Welcome to the second half. The Red Sox are 46-48 after a nine-game winning streak to close out the first part of the season. Now the team races towards the trade deadline with eyes on being buyers rather than sellers.
Willson Contreras doesn’t’ want to leave.
So it’ll be up to him, Sonny Gray, Aroldis Chapman and the rest of the team to really force Craig Breslow’s hand. This was, after all, the original plan entering the season. To compete. To win. To reach October.
After running wild in April and May, the Rays fell back to earth with a .500 June – including a 3-game sweep of the Sox – but are 7-5 so far in July.
Griffin Jax started one of those games in June and went 4.0 innings while allowing 3 runs (2 earned). That was his season high at the time but he’s since made nine starts of at least 5.0 innings including one 6.0 inning appearance. He’s not going deep in terms of pitch counts. just innings. Over 6.0 he just 71 pitches. In recent 5.0 inning starts he’s used as many at 88 but as few as 69. They’re clearly working him along in s specific way. Jake Bennett is coming off an excellent start against the Chicago White Sox. 7.0 shutout innings with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk? Can’t ask for more.
Game two doesn’t have announced starters yet, which leans towards the Sox pushing Payton Tolle into the next series to give him some extra rest. Eduardo Rivera and Brayan Bello are both available though…that just worked well against the Mets. Not that the Rays up the LOLMets.
The Ian Seymour experiment hasn’t gone as well as Jax. He was a pure reliever, then did some opening, and now has made three straight starts. The last was against the Seattle Mariners where he allowed 6 wins in 3.1 innings. His start against Boston was 4.0 innings and he allowed a single run: a homer by Marcelo Mayer. Patrick Sandoval is making his second start for the Red Sox. His first in two years was solid enough: 4.1 innings, 1 run, 5 Ks. With Ranger Suarez on the IL a few more days at least, Sandoval arrived at the right time.
Shane McClanahan is also back from a long absence for 2026. But he’s 17 starts into his return. The Sox missed him the last time. He held the Yankees scoreless over 6.1 last time out. And didn’t allow a run to KC the previous start. Sonny Gray is coming off a restful All-Star Break as he didn’t get selected for the game itself. He’s taking all comers ans shutting down their offenses. He’s been every bit the number two Breslow promised.
Junior Caminero was hit in the hand during the All-Star Game and could be out? He’s having a terrific year: 28 homers so far.
Chandler Simpson has 22 steals and has been caught 11 times, which leads the league.
Jonathan Aranda is posting a .394 OBP.
Yandy Diaz leads baseball with 11 hits.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday, July 17: Griffin Jax (2.61 ERA / 4.42 FIP) vs. Jake Bennett (2.64 ERA /3.02 FIP)
Friday, July 17: TBD (—ERA / — FIP) vs. TBD (— ERA /— FIP)
Saturday, July 18: Ian Seymour (4.59 ERA / 4.09 FIP) vs. Patrick Sandoval (2.08 ERA / 1.49 FIP)
Sunday, July 19: Shane McClanahan (2.83 ERA / 3.15 FIP) vs. Sonny Gray (2.54 ERA / 3.53 FIP)
When/Where to Watch
Friday, July 17: 1:35 PM ET on NESN
Friday, July 17: 7:10 PM ET on NESN
Saturday, July 18: 4:10 PM ET on NESN
Sunday, July 19: 1:35 PM ET on NESN
