 1 for 1 with two walks and a run scored.
Sleepy Red Sox have made six consecutive outs since losing the lead. One ball out of the infield.
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