The Boston Red Sox were off yesterday, and they’ll start a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays tonight. They’ve won 20 of their last 23 games and are sitting at 52-49. They hold the final playoff spot in the American League. They’re seven games back of the Rays for first in the American League East.
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Key News & Notes
Roster Moves
Eduardo Rivera was optioned to Triple-A Worcester following Wednesday night’s game. In four games, with three coming as starts, he’s 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA, a 1.40 WHIP, and ten strikeouts in ten innings. On Wednesday, he went 0.2 innings, allowing four runs on three hits. He walked two and struck out one.
Brayan Bello The Reliever
Brayan Bello as a reliever continues to impress; he went 5.1 innings last night. He didn’t allow a run on four hits; he walked one and struck out five. Last night, he made his sixth relief appearance. He’s 1-0 with a 0.77 ERA, a 0.85 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts in 35 innings.
23-Game Stretch
During their 23-game stretch in which they’re 20-3, their starting pitchers have the fourth-best ERA in that time with a 3.05. Their starters are third in FIP with a 3.22. They’re also fourth in WHIP with a 1.10. Their bullpen is first in ERA with a 2.27, fourth in FIP with a 3.33, and third in WHIP with a 1.03. Offensively, they’re 17th in average with a .245, 13th in OPS with a .742, 15th in wRC+ with 102, and sixth in runs with 119.
Sonny Gray leads their starters in the 23-game stretch, making four starts and going 3-0 with a 1.07 ERA, which is fourth among starters in that stretch. Jake Bennett is also right there as he’s 5-0 in five starts with a 1.65 ERA, which puts him 11th. Bennett is third in WHIP with a 0.80 while Gray is 12th with a 0.91. Payton Tolle is tied for eighth in strikeouts in five starts with 34.
Garrett Whitlock has been lights out of the bullpen with a 0.00 ERA, which is tied for the best in the league since June 25th. Justin Slaten is second in FIP with a 0.23. Whitlock leads in WHIP with a 0.32.
Caleb Durbin has been the spark plug offensively, hitting .289 with a .866 OPS. He has a 140 wRC+, five home runs, 14 RBI, and 19 runs scored. Willson Contreras, during that stretch, is hitting .350 with a 1.184 OPS. He has a 221 wRC+, six home runs, 20 RBI, and 15 runs scored.
Tonight’s Starter
Patrick Sandoval is expected to take the ball tonight, making his third start of the season with Boston. He has a 4.82 ERA, a 1.71 WHIP, and ten strikeouts in 9.1 innings.
Farm Report
- Worcester Red Sox (AAA): Andrew Knizner went 3-3 with six RBI on a three-run home run and a double; he scored two runs and walked three times in a 15-1 win over Jacksonville.
- Portland Sea Dogs (AA): John Holobetz went five scoreless innings. He allowed three hits, walked none, and struck out ten in a 3-2 win over Binghamton
- Greenville Drive (A+): The Drive were rained out and will play a doubleheader today.
- Salem RidgeYaks (A): Kleyver Salazar went 3-3 with three RBI, two runs scored, and two walks. He hit a two-run home run in the sixth in an 8-7 win over Augusta.
- FCL Red Sox (ROK): Liosward Marin went 3-4 with three RBI in a 13-6 loss to FCL Rays.
- DSL Red Sox Red (ROK): DLester Suarez went 2-3 with two RBI, a two-run home run, and two runs scored in a 12-8 loss to DSL Tampa Bay.
- DSL Red Sox Blue (ROK): Freyerso Vasquez went 3-4 with an RBI in a 4-2 loss to DSL Royals Fortuna.
