The Boston Red Sox will start a three-game series tonight against the Los Angeles Angels who the Red Sox just beat last weekend taking two of the three games and outscoring the Angels 21-10. Most recently the Red Sox were swept by the Baltimore Orioles in their first series at Fenway Park this season, the kicker is the Red Sox led in every game. In game one they had a 1-0 lead after the first inning, in game two they led 5-0 entering the sixth then 5-3 before the Orioles scored four in the seventh, and in game three they led 2-1 entering the eighth before going down 3-2. The one thing that was exposed was the defense, for instance, last night with the game 2-1 and one out the Red Sox almost turned a double play but shortstop David Hamilton missed second base to extend the inning and the very next hitter hit a two-run home run around Pesky’s pole to give the Orioles the 3-2 lead. Today the Red Sox called up infielder Bobby Dalbec from Triple-A Worcester. The move comes after yesterday when Red Sox manager Alex Cora didn’t give an optimistic update about Rafael Devers and the shoulder injury he is dealing with mentioning that he may need an injured list stint but he wasn’t sure. On top of Devers shortstop Romy Gonzalez who got called up when Dalbec got sent down just four days ago is dealing with a wrist injury and he just may be the one going on the injured list, we’ll have to wait and see who it is going on the Injured List that resulted in Dalbec being recalled. Besides all Dalbec being called up, RHP Cooper Criswell has been added to the Taxi Squad.
Red Sox Moves By The Numbers
INF – Bobby Dalbec
Dalbec this spring hit .222 with a .719 OPS; he had one double, three home runs, nine RBI, seven runs scored, two stolen bases, and seven walks in 23 games. His play down in Florida resulted in him making the team to start the season and forced the Red Sox to release C.J. Cron whom they had signed to give Dalbec some competition. Dalbec in six games with Boston went 0-9 with six strikeouts which resulted in being sent down to Triple-A. After being sent down he played in two games with Worcester and he went 1-7 with a home run, an RBI, a run scored, and a walk hitting .143.
3B – Rafael Devers
Devers has been dealing with a shoulder issue since the start of the season and hasn’t looked right at the plate offensively as he is hitting .184 with a .721 OPS; he has two doubles, two home runs, three RBI, five runs scored, and seven walks in ten games. He was held out of the lineup last night as he has been getting days off here and there to see if helps him get right, hopefully, the shoulder injury is nothing serious and he’ll be back ready to rock soon.
INF – Romy Gonzalez
Gonzalez started the season at Triple-A Worcester and was red hot hitting .321 with a 1.196 OPS; he had a double, two triples, three home runs, ten RBI, five runs scored, one stolen base, and a walk. When Trevor Story went down with his season-ending injury, he got the call-up and he played in two games going 1-4 with a run scored and a walk. With the defense issues at shortstop right now Gonzalez in ten innings posted a 1.000 fielding percentage with three chances.
RHP – Cooper Criswell
Criswell this spring made six appearances with four of those coming as starts going 0-1 with a 2.95 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts in 18.1 innings. Following the conclusion of the Grapefruit League play he was sent to Triple-A Worcester making two starts going 0-1 with a 0.87 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and nine strikeouts in 10.1 innings. The move comes as the Red Sox don’t have a starter for either tonight or tomorrow with Nick Pivetta out, Tanner Houck will start one of them, and the expectation will be Criswell gets the ball in the other game.
