Here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on throughout the day:
1. Doubleheader in Philadelphia:
Yesterday’s game between the Phillies and Braves was postponed, making way for a split doubleheader to occur today. Fans with tickets to yesterday’s game will be able to attend this afternoon’s game, which begins at 1:05pm local time, while the start time of 6:45pm for this evening’s game remains unchanged. It will be a great day for fans of intriguing pitching matchups, as this afternoon’s game will feature standout Atlanta rookie AJ Smith-Shawver (3.67 ERA) pitching opposite Phillies southpaw Cristopher Sanchez (3.17 ERA). That game will only serve as the appetizer, however, with the main course being a clash between the first- and second-place finishers in NL Cy Young award voting last year: Braves lefty Chris Sale (3.36 ERA) and Phillies righty Zack Wheeler (2.42 ERA).
2. What’s next for the Red Sox?
The Red Sox have today off, but after yesterday’s frustrating 6-5 loss to the Brewers they find themselves on a five-game skid in the standings. Boston is 9-15 over its last 24 games and finds itself sliding down the standings, 4.5 games back of an AL Wild Card spot and 9.5 games behind the division-leading Yankees. It’s a far cry from the lofty expectations that came with an offseason where the Sox brought Garrett Crochet and Alex Bregman into the fold. It’s common for clubs in these situations to take off-days as opportunities to evaluate whether there are changes that need to be made. Top prospect Roman Anthony is continuing to bang on the door at Triple-A, while certain veterans like shortstop Trevor Story and right-hander Liam Hendriks are struggling in their current roles. First base remains an area without a long-term plan since the season-ending injury to Triston Casas (though Abraham Toro has at least popped a trio of homers while filling in). Could changes be on the horizon in some capacity?
3. Series Preview: Rays @ Astros
While the Red Sox figure to spend today licking their wounds after a tough stretch, two of the biggest beneficiaries of Boston’s recent slide will kick off a four-game set that could have notable implications on the AL playoff picture. The Astros are in a three-way tie with the Guardians and Twins for the AL’s three Wild Card spots at the moment, with each club sporting an identical 30-25 record. The Rays, meanwhile, have propelled themselves back into contention with a solid stretch of play recently that’s pushed them to a 28-27 record and just two games back of that trio.
That creates high stakes as the Rays head to Daikin Park in Houston for this weekend’s series, which will kick off at 7:10pm local time with Tampa Bay righty Shane Baz (4.94 ERA) on the mound opposite Houston rookie Ryan Gusto, who sports a 4.53 ERA through 12 appearances (six starts). A much stronger pitching matchup is on the docket tomorrow, when Ryan Pepiot (3.55 ERA) takes the mound for the Rays opposite Framber Valdez (3.39 ERA). Right-hander Zack Littell (3.97 ERA) will take on rookie Colton Gordon (5.52 ERA) in the lefty’s fourth career big league start, and the series will wrap up Sunday with the Rays’ Taj Bradley (4.38 ERA) on the mound opposite Astros ace Hunter Brown (2.00 ERA).
Fire, Cora, and bring up Anthony
aron – Would Sox management risk a year of servicetime by bringing up Anthony this weekend? I wish.
There will be one change though this weekend …. Campbell is playing first base in one of the games. He can’t be any worse there than at second base, can he?
Embarrassing for a big-market team like the Red Sox to prioritize service time concerns over winning now (plus it seems unlikely that Anthony would get a top-2 ROY finish at this point, but who knows).
And after yesterday’s disaster I’m sure Campbell is eager for some time away from second base.
You proceed from a false assumption. The Red Sox FO is incapable of feeling embarrassment.
@MeowMeow, Anthony could still easily qualify for Super 2 status which is what they are mainly manipulating at this point, though even after that cut-off date it does remain possible he could still get the RotY finish like Skenes did last year.
It has little to do with roy but more likley super 2 status which is the same thing holding up kids in every org. Lets not pretend boston is the only team ley alone big market thats played this game..why.is everyone surprised..
You all forget kris bryant saga?
They aren’t winning this year no matter what they do. Within reason, of course. They could cash in all their chips and MAYBE slide into the last Wild Card berth, but that would be a foolish move that would trigger another rebuild. Better to punt on the lost season and think hard on what needs to change for Boston to have a winning team again.
Super 2 status is equally embarrassing for them to care about. If Anthony comes up and is the real deal, the Red Sox have a big enough budget in a big enough market to keep him in Boston for his whole career anyway.
FPG, I hope the keep KC at 1B. I am pretty sure his current position is Whack-a-Mole. They need to get this kid a permanent position. The are destroying this kid!
They did the same thing to him in Portland and Worcester where he played every position except 1b and C. I am pretty sure the had him handling concessions a couple of times too.
He came up as a middle infielder/cf, but his body type is 1B/3B. Hopefully he claims 1st..
Dbh ..no argument about him needing stability of a perm position but in the teams defense and as you elude to he did the same moving around all last year while raking his way to minor league player of the year honors so..prior to the majors there was no indication it would bother him.at least at the plate
That is true, Pool. I just think that once a player gets to the majors he needs to play just one position so he can learn to hit MLB level pitching.
DBH – I think KC will settle in at first base by the time Bregman returns, with Story/Mayer covering middle infield. Until then he will probably be playing there a few times a week.
It’s absolutely sickening how two-faced Cora pretends to care about his players, but then mentally abuses players like KC just so Cora can make his hitter matchup changes and move everyone around. If he had his way he’d have every position player playing every position.
How can the team defense improve when players are constantly getting shuffled?
DBH – I find it extremely amusing how Cora had made excuses for keeping Mayer and Anthony down by saying it wouldn’t be right to force them to learn a new position as a brand new rookie …. and then he turns around and does just that to another brand new rookie, Campbell.
Double talkin’ jive, that’s Cora to a T ….. a true snake.
Fpg ..you are “sickend”? thats so dramatic. Did you bother to look at campbells bb ref for last year ? Ley me help you..he literally played 4 completely different positions on his way to wild success..were you also “sickend” by the minor league staffs in portland and worcester as well? Versatility has literally been his calling card so you are being unreasonable based on what he has displayed on his way up in your criticism of Cora in this instance
@Aronsond,
I think Cora is safe for now, but there is one change that can alter that. He has lost the support of some of the media. Coverage of Cora used to run along the lines of “Cora is the bestest ever in all of history”.
Now it is more of “Well ya, Cora makes a lot of bad calls, but he just signed an extention so can’t be fired yet.”
Bad press coverage is the only thing that gets John Henry off is butt these days.
DBH – Money will get Henry off his butt too, revenue will be way down if they have another early playoff elimination.
To his credit though, the TV and radio guys have really been laying into the team and there’s been no repercussions. Unlike when the Orioles owner suspended the TV color guy for simply stating the O’s had a bad record in Tropicana Field.
Money has not moved him so far. He is raking in millions elsewhere while using the Sox as a piggy bank.
Henry didn’t rush to speak to Devers because he makes 30 mils or because he was 0-forever.
Henry rushed the entire FO to another city simply because of the bad press.
Bad press is ALL that moves him. Look to history where he suddenly wants to have a radio sit down or presser
DBH – I dunno, if he truly cared about press he wouldn’t be a no-show at the Winter Fanfests, the end of season press conferences, Larry’s funeral, etc etc.
The lack of spending convinced people he doesn’t give a damn, and not showing up for things he used to always show up for has convinced people even more.
90% of life is about simply showing up.
We are proving the same point… John Henry HIDES to avoid creating bad press
I’m with you DBH… Henry attended the hockey game, fans let him have it, bad press.
Henry attended the fanfest panel, fans let him have it, the team edited the footage to cover it up afterwards, and still it was already out… bad press.
Henry doesn’t show because he knows bad things will happen. Believe me, if Boston was in the drivers seat, winning, Henry would be much more visible
Totally agree on firing shztstain curse of a manager. He shouldn’t even belong in the league. Dam cheat . He is and will leave a stain on the Re Sox until the next generation.
Agree also find a trade for Story.
No point in trading story. You’d be eating almost the entire contract, and, they still need a warm body on the IF right now.
Just like you can’t move yoshida. You’d probably eat 90% or more if the arm is as bad as they imply.
Henry isn’t going to pay a hundred million bucks for two guys to hopefully rebound elsewhere, while you know nothing of any particular value comes back
Fire Cora
Agree. That team has a we-couldn’t-care-less look and attitude about them. They need stronger leadership. Heck, I’d take Derek Shelton at this point, but Varitek would be a refreshing change.
As someone who works for others i find it bad karma to call for anyone to be fired from thier livlihood no matter what they do for a living but do agree cora seems to need to improve his performance this year
Anyone who doesn’t perform their job successfully should at least be considered for termination. And we aren’t talking about a Walmart greeter here. This clown is making millions to shrug every time they lose or he makes a bad decision. Major case in point, Rafaela shouldn’t even be on the team, let alone in the starting lineup.
Cora has been the chronic illness for years and it is time to get rid the infection.
But John Henry and a large percentage of the locals worship him.
which is why they should “promote” Cora to an insignificant office role with a fancy title, though Cora is still guaranteed the majority of his absurd $21.75 million extension regardless.
High – I’ve been saying for a while that Cora’s next move will likely be to GM.
That would be a better “look” for the team after extending him so quickly last year.
I don’t think Cora has all that much local support these days. His antics the last few years have turned people off.
Wait – I agree he looks worse and worse.
And I’m telling ya, if you had seen his presser Monday when they asked him about the team’s record and he responded “We are what the record says we are” with a huge smirk on his face and a hearty laugh ….. I think everyone felt like asking him why he was smiling and laughing about it, if not wanting to slap him in the face.
let – I dunno, Sox sites that used to be infested with Cora suckups have finally seen the light …. better late than never.
2018 anyone could’ve guided that team to the championship
Since then he’s screwed the pitching staff the next year.
Finish what last 3/5 years with good teams
He’s consistently pulls a good starter in game.
He consistently brings in wrong relievers.
All due to pregame meetings.
It’s like dude the starter is mowing them. Why take him out
Or this starter doesn’t have it tonight why leave him in.
This schedule days off is a joke.
Sits a hot hitter like 🙄
Bringing in a buck 50 hitter for a pinch runner in a close game Then a couple in gas later he’s at bat bases loaded and has a chance of getting a hit like 1-10. But the player he replace is a hitter. There is no logic to that move in my eyes.
So basically saying. He can’t manage f all.
DFA Brendon Rodgers, and promote Whitcomb
3HR last night, 16 on the season.
Amen brother! We need to shout it out, so Dana Brown can hopefully hear us. Not sure what else Shay has to do, and he’s way more versatile than Rodgers.
Probably holding him back to keep what value he has for a trade for a SP.
Ehh maybe, good point though. However, we could really use Shay right now & we have other guys we could trade for a SP.
They are playing him at 2B at Sugar Land. If they are not going to play Salazar, send him down and bring Whitcomb.up.
Rodgers would be the odd man out. Salazar will stay up as long as Yordan is out…that way Yainer & Caratini can both play at the same time. Need a backup C in case something happens to one of them during the game.
Here’s an interesting bit of trivia …. Sale and Wheeler have been statistically two of the three best starting pitchers in MLB since Sale was traded to Atlanta prior to last season.
What a horrendous trade, one of the worst in sports history.
Eh, the Sox were more than Chris Sale away from contending last year imo, and these successive years are now from the extension he signed with ATL, which I don’t think Boston would’ve done. Would be nice if Grissom was anything but I have a hard time calling it an all-time bad trade when it was one ultimately inconsequential season.
Meow – Agree with you he wouldn’t have helped them get to the playoffs last year if it meant keeping Houck in the bullpen, which was the original plan.
However, not many people realize the Red Sox had a $20M option on him THIS YEAR.
So they could have had a 3.36 ERA starting pitcher right now for only $20M.
Had they gotten something better from Atlanta, and without giving away $17M, the trade would have been more tolerable.
Fpg hindsight is 20/20 and at the time of the deal nobody was predicting sale was going to be worth 20 mil in 2025 let alone 2026.based on his recent history…except atl…we were all wishing sale well and hoping we got a high upside controllable player in grissom…didnt work out..”thats baseball Susan”
Made worse by how bad Grissom has been. Considering all of the high-end positional prospects they had on the farm, why wouldn’t have accepted one of the many arms ATL is known for producing at any level rather than taking on Grissom, even in a salary dump? I get that maybe ATL knew what they had in Grissom and was the only piece being offered, but still.
Run – Agreed! it’s pretty bad when guys like Sogard and Toro are getting the call instead of Grissom, really shows how low he’s sunk in the Sox depth chart.
@Fever Pitch Guy
But, there was some Braves fan back in April complaining about how terrible Sale was pitching. When I pointed out that his SIERA was in the low 2.00 range and that it suggests he’s pitching better than his ERA suggests, I was told that I was crazy and didn’t know what I was talking about.
I guess the Braves should have DFA’d Sale in April.
York – I remember that! And I strongly defended you, knowing full well if Sale is healthy then he will pitch like an ace.
Some people here are very reactionary and quick to jump to conclusions.
The Red Sox are always complaining about not having what they need to contend but in the same breath just too lazy to do anything other than trying to manipulate their prospects out of service time and then when the prospects finally get there they can’t hit their way out of a wet paper bag. Whatever is going in Boston it makes them suck.
Look to the manager. It is a systemic problem, and the manager is the common thread.
Every Red Flop fanboy on here told me they were going to the WS…LMFAO
I SAID they were going… I didn’t say THEY’D be in it… I have to Admit CT, I’m more comfortable with Yankee fan’s dishing it out, this last 25 years has been tough on me, not knowing how to act with them winning so much more than NYY….please just for old times sake… one… 1918….
olm – Doesn’t “Twenty-Oh-Nine” have a much better non-ring to it?
Now that’s.. LMFAO!!!
That clown Alex Cora (and Bregman) orchestrated the biggest cheating scandal since the 1919 WS. And somehow both are still in baseball and on the same team..hmmm
Ok..if you insist. The Babe trade financed “NO NO NANETTE”..I understand it was a awesome Broadway show by Harry Frazee. My great-granpapy said so..lmao.
Clearly a bad trade. How bad remains to be seen. The injuries left sale with lowers innings on his arm overall despite his early workhorse years and gaudy strikeout totals.
It’s possible sale might, might go on like a Verlander into his early 40s at this point
Juan Soto looks like he’s checked out at this point. Got the big payday like Anthony Rendon.
Soto thrives in playoffs when many regular season stars get tight…..or no longer can rack up empty calorie stats against back end starters and mopup BP arms. He may very well be bored thinking Mets will make playoffs and flip switch.
@cwsOverhaul
He was putting up monster numbers during the regular season since 2018. His wRC+ in the regular season is 156 vs. 150 in the playoffs, so I don’t think he’s turning it on more in the playoffs.
In the playoffs hitters mostly face TOR starters and bullpen options. Judge is a disparity, but lot of stars that destroy subpar pitching in regular season likewise taper off a lot against the best in playoffs. Anyhow not sure Met fans should be concerned he won’t be ready again against the best of the best.
@cwsOverhaul
I get what you’re saying but I’m just taking exception to the idea that somehow always gives up on the regular season, which doesn’t seem to be the case.
Anyway, short sample size but the past few weeks, especially against the Black Sox, he should have feasted. Somethings wrong.
Those three extensions – Ceddane, Bello, and Campbell DO NOT Look good right now. Campbell probably will pan out. Should have known better for Ceddane. Now a log jam in OF and nobody wants that type of hitter for that much cash.
No one complained when the deals were done. It’s Henry’s m.o. He looks for value always.
Nah…I heard a lot of complaints for Ceddane and Bello and not just from me.
I definitely complained about Bello. Campbell was done so fast I couldn’t even develop an opinion. As far as Cedanne goes, I see value in a gold glove elite outfielder who can also play in the infield and steal some bases. Cedanne in my eyes is a super-utility guy who can play any position but pitcher and catcher. That has value, and he can steal a bag when on base. Bello is nothing but a back end starting pitcher, we could of gotten one of those on the cheap. Book still out on Campbell, he has the talent, I think he’s in his head though. The harder he tries at the plate the worse it gets and he’s carrying that failure to the field.
bum – Even if Rafaela does eventually win a GG, do you still carry him on the team if his OPS sinks below .600 and he’s still making all the mental errors?
There’s a reason JBJ retired early, and it had nothing to do with his glove.
dewey – Can you see me waving my hand after reading that? LOL
In fairness, Dewey, there were plenty of on here saying not to extend players before 1st year of arb.
I am not hugely put off by them, the deals are so team friendly I would rather waste 1 or 2 mils a year instead of 10’s of mils on a FA bad contract.
To me, when every young player is struggling, it has to be the coaching/managing.
But like I said, there were plenty here who disagreed with me.
DBH – For the record, I was against giving extensions to Rafaela & Bello & Casas and I supported Campbell’s extension.
Hopefully nobody starts clamoring to extend Narvaez or Mayer already.
Anthony I would extend, but he ain’t signing.
Fever, you are bailing on Rafaela far too early… He’ll be okay. Probably never good, but enough to justify a very modest deal.
Wait – Not at all. I’ve said many times he’s a great athlete, all his issues are in his head. Mental makeup, that’s something i really value as it separates good players from great ones. His contract is very long so I hope he matures. I love his amazing catches just as much as anyone.
Judge those extensions in six years… They’ll be fine. Rafaela is a better player than you give him credit for, his defense impacts games.
Wait – In all honesty, when do you expect Rafaela to stop making so many mental errors? He’s on a 3-game blunder streak right now, not good.
When was the last time any Sox player ran to third base without bothering to look and see where the runner in front of him was? I think it may have been Chico Walker.
I expect the team to play with greater focus when they have a manager who helps them in that regard.
Cedanne and Campbell look fine. Bello needs to improve.
They all need to improve. Happily, improvement is likely. Check back two years from now.
None of those 3 extensions are that expensive especially the way Salaries have skyrocketed the past few years…. they are Young Players who need proper guidance and direction that they currently are not getting from the Clown in the Red Sox dugout.
Spot on, Cooper!
stiil ties up $23M/yr on avg. hopefully two of them don’t become duds
Why hasn’t the Boston media reported on the scout who got fired after he was heard on a hot-mic criticizing Breslow after an organizational Zoom call? If I know about it, they do. How do you spell dysfunctional? R E D S OX
Ya can’t talk negatively publicly about your boss and not expect to get fired. Even everyday businesses are having their HR departments actually comb Tik Tok to catch employees talking badly about the company.
extreme – I would LOVE to hear more about it, got a link?
No link – word of mouth from people in the business.
There is nothing on the internet about a scout being fired after a hot mic incident.
Too many…
baserunning mistakes
errors
position changes
failures in situational hitting
mistakes in pulling starters
It’s Cora.
There is nothing worse than watching this team throw up on themselves every night and then hear his postgame comments. Wtf is going on here?!
swan – Just like his pitching changes, lineups and days off for players, Cora plans his postgame press conference answers well in advance.
Media: “Why did you pull Crochet early in a tie game against the Mets, but leave him in a long time when losing to the Orioles?”
Cora: “We’ve got to do better”.
Media: “Why didn’t you have Hamilton bunt with the winning run on second base and nobody out and the score tied in the bottom of the 10th inning?”
Cora: “There’s always ebbs and flows, that’s baseball”.
Media: “Why did you pull a well-rested Wilson after just 4 pitches with the bullpen already thin?”
Cora: “Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t ….. that’s baseball”.
Media: “What is your plan to end this long losing streak?”
Cora: “We’ve got to be better”.
You nailed it
The Sox need something to spark the offense as the bats were cold before Bregman went down and now they are frozen solid since. Too many sloppy losses. The bullpen is gassed. No length from the starting pitchers and no run support. We’ve already seen 3 Managers take the fall it might be time for Cora to join them
Rsox – I keep hoping to hear Henry, Kennedy and Breslow are on a plane to Atlanta at this moment. It’s my biggest dream right now.
Bring Anthony up, move Story to 2nd, keep Campbell at 1st, have Meyer at 3rd while Bregman gets healthy, move Cedanne to SS to make room for Anthony. Bench Raffela once Bregman is back and use in a utility role and move Meyer to SS.
Rafaela is not a good defensive shortstop. A lot of his value is due to him being an elite CFer. They would have him play 2B and keep Story at SS, if they went with what you suggested.
2. What’s next for the Red Sox?
Stinking.
Go Rays!
Hmm all the comments are about the 4th place Redsox…
Go Rays!
Lots of pissed off Red Sox fans right now needing to vent. Including me.
This Rays team is really rounding into shape. Great defense and stealing bases is all well and good, but they couldn’t hit the baseball there for awhile. Amazing what a healthy Josh Lowe and Aranda, along with Brandon Lowe getting hot can do to turn things around!
But what are they still missing? Elite pitching at the front of the rotation…
Shane McClanahan…why can’t you get healthy🤦♂️?