The Red Sox were swept at Fenway Park again. This time by the only mildly hapless Toronto Blue Jays. A team that had to pick up a DFA’d pitcher who would, of course, provide innings of scoreless relief against Boston. 6-1, sure that was bad. 2-0? Seriously? 4-3 on a wind carried popup? Sigh.
Now the team that is ok on the road (17-18) and miserable at home (12-24) is back on the road to take on the Seattle Mariners. And I mean, they could have won two in Atlanta or New York. They did against Cleveland
while in Ohio. They were swept on the road by the Tampa Bay Rays but 3-1, 4-3, 7-5? That wasn’t a blowout.
Chad Tracy Magic, whatever is it, seems to have run dry. Mickey Gasper is basically a “free stolen base” hack for the opposing team when he’s behind the plate.
But somehow, some way, they are only 6.5 back from a Wild Card with 90 games to play. So it’s not over. They have to play these games regardless, but if they win 4 of these next six against Seattle and Colorado, which could happen on the road, somehow, with this team, I don’t know, they could be even closer. Now that Caleb Durbin found his power stroke anything is possible.
After trouble against Atlanta and then a surprise bad inning in Cleveland, Ranger Suarez is coming off two strong starts. It looked like his 6.1 innings of work against the Yankees, after they handled him earlier in the season, would yield a win, but it didn’t. His start against the Texas Rangers was 5.0 innings, 2 runs, 7 Ks and that did get the Sox a victory. Bryce Miller didn’t make his season debut until May 13 after suffering an oblique injury in Spring Training. Over his five starts and one piggy-back where he entered in the fifth and finished the game, he’s been good. He’s struck out 36 against just a single walk and allowed 6 runs in 35 innings. He’s coming off his best start: 8.0 innings and 2 runs against the Washington Nationals.
The wheels have come off a little bit on the Connelly Early experience but a rookie shouldn’t also be your stopper. He’s literally learning on the job still. Anyway, he will be looking to pick himself up after a 4.2 inning, 11 hit, 6 run, performance. He’s now allowed 14 homers on the season. Nathan Eovaldi has allowed 17, so it’s not a killer. But it isn’t ideal. Emerson Hancock, starting for the Mariners, had a similar start his last time out: 4.0 innings, 6 runs, 1 homer, 9 hits. His only other rough outing was against the White Sox. Overall, this is his fourth year with time in the majors and it’s his best season. Sometimes these things take time. He’s still 27. We’ll hope Early can make his breakthroughs earlier.
Payton Tolle didn’t have his best start last time out. 5.0 innings and 3 runs but that doesn’t tell the story. The problem was putting guys away. Myles Straw had a 14 pitch at bat. He’s hitting .239/.308/.333. They had a plan and it was sit on the fastball. He’ll need to bounce back though because Logan Gilbert isn’t exactly a pushover. He’s coming off back-to-back 1-run outings of six and seven innings. In 86.2 innings he’s struck out 92. Like Miller and Hancock he’s a righty. So, left-handed bat time? That’s something.
Randy Arozarena is on the IL.
Julio Rodriguez didn’t play Thursday with a hamstring injury and may be limited or hit the IL himself.
Cal Raleigh is back from his own IL trip and is 2-10 so far in his return.
Not a Mariners player, but Mike Trout hit the IL. Another Boston radio guy rumor based on, unsurprisingly nothing. But Trout was never coming here anyway.
19 years ago this August the Mariner Moose hit Coco Crisp with an ATV. Win this series for Coco!
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday, June 19: Ranger Suarez (3.21 ERA / 2.82 FIP) vs. Bryce Miller (1.54 ERA / 2.95 FIP)
Saturday, June 20: Connelly Early (3.89 ERA / 4.99 FIP) vs. Emerson Hancock (3.28 ERA / 3.80 FIP)
Sunday, June 18: Payton Tolle (2.93 ERA / 3.08 FIP) vs. Logan Gilbert (3.43 ERA / 3.79 FIP)
When/Where to Watch
Friday, June 16: 10:10 PM ET on NESN
Saturday, June 17: 10:10 PM ET on NESN
Sunday, June 18: 4:10 PM ET on NESN
