BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
STATE OF THE SOX: The Red Sox have lost back-to-back games after sweeping the Tigers in Detroit from 4/6-9. The Sox have been held to 2 runs and 9 hits over the first 2 games of the current series at TB, after scoring 24 runs on 26 hits over the previous 3-game series at DET. Red Sox batters have struck out 10 times in each of the first 2 games at TB, after striking out 10+ times in just 1 of their first 9 games of the season.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Red Sox lost at TB last night, 7-2… They were held to just 2 hits through the first 7.0 innings. Garrett Whitlock made his 2023 debut (5.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, SO)…He held TB to 3 runs through 4.2 innings before allowing back-to-back 2-out HR in the 5th. Reese McGuire (2-for-2, RBI) pinch hit in the 8th inning and doubled, then hit an RBI single in the 9th. Justin Turner reached base safely in 3 of his 4 plate appearances, going 1-for-2 with 2 BB.
ON THE OFFENSIVE: The Red Sox have scored at least 61 runs through their first 11 games for the 3rd time in the last 20 seasons (also 65 runs in 2021 and 63 runs in 2018). The Sox have hit at least 15 home runs through their first 11 games for the 2nd time in the last 20 seasons (15 HR in 2021). Red Sox hitters have struck out in just 19.3% of their plate appearances (82 SO/425 PA), the 3rd-best SO% in the AL (TB-17.7%, CLE-19.2%).
NINE IS FINE: Over their first 11 games, the Red Sox have scored 9+ runs 4 times (3-1 record), 4-8 runs 3 times (2-1 record), and 0-3 runs 4 times (0-4 record). The Sox’ 4 games with 9+ runs scored are the 2nd most in MLB, trailing only TB (5).
INNINGS OF INTEREST: The Red Sox have scored in either the 1st or 2nd inning in 7 of their 11 games (17 total runs). They have scored 8 runs in the 1st inning, tied for 2nd most in the AL behind only SEA (11 runs). They have scored 9 runs in the 2nd inning, 1 behind TB and ATL for most in MLB. The Red Sox have outscored opponents in the 8th and 9th innings, 12-4. The Sox have scored 4+ runs in an inning 4 times this
season, trailing only TB (5) for most such innings in MLB.
CLOSE SHAVES: 8 of the Sox’ first 11 games have been decided by 3 runs or fewer…The only teams in MLB with more such games are KC (10), CLE (10), MIN (9), and HOU (9). The Red Sox have played 4 games decided by just 1 run (1-3 record), 4th most in MLB behind CLE (6), SEA (5), and CIN (5).
BOSTON STRONG: The Red Sox announced plans to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the 2013 Boston Marathon with special events and pregame ceremonies during the 4-game series vs. LAA that begins on Friday. The Red Sox on Friday, in partnership with JetBlue, will distribute over 40,000 Red Sox City Connect hats to Boston Public Schools students and staff at 104 elementary and middle schools across Boston. Prior to Saturday’s 4:10 p.m. game, the Red Sox will host special pregame ceremonies commemorating One Boston Day and the 76th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier. Prior to Sunday’s 1:35 p.m. game, a reunion of the 2013 Red Sox World Series Championship team will take place during pregame ceremonies. On Patriots Day, Monday, 4/17, Hall of Famer David Ortiz will serve as the Grand Marshal for the 127th Boston Marathon…The Red Sox and Angels will play at 11:10 AM, with all fans in attendance receiving a Boston Strong t-shirt.
WHAT A RELIEF: Over the last 8 games (since 4/3), Red Sox relievers have posted a 2.32 ERA (8 ER/31.0 IP). 5 of the 8 relief pitchers the Red Sox have used this season have allowed 1 or 0 runs (see below).
RED SOX RELIEVERS TO ALLOW 1 OR 0 RUNS
Pitcher IP R
Kenley Jansen 3.0 0
Josh Winckowski 9.0 1
Zack Kelly 6.2 1
Chris Martin 6.0 1
John Schreiber 5.0 1
START ME UP: Prior to last night, Red Sox starting pitchers tossed 5.0 innings and allowed 3 ER or fewer in each of the previous 6 games, posting a 2.40 ERA (8 ER/30.0 IP) over that span.
RED SOX STARTING PITCHERS, APRIL 4-10
Pitcher Game IP ER
Nick Pivetta 4/4 vs. PIT 5.0 1
Corey Kluber 4/5 vs. PIT 5.0 1
Chris Sale 4/6 at DET 5.0 3
Tanner Houck 4/8 at DET 5.0 2
Kutter Crawford 4/9 at DET 5.0 1
Nick Pivetta 4/10 at TB 5.0 0
SOX & RAYS: Tonight marks the 3rd of 13 scheduled meetings between the Red Sox and Rays in 2023. The Rays will visit Fenway Park for 4 games in 3 days from 6/2-4, and a 2-game series from 9/26-27…The Sox will return to Tropicana Field for 3 games from 9/4-6. The Sox have lost each of their last 11 games at Tropicana Field, beginning 4/23/22…It is their longest losing streak ever at the venue.
ROAD TRIPPING: The Red Sox are 3-2 so far on their 7-game road trip to DET (3-0) and TB (0-2). The Red Sox are currently in a stretch of 19 games in 19 days, from 4/8-26 (3-2 so far). After the current series, the Red Sox will begin a 7-game homestand against LAA (4 games) and MIN (3 games).
MACHO MAN: Masataka Yoshida has hit from the 4th spot in the lineup in each of his 10 career games…He is the first player ever to bat 4th for the Red Sox in each of his first 10 MLB games. Yoshida is 1 of 3 players since 1950 to bat 4th in each of their first 10 MLB games, joining Kris Bryant (2015 with CHC) and Pete Incaviglia (1986 with TEX).
ON THE MEND: Brayan Bello allowed 1 run over 6.0 IP in a rehab start for Triple-A Worcester last night vs. Columbus (4 H, 4 SO, HB, 81 pitches). James Paxton made a rehab start for Triple-A Worcester Sunday at Buffalo…He struck out 3 batters over 3.0 scoreless innings (2 H, 2 BB, 58 pitches, 34 strikes).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: 41 CHRIS SALE – LHP
Earned the win last Thursday at DET, allowing 3 runs over 5.0 IP (4 H, 3 BB, 7 SO, HR)… Was his 1st win since 9/22/21 vs. NYM (5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 8 SO). Thursday marked his 152nd career game with at least 5.0 IP, 7 SO and 3 BB or fewer (previous: 9/22/21 vs. NYM 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 8 SO). Owns a 2.82 ERA (43 ER/137.0 IP) in 23 career outings (21 starts) vs. TB…Tossed 5.0 scoreless innings in his last start against TB, at Tropicana Field on 7/12/22 (3 H, BB, 5 SO). Is 54-42 with a 2.97 ERA (282 ER/853.9 IP) in 163 career games (122 starts) following a loss. Has averaged 11.10 SO/9.0 IP (2,077
TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
WASH, RINSE, REPEAT — The Rays extended their win streak to 11 games in last night’s 7-2 win vs. Boston…LHP Shane McClanahan improved to 3-0 after tossing 5.0 innings of one-run ball, scattering two hits with four walks and nine strikeouts…Tampa Bay’s offense was powered by solo homers from 1B Yandy Díaz (3-for-3, HR, RBI, BB, 3R), DH Brandon Lowe (2-for-4, HR, RBI, R), CF Josh Lowe (2-for-4, HR, RBI, 2R, SB) and 3B Isaac Paredes (2-for-4, HR, RBI, R).
The Rays became the first team to begin a season 11-0 since the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers won 13 straight to begin the year…Tampa Bay joins Milwaukee as one of four teams since 1901 to begin a season on an 11+ game win streak, joining the 1982 Atlanta Braves (13-0) and 1981 Oakland Athletics (11-0).
WELCOME TO THE SHOW — RHP Taj Bradley was recalled yesterday from Triple-A Durham and will make his major league debut tonight vs. Boston…he joins RHP Kevin Kelly as the second Ray to make his major league debut this season…Bradley, 22, is rated Tampa Bay’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 18 overall prospect by MLB.com…in 72 career minor league appearances (72 starts), Bradley is 23-16 with a 2.66 ERA (317.2IP, 94ER)…in 28 starts last season between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham, he went 7-4 with a 2.57 ERA (133.1IP, 38ER).
11 AND COUNTING—The Rays 11-game win streak is tied for the second longest in franchise history, joining the 2021 club, who won 11 straight from 5/13-24, 2021…Tampa Bay’s longest win streak in team history is 12 games from 6/9-22, 2004.
The Rays’ eight-game win streak at Tropicana Field is their longest to open a home slate in club history, surpassing three-game runs by the 2002, 2012 and 2022 clubs…marks Tampa Bay’s longest home win streak since winning a franchise-best 12 straight at Tropicana Field from 8/9-9/10, 2018.
The club’s three-game road win streak is its longest to begin a season since a seven-game road streak to kick off the 2010 season.
THERE’S NO “I” IN TEAM—The Rays have 10 players with multiple home runs, including Wander Franco (4HR), Brandon Lowe (4HR), Yandy Díaz (3HR), Isaac Paredes (3HR), Luke Raley (3HR), Harold Ramírez (3HR), Randy Arozarena (2HR), Josh Lowe (2HR), Manuel Margot (2HR) and Jose Siri (2HR)…the next closest teams are Los Angeles-NL and San Francisco, both of which have seven players with multiple homers.
Tampa Bay has an MLB-best six players with 3+ HR…the next closest team is Los Angeles-NL with five.
Tampa Bay has four players with 10+ RBI, including Randy Arozarena (11RBI), Wander Franco (10RBI), Brandon Lowe (10RBI) and Isaac Paredes (10RBI)… the only other team in the majors that has multiple players with 10+ RBI is the Houston Astros (Yordan Alvarez: 16RBI & Kyle Tucker: 12RBI).
BALANCED ATTACK — The Rays have yielded only 20 runs, tied for the fewest through 11 games in club history with the 2019 squad.
Since 1901, the 2023 and 2019 Rays are two of only 11 teams to allow 20 runs or fewer through the first 11 games of the season…prior to the 2023 and 2019 Rays accomplishing the feat, the last team to do so was the 2002 San Francisco Giants (16R).
Tampa Bay’s 83 runs scored are its most ever through 11 games to start the year, ahead of the 1998 Rays (64R)…marks the most runs scored by an MLB team through 11 games since the 2019 Los Angeles Dodgers (87R).
The Rays have hit nine more home runs (29) than their total number of runs allowed (20).
BLAST OFF — The Rays have hit a major league-best 29 homers, ahead of Los Angeles-NL (21HR)…the 29 HR are tied with the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals for the most long balls through 11 games in MLB history. The Rays would need three home runs tonight to match the current MLB mark for most homers through 12 games, done by the 2019 Seattle Mariners (32HR)…Tampa Bay has already registered three 4+ homer games (4/4 at WSH, 4/7 vs. OAK and 4/11 vs. BOS) after recording only one such contest in 2022 (6/21/22 vs. NYY).
NO FLY ZONE—Rays pitchers have allowed just four home runs across 99.0 innings, good for an MLB-best 0.36 HR/9.0IP…the four homers are the fewest allowed through 11 games in franchise history, surpassing the 2014 Rays (7HR)…the fewest home runs allowed through the first 12 games of a season in franchise history is seven by the 2014 club.
Overall, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has produced an MLB-leading 1.73 ERA, including the best starter ERA (1.83) and second-best bullpen ERA (1.58) behind Milwaukee (1.00).
BOSOX IN THE BAY — The Rays play game three of a 13-game season series against Boston tonight at Tropicana Field…in 2022, Tampa Bay won the season series for the fourth consecutive year, winning 12 of 19 matchups…since 2019, the Rays are 44-25 (.638) against the Red Sox, their second most wins against any opponent in that span behind only Baltimore (46-21).
The Rays have won a franchise-best 11 consecutive home games over the Red Sox since 4/23/22, outscoring Boston, 51-25 (+26), in those games.
LOWE ON THE PROWL — Brandon Lowe has homered in four straight games, matching his career-long streak from 7/31-8/4, 2020.
Lowe is one of eight players in franchise history to homer in four straight games and the only player to do so twice…Lowe’s streak is the longest by a Rays hitter since Mike Zunino homered in five straight from 8/11-17, 2021.
The last player in the majors to homer in four straight games was Atlanta’s Matt Olson from 9/28-10/2, 2022.
In 46 career games against Boston, Lowe is hitting .333 (50-for-150) with 15 HR and 34 RBI, his most home runs against any opponent in his career.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP TAJ BRADLEY (0-0, -.–)
WELCOME TO THE SHOW — Tampa Bay’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 18 prospect in baseball (MLB.com) is set to make his major league debut tonight against Boston…has made two starts for Triple-A Durham this season, going 1-0 with a 5.14 ERA (7.0IP, 4ER)…in 2022, went 7-4 with a 2.57 ERA (133.1IP, 38ER) over 28 starts between Double-A Montgomery and Durham…was selected by the Rays in the fifth round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft.
LAST START — Tossed 5.0 frames on 4/6 in Durham’s 11-7 win at Jacksonville (5.0IP, 2H, 1ER, 4SO)…after permitting one run on a pair of hits in the opening frame, Bradley retired 13 consecutive batters to conclude his outing, including four strikeouts
DEBUT DERBY — Bradley becomes the second Rays player to make his major league debut in 2023, joining RHP Kevin Kelly (4/1 vs. DET)…he is the first pitcher to debut with the Rays as a starter since RHP Tommy Romero, who served as an opener on 4/12/2022 vs. Oakland.
In 2022, nine players made their big-league debuts with the Rays, tied for fourth most in a season in club history and most since a franchise-record 12 debuts in 2018.
2022 RUNDOWN — Split the 2022 season between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham, earning a promotion on July 21…went 7-4 with a 2.57 ERA (133.1IP, 38ER) and 141 strikeouts over 28 starts across the two levels…paced all Rays minor leaguers in starts and innings while ranking second in strikeouts.
Was named the Southern League Pitcher of the Month for May after turning in a 1.06 ERA (17.0IP, 2ER) with 23 strikeouts in four starts…allowed three or fewer hits in all four starts, including one hit in three of those outings.
Started for the American League at the All-Star Futures Game in Los Angeles, earning a selection to the team for the first time in his career…worked around a double and a walk to author a scoreless opening frame.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS — Split the 2021 season between Single-A Charleston and High-A Bowling Green, going 12-3 with a 1.83 ERA (103.1IP, 21ER) in 23 games (22 starts) between the two levels…led all full-season minor leaguers in ERA while tying for third in wins and ranking 8th in opponents’ average (.181) and 9th in WHIP (0.93).
Named Carolina League Pitcher of the Month for both June and July 2021, going 7-1 with a 0.77 ERA (47.0IP, 4ER) in 10 starts over that stretch…following the season, was named to the Rays Organizational All-Star Team by MLB.com and selected to Baseball America’s Minor League All-Star Team.
Did not pitch in 2020 following the cancellation of the minor league season…pitched in the Instructional League in October.
MISC. — Was selected by the Rays in the fifth round (150th overall) of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of Redan (Ga.) High School, the same school that has produced former All-Stars Brandon Phillips, Domonic Brown and Wally Joyner…began pitching as a high school senior after mostly playing the outfield growing up…committed to the University of South Carolina before signing with the Rays.
