Coming off a 15-game winning streak, an 8-2 home stand, 6 series victories in a row, and a 2-1 series win against the Blue Jays to finish that homestand, the Red Sox are riding high. The Sacramento Athletics, one of the teams the Sox needed to pass a few weeks ago, are now 9.0 games back in the Wild Card chase. The Sox hold the second of three AL Wild Cards right now. Their FanGraphs playoff odds are up to nearly 70%.
It’s time for Late Night Baseball, with all four games against the A’s set for 9:40 starts. Don’t worry, next Sunday against the Dodgers the Sox return to a 7:20 first pitch.
The Sox start things off Payton Tolle. Mass Pike wasn’t at his best the last time out, yielding 4 runs in 5.2 innings, but his offense picked him up in a 6-5 victory. 9 Ks and 1 walk is nothing to sneeze at either. He’ll miss his friend. But you can still revel in these two being best buds:
The A’s send Jack Perkins in the first game. A righty form Kokomo, Indiana, where they take it slow, he has a career ERA of 5.77 and a season mark of 6.75. Perkins started the season in the bullpen, was moved to the rotation in June, and the A’s have lost all but one of his starts. The win against the Brewers was a 4.0 inning, 3-run affair which wasn’t exactly sharp. He hasn’t gone more than 5.0 innings or tossed more than 90 pitches this season. It’s a good time to have a strong night for the bats.
Jake Bennett is looking to extend his team (and personal) winning streak to 7. An out away from a quality start, Bennett held the O’s to just 3 runs last time. He’ll face one of two Gages in the majors. Gage Jump is a 23-year-old southpaw who is 11 starts into his MLB career. The A’s have lost his last 6 starts and it’s not hard to see why with runs allowed of 0,5,6,1,4, and 6 and just one start longer than 4.2 innings. Over that time his ERA/FIP has been 8.31/6.57. Over his first 5 starts things looked better: 2.04 ERA, 2.14 FIP.
Patrick Sandoval held the Blue Jays scoreless for 4.2 innings. Since he was activated he’s struck out 13 in 14 innings with 4 walks and 5 hits. He was pushed to 84 pitches the last time out which might be about all the Sox expect from him given the long layoff. The A’s have scored more runs than the Red Sox but are still a below-average offense. Toronto is dead last in runs but his other starts against the White Sox and Rays were against above-average run scoring teams. Jacob Lopez is a lefty who has really struggles this season. While his most recent start against the Twins was solid – 5.0 innings, 0 runs – he’s allowed runs is all but two outings of his 16 games this year (one in relief).
The final game is Sonny Gray’s chance to bounce back. And it comes against an old team! Gray has been solid as can be for Boston this season but had an off day on Saturday against Toronto. The Jays hit him (relatively) hard by his own standards in June as well. The A’s still haven’t announced who will pitch on Thursday. Allowing the second most runs per game, above only the Rockies, it probably won’t be a new ace.
New second baseman (we assume) Curtis Mead will be suited up for the Red Sox!
Catcher Shea Langeliers is out with a torn meniscus, probably for the season, which is a break facing the A’s.
Nick Kurtz is hitting .263/.401/.491 with 20 homers.
The Jeff McNeil bounce-back didn’t happen.
Tyler Soderstrom has been good: .248/.346/.470.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Monday, July 27: Payton Tolle (3.31 ERA / 3.24 FIP) vs. Jack Perkins (6.75 ERA /4.45 FIP)
Tuesday, July 28: Jake Bennett (2.58 ERA / 3.12 FIP) vs. Gage Jump (4.42 ERA / 3.83 FIP)
Wednesday, July 29: Patrick Sandoval (3.21 ERA / 3.04 FIP) vs. Jacob Lopez (6.12 ERA / 5.67 FIP)
Thursday, July 30: Sonny Gray (2.78 ERA / 3.70FIP) vs. TBD (— ERA / — FIP)
Monday, July 27: 9:40 PM ET on NESN
Tuesday, July 28: 9:40 PM ET on NESN
Wednesday, July 29: 9:40 PM ET on NESN
Thursday, July 30: 9:40 PM ET on NESN
