The Red Sox aren’t in a position to chase wins from behind with aggressive bullpen use. That’s the reality of the situation. When they have a lead, they need to use the bullpen to secure those wins. We saw what happens when Aroldis Chapman isn’t available on Sunday, and it wasn’t pretty. Of course, that was due to the back of the bullpen not being able to lock down the win a day prior, but the sentiment remains — you can’t use high-leverage relievers every night, or you’ll lose the games you’re supposed
to win.
On Monday, that reality killed the Red Sox’s chances of winning. They couldn’t get to Orioles starter Trevor May, and only began scoring late in the game. Although Dustin May pitched seven innings of two-run baseball, Jovani Moran and Jordan Hicks couldn’t keep the Orioles off the board to give the Red Sox a chance to get back into it. Ideally, those lower-leverage relievers keep you in it, but they weren’t able to do it tonight.
Hicks is especially frustrating because he should be good, considering the trade he was a part of. Moran, less so, but you’d like him to be able to get through an inning without imploding. Again, though, you can’t throw Garrett Whitlock and Greg Weissert every night, so you have to live with it and move on to play tomorrow. Hats off to Rogers on pitching a great game. Back on the horse tomorrow.
P.S. I was walking home from the game in the bottom of the ninth. I don’t normally do that, and was very nervous they were going to come from behind and make me look like an ass.
Three Studs
Dustin May
Dustin May was good tonight. He fought through a lot of traffic, but gave you six innings of two-run baseball against a lefty-heavy lineup. His sweeper was his primary pitch to lefties and only held a 60% strike rate, so I’m not sure how repeatable this is, but his ability to work out of jams was impressive. He also went backdoor with the sinker to righties frequently, something I hoped to see more of when he was acquired. I’m still not sold on May, but he gave them a chance to win, and that’s all you can really ask for.
He also brought back his changeup, a pitch he hasn’t used since 2023. He threw four by my count, all to Colton Cowser. It looked decent, too. More on that from me at a later date.
Trevor Story
Story was the only one in the lineup who really saw Rogers well. He had a 12-pitch at-bat that ended in a single, and an RBI double later in the game. The rest of the lineup couldn’t get the job done, unfortunately.
Paul Skenes
He mowed down Blue Jays for six innings. The division isn’t exactly top of mind, but it’s nice when division rivals lose to irrelevant opponents. Hopefully, the Red Sox dodge Skenes when Pittsburgh comes to town next weekend.
Three Duds
Jovani Moran
Moran was asked to face the top of the Orioles lineup in the seventh inning and couldn’t get the job done. A lead-off walk and a few hard-hit balls later, and the Orioles’ lead had doubled. Unfortunately for Moran, he has an option remaining and might find himself on the Mass Pike heading West to Worcester in the next day or so.
Jordan Hicks
After the Red Sox cut the lead to three, Hicks was put in the game to face the top of the lineup in the ninth. He also gave it up, increasing the Orioles’ lead back to five. He’s on a major league contract and is making real money, so he won’t be going anywhere.
The bottom of the lineup
Ceddanne Rafaela, Carlos Narvaez, and Abraham Toro were a combined 0-10.
