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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 20, 2022 19:25:54 GMT -5
story gets plunked in the head stays in for now
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Apr 20, 2022 19:39:51 GMT -5
Pete Abraham @peteabe · 20m Rice, Lynn, Evans, Burleson and Eck also at the Remy ceremony ... and Yaz.
Seeing Yaz, Rice, Lynn and Dewey on the field together is pretty cool.
"Buenos noches, amigos," says @tomcaron . Nice touch.
Remy's son and daughter threw out first pitches. Fans should be paying good money for that alone. All they need is Reggie Smith.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 0:29:36 GMT -5
Red Sox 1, Blue Jays 6: Back to .500 yet again
Nick Pivetta had a brutal second, and the offense went 1-14 with RISP, and all together it was a frustrating night at Fenway. By Matt_Collins@MattRyCollins Apr 20, 2022, 10:20pm EDT 7 Comments
The Red Sox just cannot seem to break out of their funk with runners in scoring position. Boston’s offense was on fire out of the gate in this one against José Berríos and the Blue Jays, but they only scored one run with those chances and went 1-14 with runners in scoring position on the night. With Nick Pivetta getting lit up for five runs in the second, combined with the lack of situational hitting, this one felt like it was over just an inning and a half in, even though the Red Sox were always just within arm’s reach. Oh, and J.D. Martinez left the game with a hip injury, the severity of which is unknown to this point. Boston has been bouncing back and forth all year so far hovering around .500, and with the loss on Wednesday they are back to an even record.
More robust game notes below.
Coming off an emotional on-field tribute to Jerry Remy before the game, it looked like the Red Sox were running out to a hot start in this game. Nick Pivetta looked solid trying to rebound from an atrocious home debut, working around a two-out walk for a scoreless first. And then on the other side, the Red Sox were all over José Berríos. They put four balls in play against the Blue Jays starter in that first inning, and all of them were over 105 mph off the bat. However, one of those was an out, and there were two strikeouts mixed in and the Red Sox only managed one run in the inning despite all of the extremely loud contact. Depending on your point of view, it was either a good sign with how well they were seeing the ball early, or a bad sign with yet another wasted opportunity.
The optimists didn’t have too much time to feel good. After that solid first, Pivetta couldn’t get anything going in the second inning. If you’ll recall, it was a similar story last time out against the Twins, when he only lasted the two innings. Here on Wednesday, the righty started his second inning giving up a hard-hit single to Matt Chapman, bringing Raimel Tapia to the plate. Pivetta wanted to get a curveball at the bottom of the zone or just below it, trying to induce a ground ball. Instead, it broke right over the heart of the plate and Tapia sent a majestic fly ball out to the right field corner. It drifted into the seats for a two-run shot, and the Blue Jays took the 2-1 lead.
From there, Pivetta lost the zone, walking the next two batters he faced with the second one coming on four pitches. After Cavan Biggio blooped a jam shot into center field to load the bases, George Springer brought one home with a sacrifice fly, and then Bo Bichette knocked in two more with a single of his own. Pivetta had one more walk in him before mercifully getting the final two outs of the inning, but not before coughing up five runs and putting his team in a four-run deficit.
To his credit, the Red Sox starter did settle in for a couple of innings after that, at least saving the bullpen for a couple more innings. There were singles in each of the third and fourth frames for Toronto, but that was all they’d get in both innings as he kept the Jays off the board and gave his offense some time to come back.
Unfortunately, they didn’t keep that momentum of the hard contact from the first inning as Berríos also settled into something of a groove. In the second, they did get back-to-back one-out singles from Jackie Bradley Jr. and Connor Wong in the eight and nine spots, but the top of the lineup left the runners on base.
In the third, things got off to a good start when J.D. Martinez led off the inning with a double, his second hit of the game. When he was going into second base, though, he tweaked something in his hip and had to leave the game. A couple batters later, things got scary when Trevor Story was hit square in the helmet with a Berríos fastball, but after a couple of minutes talking with the trainer he remained in the game. There were no runs in the inning as Boston still trailed 5-1, but that they only lost one player to injury seemed like a win.
After Pivetta exited the game, the Red Sox turned to Phillips Valdez to start out the fifth, trying to keep the game in reach. It’s a tough situation to come into these sort-of mop-up roles, but Valdez did well. He didn’t allow a run in either the fifth or sixth inning, getting a big double play in the latter frame after hitting the leadoff batter with a pitch. The Red Sox offense continued not to oblige, though, and they still trailed 5-1 after six.
For the seventh inning, it was Matt Barnes on the mound as he looks to get back into a more important role. He did look a little bit better than he has since the start of camp, but still not anything close to the guy we saw in the first half of last season. The righty gave up a single to start the inning, and then after a stolen base he got into a little bit of trouble when he struck out Tapia but still allowed him to reach with the ball getting by Wong behind the plate. That put runners on the corners with one out, and Toronto did add one run on with a sacrifice fly, making it a 6-1 game.
With time now very much starting to run out for the offense, they finally got into the bullpen for the seventh with Tim Mayza coming on for the Blue Jays. Sure enough, there was some life for the home team with back-to-back one-out singles to create a little momentum. A ground ball moved both runners over to scoring position, giving Story a chance for a big hit, but he went down swinging to kill the rally and keep the deficit at five.
That would pretty much do it for this game, another frustrating performance from the offense. They went down without much fight in their final two chances, while more positively Tyler Danish came on for two scoreless innings to finish another strong night for Boston’s bullpen. But still, it was a frustrating, 6-1 loss for the Red Sox to fall back to .500.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 0:32:36 GMT -5
Ian Browne @ianmbrowne · 4h J.D. Martinez left the game due to left adductor tightness.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 0:41:34 GMT -5
Injuries & Moves: Vázquez reinstated; J.D. (adductor) exits 12:32 AM ADT
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Keep track of the Red Sox’s recent transactions and injury updates throughout the season. LATEST NEWS
April 20: DH J.D. Martinez day to day with left adductor tightness Boston’s star slugger belted a double into the left-field corner in the third inning of Wednesday’s game against the Blue Jays and grimaced as he reached second base. After staying in the game for a couple of pitches, Martinez was lifted in favor of pinch-runner Christian Arroyo. With a day game looming on Thursday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Martinez will sit out. There’s a chance Martinez will be ready for the opener of a 10-game road trip at Tropicana Field on Friday.
“He won’t play [Thursday] and we’ll see where he’s at,” Cora said. “He mentioned it the other day that he was a little bit tight, but nothing to be concerned about. He does such a good job taking care of his body that when he’s a go, he’s a go. Just felt that as soon as he hit that ball, he felt it running, and I think it was more about being smart about it and coming out of the game, taking care of it and hopefully something that’s only a couple days.” -- Ian Browne
April 20: C Christian Vázquez reinstated from COVID-19-related injured list; C Ronaldo Hernández optioned to Triple-A Worcester Only one day after the Red Sox placed Vázquez, their starting catcher, on the COVID-19-related injured list following a positive test result, he was reinstated in time for Wednesday’s game. Connor Wong started behind the plate, but Vázquez will presumably be back in the lineup on Thursday, given that it is a day game after a night game. Hernández, Boston’s No. 24 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was on the roster for one game and will have to make his MLB debut another time. -- Ian Browne
• All Red Sox transactions INJURY UPDATES
COVID-19-related IL
C Kevin Plawecki (tested positive for COVID-19) Expected return: Soon Plawecki, who tested positive prior to the April 18 game against the Twins, is said to be making good progress. Manager Alex Cora didn’t rule out Plawecki, who is fully vaccinated, getting activated in the next couple of days. Christian Vázquez, who tested positive the day after Plawecki, is already back on the roster. -- Ian Browne (Last updated: April 20)
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 0:43:39 GMT -5
Ben Nicholson-Smith @bnicholsonsmith · 3h It's a right forearm contusion for George Springer, who's now undergoing further evaluation #BlueJays
Springer considered day to day. Jays will evaluate him in the morning but believed to have avoided larger scare
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 0:47:11 GMT -5
Nick Pivetta still missing his best stuff, Red Sox missing timely hitting in loss to Blue Jays By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 20, 2022, 10:20 p.m.
Nick Pivetta faced his locker inside the Red Sox clubhouse last week, mirroring the mechanics he wanted to employ on the mound.
He hoped something would click so that his first two outings — where he allowed eight earned runs in just 7 ⅔ innings of work — would just be a footnote in a 162-game season.
So, Pivetta stood alone, his back to the crowd of people surrounding him, and reminded himself of his gather over the mound, keeping his body connected throughout his motion. Staying tight, in synch. The hope was that it would lead to better command. Better velocity. Better results.
In his third start Wednesday against the Blue Jays, that hope glimmered toward the latter part of the outing, but the results were still the same.
The Blue Jays inflicted most of their damage against Pivetta early in the game, piecing together a five-run second inning that all but certainly put the stamp on a 6-1 Red Sox loss.
“It’s unfortunate,” Pivetta said afterward. “I mean, I can’t remember the last time I’ve kind of had to deal with something like this. But you kind of figure out who you are in these moments.”
Pivetta works best when he’s pounding the strike zone with his fastball. But his velocity has been a couple ticks down to start the year, averaging just 92.8 miles per hour, compared to 94.8 mph a season ago. That makes his curveball, according to manager Alex Cora, a bit less of a fool-me pitch, and, frankly, hitters certainly aren’t being fooled. Last season, opponents slugged just .295 on his curveball. This year, it’s up to .625.
“I do believe his fastball plays,” Cora said. “And when that plays everything else falls into place.”
Matt Chapman led off the inning with a single to right field. The next batter, Raimel Tapia, pulled a 1-2 curveball that Pivetta left middle-in for a two-run blast. After two walks, a wild pitch, a mound visit, a sacrifice fly, and a two-run single, the Sox found themselves in a deep hole while Pivetta solidified another rocky outing.
Pivetta completed just four innings, but following a conversation with pitching coach Dave Bush after that second frame, Pivetta believed he found something.
You saw flashes of 95 and 96 mph. The Sox are holding onto that.
“Seems like he was more aggressive with the fastball and was able to get it to the outside part of the plate,” Cora said. “If we’re going to take anything positive out of this, it’s the way he finished.”
The Red Sox didn’t have issues racking up hits in this one, but the timely knocks were non-existent. They tagged Jays starter José Berríos for eight hits but just scored that one run off the righthander. Berríos went six innings, striking out six. Their only run came in the first on an RBI single by J.D. Martinez.
The missed opportunities lingered into the latter part of the game, too. base. In the seventh Christian Arroyo and Xander Bogaerts tallied back-to-back singles and moved to second and third following an Alex Verdugo groundout. But Trevor Story struck out to end the frame. The Sox were 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base.
“We’re not taking care of the mistakes that we get in those moments,” said Story who was 0 for 3 on the night. “Speaking for myself, we just gotta be a little better with runners in scoring position. We’re getting guys on but we gotta finish off innings like that.”
For Pivetta, there’s still a ton of season left. There are more outings where he can implement the mechanics he searched for at his locker that day last week. The proper circular motion of his arm. Making sure his hands are breaking properly before he begins his descent toward home plate.
That’s what he’s sticking to.
“I’m going to flush this away,” Pivetta said of his outing. “I’m starting against them the next time in Toronto. We’ll see how the results go then but I have really, really high hopes.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 0:49:10 GMT -5
RED SOX NOTEBOOK Red Sox activate Christian Vázquez from COVID IL, while Alex Cora continues bullpen reshuffle By Julian McWilliams Globe Staff,Updated April 20, 2022, 8:21 p.m.
The Red Sox hope they are getting through their latest COVID scare.
Prior to Wednesday’s 6-1 loss to the Blue Jays, the team reinstated starting catcher Christian Vázquez from the COVID-related injured list. Backup catcher Kevin Plawecki and infielder Jonathan Aráuz remain on the COVID IL.
All three players are vaccinated, meaning if they present two consecutive negative PCR tests, don’t have symptoms, and are given approval by the Joint COVID Health and Safety Committee, those players can return. Vázquez was in the Sox clubhouse after the game and said that he did, in fact, get tested twice and the test results came back negative. The results also showed that he was at the tail-end of the virus which explains why Vázquez returned so soon.
As of Wednesday, the Sox didn’t have any new COVID cases, according to manager Alex Cora. Story OK following hit by pitch
Following an injury to J.D. Martinez in the third inning on Wednesday, Trevor Story was hit in the head in that same frame with a José Berríos sinker that slipped out of his hand.
Story appeared as if he was leaving the game but ultimately stayed in. Trevor Story appeared to avoid a serious injury after he was struck in the helmet by a pitch during the third inning of Wednesday's loss to Toronto. He stayed in the game after getting checked by a trainer.
“When you take one off the helmet like that or, you know around the face [it’s scary],” Story said. “But thank God it wasn’t wasn’t anything worse. Got lucky.”
Story went through the concussion protocol and said he will be ready to play Thursday. The bullpen shuffle
Cora likes structure. But so far, the team doesn’t have a closer yet. To close out Tuesday’s 2-1 win, for example, Cora called on Garrett Whitlock, even though Whitlock has been the guy the Red Sox have usually leaned on for multiple innings in relief. The Sox have used Jake Diekman in multiple roles, too, as well as Hansel Robles. It all depends on the day, or the matchup.
“The more they see you the more the advantage is for the hitter,” Cora said. “So, we’re just trying to mix and match. Obviously with more players on the bench teams have the luxury to kind of set up their lineups. Knowing that we have three lefties in the bullpen [Diekman, Matt Strahm, and Austin Davis] we can mix and match with them.” Related: ‘He was a joy to be around.’ Six months after Jerry Remy’s passing, the Red Sox honored his life Wednesday
As it pertains to who closes, right now, it will be based on the matchup, but Cora hopes that can change.
“I would love with time if someone could step up,” said Cora, who also mentioned Matt Barnes as a possible candidate again to close. “I’ve been saying all along, for me, if Matt gets to where we want him to, and we do believe he’s very close, it would be great for him to get that ninth inning because he did get lefties and righties out.” Paxton, Sale on the mend
James Paxton, recovering from Tommy John surgery, is still making strides.
The lefthander said he threw a 30-pitch bullpen Tuesday and is scheduled to throw a 35-pitch bullpen Friday. Paxton noted that his bullpens are around 80 percent.
Both Paxton and Chris Sale (rib cage fracture) are with the team through the Toronto series as well as the team’s trip to Tampa to face the Rays this weekend. Following that series, both Sale and Paxton will travel back to Fort Myers to continue their rehab.
The team wanted the two veteran pitchers with the club for the early part of the season, understanding what their presence means to the club. But being around the players has also had a positive impact on Paxton, too.
“It’s been great to be here and get a feel for Boston and the stadium and being around the guys,” Paxton said. “It ‘s been a lot of fun. Just kind of getting a feel of being in the dugout, I can really put myself on the mound and see what I feel like out there. It’s been a great time.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 0:51:06 GMT -5
Chris Cotillo @chriscotillo · 3h Cora says Martinez is day-to-day and won’t play tomorrow.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 0:54:47 GMT -5
Alex Speier @alexspeier · 6h Last year, hitters hit .165 and slugged .295 with 3 homers off Pivetta’s curveball. Through 2 starts plus two innings: .300/.900 with two homers.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 0:57:25 GMT -5
Alex Cora ‘would love’ Boston Red Sox to have a set closer and still hopes it can be Matt Barnes Published: Apr. 20, 2022, 8:00 p.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Three different Red Sox relievers, Garrett Whitlock, Jake Diekman and Hansel Robles, have recorded saves this season.
Manager Alex Cora still is without a set closer. He instead has chosen his ninth-inning pitcher based on matchups.
Cora said he’s fine with the closer-by-committee strategy for now.
“But I would love with time somebody step up or we feel comfortable with certain guys that ‘Here we go. Let’s do it,’” Cora said. “I’ve been saying all along, for me, if Matty (Barnes) gets to where we want to and we do believe he’s very close, it will be great for him to get that ninth inning because he can get lefties and righties out. And then we have the luxury to mix and match from the fifth inning on.”
Barnes has appeared in three games so far. He has lacked command, allowing two runs, two hits and two walks while striking out two in 3 innings. He also has hit a batter.
Barnes dominated as the closer for the first half last year. He posted a 2.86 ERA, 1.76 FIP and .146 batting average against in 28 appearances (28 ⅓ innings). But he allowed 12 earned runs in 10 ⅔ innings (10.13 ERA) over his final 16 outings. Opponents batted .340 against him.
Barnes’ fastball velocity was down at 92-93 mph during spring training. He has averaged 94.3 mph in the regular season so far, down from 95.8 mph last year, per Baseball Savant.
“Honestly, I like structure,” Cora said. “I do believe the ace reliever face three, four, five (in the lineup) every night or every outing, it’s not easy. It’s hard to do. Not only physically but mentally. And you’re not going to be on top of your game every night. The more they see you, advantage to the hitter. So we’re just trying to mix and match.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 0:58:19 GMT -5
Boston Red Sox offense goes 1-for-14 with RISP, Nick Pivetta’s ERA increases to 10.03 in loss to Blue Jays Published: Apr. 20, 2022, 10:19 p.m.
By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Nick Pivetta struggled again and the Red Sox offense went 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base.
Boston lost 6-1 to the Blue Jays here at Fenway Park on Wednesday.
Pivetta allowed five runs, seven hits (one homer) and four walks while striking out four in 4 innings. All five runs came in the second inning.
Pivetta’s ERA increased to 10.03 (11 ⅔ innings, 13 runs) in three starts.
His breaking ball wasn’t sharp. He gave up a two-run homer to Raimel Tapia who connected on a 77.1 mph knuckle-curveball and blasted it into the right field stands. Bo Bichette’s two-run single also came against a 78.4 mph knuckle-curveball.
Pivetta’s fastball velocity was better Wednesday than it was in his first two starts but it still was down from last season. Pivetta’s four-seam fastball averaged 94.8 mph in 2021.
The righty threw 56 four-seam fastballs vs. the Blue Jays, averaging 93.5 mph and topping out at 96.1 mph, per Baseball Savant.
He averaged 92.5 mph and topped out at 94.0 mph vs. the Twins last Friday, per Baseball Savant. He averaged 93 mph and topped out at 94.4 mph in his first game vs. the Yankees.
Martinez leaves with left adductor tightness
Red Sox DH J.D. Martinez left after he doubled to lead off the bottom of the third inning. The team announced he was removed because of left adductor tightness.
Christian Arroyo replaced Martinez as a pinch runner.
Martinez slowed down as he made his way to second base. He went 2-for-2 with an RBI before exiting.
Story remains in game after getting hit in head
Trevor Story took a 93 mph pitch fromJosé Berríos off the helmet during the third inning but he remained in the game.
Barnes allows a run
Red Sox manager Alex Cora mentioned before Wednesday’s game that Matt Barnes is “very close” and he would like him to eventually retake the closer job.
Barnes pitched the seventh. He allowed one run, one hit and no walks while striking out one. He threw a wild pitch.
Danish strikes out five
Tyler Danish — who was pitching in his first major league game since 2018 — pitched 2 scoreless and hitless innings of relief. He struck out five and walked one.
The 27-year-old righty pitched in Indy Ball in 2019 and ‘20.
Thursday’s game
The Red Sox and Blue Jays will play the final game of their three-game series Thursday at 1:35 p.m.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 0:59:09 GMT -5
Did Boston Red Sox’s Nick Pivetta find something? Velocity reached 96 mph after adjustment following disastrous second inning Updated: Apr. 21, 2022, 12:53 a.m. | Published: Apr. 21, 2022, 12:53 a.m. Nick Pivetta
Red Sox's Nick Pivetta pitches during the first inning Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at Fenway Park. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP By Christopher Smith | csmith@masslive.com
BOSTON — Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta allowed five runs in a disastrous second inning vs. the Blue Jays on Wednesday. But manager Alex Cora liked what he saw from the right-hander in the third and fourth innings after pitching coach Dave Bush spoke about mechanics with Pivetta in the dugout.
“Honestly, I believe the last two innings were his best innings so far out of the three outings (this season),” Cora said. “Velocity went up. There was some 95, 96 (mph). It seems like he was more aggressive with the fastball. He was able to get it to the outside part of the plate. If we’re going to take something positive out of this, it was the way he finished.”
Pivetta allowed five runs, seven hits (one homer) and four walks while striking out four in 4 innings. The Red Sox lost 6-1 to Toronto here at Fenway Park on Wednesday.
“I made mechanical changes that I’ve been kind of trying to search for, for the past 15-20 days now,” Pivetta said. “Just got my hands breaking in a better motion. I got my arm circulating better. My velo picked up. Everything picked up after that. So that was positive. But super disappointed with how the second inning went.”
Pivetta was sitting 92-93 mph with his fastball in the first and second innings. He reached 96.1 mph after the adjustment.
After Pivetta’s start last Friday, Cora pointed to the righty’s mechanics being off as the reason for his dip in velocity from last season.
The righty threw 56 four-seam fastballs vs. the Blue Jays, averaging 93.5 mph and topping out at 96.1 mph, per Baseball Savant.
“Got my mechanics back, it seems like. ... Really happy with how I bounced back (after the second inning),” Pivetta said.
Pivetta gave up a two-run homer to Raimel Tapia who connected on a 77.1 mph knuckle-curveball and blasted it into the right field stands. Bo Bichette’s two-run single also came against a 78.4 mph knuckle-curveball.
But Pivetta said his breaking ball felt a lot better tonight.
“A lot more consistent, especially as I made a mechanical adjustment,” Pivetta said. “I know Tapia hit the hanger. But I didn’t shy away from it. I kept throwing. I leaned on my fastball more in the third and fourth innings. I felt a lot better there.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 1:02:43 GMT -5
SP wise, they are among the worst as well
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 4h The Red Sox as a team have a 91 wRC+ this season, 9% worse than league average with the bats, which places them directly behind Oakland and Pittsburgh at the moment.
Team OBP: .288
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Apr 21, 2022 1:07:53 GMT -5
Blue Jays @ Red Sox Thursday, 21rst April 2022 1:30pm @ Fenway
Gausman 0-0/4.22
Houck 0-0/3.00
Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 1:35pm EDT Written by Nathaniel Reeves
AL East rivals will close out a three-game series on Thursday afternoon at Fenway Park with the Toronto Blue Jays taking on the Boston Red Sox. After Boston won the series opener 2-1 on Tuesday as a -134 favorite, the teams will meet again late on Wednesday night after the time of publishing. Both squads enter Wednesday at 6-5 overall, tied for first place with the New York Yankees in the ultra-competitive division.
This was also a hard-fought matchup in 2021, with Boston holding a slim 10-9 advantage in the season series.
Blue Jays still looking for offense to hit stride What was expected to be one of baseball's best offenses hasn't quite gotten going yet, as the Blue Jays were shut down in Tuesday's series opener in Boston to waste a good effort from Yusei Kikuchi on the mound. Toronto's lone run came in the top of the second on a Zack Collins solo shot and threatened many times after, yet stranded eight men on base while going 0/5 with runners in scoring position.
Kikuchi went five strong innings, allowing one run on three hits and three walks while striking out three. Yimi Garcia was charged with the loss in relief, although his run allowed was unearned due to a two-base Bo Bichette error followed by two sacrifices. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued his torrid start with two singles and a walk.
“I feel so good about him now,” manager Charlie Montoyo said via MLB.com regarding Kikuchi. “We lost the game, but I feel like when he pitches now, we have a chance. He was aggressive with his fastball, throwing 96, and he was in control. I feel really good about him. That was good to see. Great adjustments.”
The Blue Jays are now slightly down on the money line as several of their wins have come as a huge favorite while going 5-6 on the run line. Overs are 4-7 for the Blue Jays, and four of their last five games have gone under the betting total.
Toronto is now in the bottom 10 in baseball with an average of 3.91 runs per game on a .736 OPS. The Blue Jays have also been a little shaky on the pitching side overall with a 4.22 collective ERA even with the bullpen looking like a potential strength with a mark of 3.17.
Guerrero Jr. is on his way to another MVP-caliber campaign with a 1.071 OPS, five homers and 10 RBI. Collins is also looking like a strong pickup after being acquired in a trade just before the season, as he's hitting .400/.429/.800 with two doubles and two homers.
Kevin Gausman will get the ball on Thursday after taking a tough-luck loss to the Yankees last time out, when he allowed two runs on six hits over 5.2 innings while racking up nine strikeouts. After signing a five-year, $110 million offseason deal following his terrific 2021 campaign with the Giants, Gausman is 0-1 with a 4.22 ERA an 14 strikeouts in his first 10.2 innings as a member of the Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays are missing some important regulars, headlined by outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, who racked up 32 homers and 116 RBI last year before suffering a strained oblique early in 2022. Catcher Danny Jansen also suffered a strained oblique on opening week after getting off to a hot start. Starting pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu is on the IL with forearm inflammation after struggling through his first two starts, while Nate Pearson is recovering from mononucleosis.
Eovaldi, bullpen help Red Sox get back above .500 Even with the offense struggling out of the gate, the Red Sox are still right at the top of the AL East thanks to a key series opening win against Toronto with ace Nathan Eovaldi leading the way. Boston tied the score at one in the bottom of the third on Trevor Story's RBI double, and a sacrifice fly from Connor Wong in the seventh proved to be the game-winner.
Eovaldi lasted 4.2 innings, allowing one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out six. Boston's bullpen allowed just one baserunner the rest of the game, with Hansel Robles getting the win and Garrett Whitlock earning his first save. Enrique Hernandez doubled and walked while scoring a run to lead the offense.
“I took a chance with Whit,” said manager Alex Cora via MLB.com about his bullpen decisions. “It’s not the perfect situation. We’d like to stretch him out, but where we were in the game and the game that it was, I felt like going to him."
The Red Sox are now up on the money line for the season with Tuesday's win while also going 6-5 on the run line. Overs are 4-6-1 for the Red Sox, with only one of their last four games going over the betting total.
Boston has been fairly pedestrian at the plate so far with an average of 4.27 runs per game on a .662 team OPS. The Red Sox pitching staff has been solid with a 3.86 ERA allowed including a strong mark of 3.17 from the bullpen.
Alex Verdugo is Boston's best hitter in the early going with a .333/.393/.639 line, three homers and eight RBI. Rafael Devers is also off to a good start, posting an .844 OPS with two homers and seven driven in.
Tanner Houck will take the mound for the Red Sox on Thursday after beating the Minnesota Twins last time out, allowing just two hits and three walks over 5.2 scoreless innings while striking out four. The 25-year-old was terrific as a rookie to help the Red Sox reach the postseason last year, and is now 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA and seven strikeouts in his first nine innings of 2022.
Catchers Christian Vasquez and Kevin Plawecki are both on the COVID IL along with infielder Jonathan Arauz, and it's worth monitoring if the outbreak spreads further before Thursday. Starting pitchers Chris Sale (rib cage stress fracture) and James Paxton (Tommy John surgery) won't be back until late in the summer. Reliever Josh Taylor, who was solid last year with a 3.40 ERA, is dealing with lower back discomfort but is on an AAA rehab assignment.
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