The ghost of 2011 is alive and well it seems. Are Alex Cora and/or Craig Breslow looking over their shoulders for John Henry or his representative?
Probably not given that (1) even Chaim Bloom got four years and (2) Alex Cora was hired by ownership. As a side note the best reading of “you’re fired” is in the trailer for the movie Comedian.
With that out of the way, Marley was dead to being with.
Take three.
The lineup was dead, to begin with. After losing two out of three to he Athletics, the Red Sox
are off to Tampa to play the Rays. It feels like as bad an idea as Nathaniel Lowe using Creed for his walk up music.
In Boston’s favor: the Rays were a .515 club in the first half (including the Sox sweep in July heading into the All-Star Game) but have been a .436 team since. They’re 7-9 in September with 64 runs scored and 63 runs allowed. The Red Sox are 7-8 in September with 67 runs scored and 68 runs allowed. The Rays almost definitely will not claim third place from Boston. They technically can but they probably won’t.
Drew Rasmussen is having a fine season but he’s essentially going 5.1 innings and allowing 2.5 runs a game. Boston knocked him out after 2 innings and 1 run in July but that lineup is gone. No telling what kind of damage he’ll do now. But he’s not tossing shutouts. He’s the best the Sox will see so Garrett Crochet at least gives them a chance to hang around.
Adrian Houser has been worse for the Rays than he was for the White Sox earlier this year. That’s not how it’s supposed to work, right? Don’t the Rays get more out of their guys? Since the All-Star Break batters are hitting .290/.354/.447 off him. Nearly adding 200 points of OPS since the first half. Hopefully that piece of the scouting report gets distributed. Kyle Harrison makes a start for Boston. His minor league adjustments went, well, not always great, but he was solid in his first outing. He actually has some potential upside as the part of the Devers return that wasn’t just cash.
Connelly Early excelled again in his second MLB start. Once again the bullpen squandered his work. Third time’s the charm. Payton Tolle bailed out Bello on Thursday. Will he be ready for long relief by Sunday? We’ll see.
Wilyer Abreu will not be making the trip to Florida with the team. However it’s been reported that he might join them in a day or two. Remember when that was a three-day injury? Feel bad for the guy ending up with a month of pain.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday, September 19: Garrett Crochet (2.63 ERA / 2.86 FIP) vs. Drew Rasmussen (2.74 ERA / 3.80 FIP)
Saturday, September 20: Kyle Harrison (4.05 ERA / 4.20 FIP) vs. Adrian Houser (4.04 ERA / 4.34 FIP)
Sunday, September 21: Connelly Early (0.87 ERA / 0.25 FIP) vs. TBD (— ERA / — FIP)
When/Where to Watch
Friday September 19: 7:35 PM ET on NESN
Saturday September 20: 7:05 PM ET on NESN
Sunday September 21: 7:35 PM ET on NESN
