BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
STATE OF THE SOX: The Red Sox have lost the first 3 games of the current 4-game series at TB after winning each of their previous 3 games at DET from 4/6-9. The Sox lost the 4-game series at TB to fall to 2-2 in series play, including 1-1 on the road. Red Sox batters have struck out 10+ times in each of the first 3 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, 9-7…The Sox scored 7 runs on 10 hits after they were held to 2 runs and 9 hits over the first 2 games of the current series. They trailed 3-0 after 3 innings, 6-1 after 4, and 8-3 after 5…Rafael Devers hit a 3-run HR in the 7th
inning to cut the deficit to 8-7. Reese McGuire went 3-for-4 and scored 2 runs.
CLOSE SHAVES: 9 of the Sox’ first 12 games have been decided by 3 runs or fewer…The only teams in MLB with more such games are CLE (11), KC (10), and MIN (10). 6 of the Sox’ 7 losses have come by 3 runs or fewer, including 4 losses by 2 runs or fewer. The only teams with more losses by 3 runs or fewer are KC (8) and HOU (7). The only teams to lose more games by 2 runs or fewer are CIN and SEA (5 each).
LEADERS OF THE PACK: The Red Sox rank 2nd in the AL and 3rd in MLB in runs scored (68), trailing only TB (92) and LAD (79). The Sox have struck out 93 times through 12 games (7.75 SO/game), 2nd fewest in the AL (TB-85 SO). Red Sox hitters have struck out in just 20.1% of their plate appearances (93 SO/462 PA), the 3rd-best SO% in the AL (TB-18.6%, CLE-19.2%).
The Sox also rank in the AL’s top 5 in various offensive categories (see below).
RED SOX OFFENSIVE RANKINGS
Stat AL Rank
68 R……………………….. 2nd
41 XBH……………………. 5th
16 HR ……………………… 5th
Stat AL Rank
.427 SLG …………………….. 5th
.749 OPS …………………….. 5th
20.1 SO%……………………. 3rd
ON THE OFFENSIVE: The Red Sox have scored at least 68 runs through their first 12 games for the 3rd time in the last 20 seasons (also 72 runs in 2021 and 69 runs in 2018). The Sox have hit 16 home runs through their first 12 games…Their last season with more home runs through 12 games was 2003 (17 HR).
NINE IS FINE: Over their first 12 games, the Red Sox have scored 9+ runs 4 times (3-1 record), 4-8 runs 4 times (2-2 record), and 0-3 runs 4 times (0-4 record). The Sox’ 4 games with 9+ runs scored are tied with LAD for 2nd most in MLB, trailing only TB (6).
INNINGS OF INTEREST: The Red Sox have scored in either the 1st or 2nd inning in 7 of their 12 games (17 total runs). They have scored 8 runs in the 1st inning, tied for 3rd most in the AL behind only SEA and TB (11 each). They have scored 9 runs in the 2nd inning, trailing only ATL (12) and TB (10) for most in MLB. The Red Sox have outscored opponents in the 8th and 9th innings, 12-5.
PINCH ME!: The Red Sox have used 15 pinch-hitters this season, going 6-for-15 with 3 RBI (2B, HR, BB). The Sox’ 6 pinch hits are 3 more than any other team. Their .429 AVG (6-for-14) in pinch-hit situations is tied for 2nd best in MLB, trailing only COL (.600; 3-for-5).
WHAT A RELIEF: Over the last 9 games (since 4/3), Red Sox relievers have posted a 2.83 ERA (11 ER/35.0 IP). 4 of the 8 relief pitchers the Red Sox have used this season have posted an ERA under 3.00 (see below).
RED SOX RELIEVERS WITH AN ERA BELOW 3.00
Pitcher ERA IP ER
Kenley Jansen 0.00 3.0 0
Josh Winckowski 1.00 9.0 1
John Schreiber 1.50 6.0 1
Chris Martin 2.57 7.0 2
ON THE MEND: Brayan Bello allowed 1 run over 6.0 IP in a rehab start for Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday vs. Columbus (4 H, 4 SO, HB, 81 pitches). James Paxton is scheduled to make a rehab start for Worcester tomorrow vs. Columbus…He struck out 3 batters over 3.0 scoreless innings for the WooSox Sunday at Buffalo (2 H, 2 BB, 58 pitches).
SOX & RAYS: Today marks the 4th 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 12 games at Tropicana Field, beginning 4/23/22…It is their longest losing streak ever at the venue.
ROAD TRIPPING: Today’s game concludes the Red Sox’ 7-game road trip to DET (3-0) and TB (0-3). The Red Sox are currently in a stretch of 19 games in 19 days, from 4/8-26 (2-3 so far). Starting tomorrow, the Red Sox will begin a 7-game homestand against LAA (4 games) and MIN (3 games).
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 tomorrow. The Red Sox tomorrow, 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.
TODAY’S STARTER: 28 COREY KLUBER – RHP
Allowed 1 run (solo HR) over 5.0 IP on 4/5 vs. PIT (3 H, BB, R, 2 SO)…Retired 14 of his final 15 batters faced. His last start was the 80th of his career with at least 5.0 IP and 1 or 0 runs allowed (previous: 9/21/22 vs. HOU with TB). Started 31 games for TB in 2022 (10-10, 4.34 ERA). Has a 2.98 ERA (22 ER/66.1 IP) in 11 career starts vs. TB…Allowed 5 runs over 2.1 IP in his last start at TB on 4/921 with NYY (5 H, 2 BB, 3 SO). Is 50-34 with a 3.62 ERA (296 ER/735.2 IP) in 123 career games (119 starts) following a loss. Opponents are batting .167 (2-for-12, 2 SO, HR) this season in at-bats ending with his cutter.
TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:
WASH, RINSE, REPEAT — The Rays extended their win streak to 12 games in last night’s 9-7 win vs. Boston…making his major league debut, RHP Taj Bradley earned the victory after tossing 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts…his eight strikeouts marked the second most by a Rays pitcher in their MLB debut, trailing only Wade Davis (9SO, 9/6/09 vs. DET)… Bradley is the 12th starter and 15th pitcher overall in franchise history to win in his MLB debut, including the first since RHP Shane Baz (9/20/21 vs. TOR).
The Rays became the first team to begin a season 12-0 since the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers won 13 straight to begin the year…Tampa Bay joins Milwaukee, along with the 1982 Atlanta Braves (13-0), as the only teams since 1901 to begin a season on a 12+ game win streak.
The last team in the majors to win at least 12 straight games at any point during a season was the 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers, who also won 12 consecutive games from 7/31-8/13, 2022.
The Rays have won 12 consecutive home games over the Red Sox since 4/23/22, the longest home win streak over a single opponent in club history.
ROSTER MOVES — Prior to today’s game, RHP Taj Bradley was optioned to Triple-A Durham…RHP Braden Bristo was selected from Triple-A Durham and RHP Shane Baz was transferred from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL.
12 AND COUNTING — The Rays 12-game win streak is tied for the longest in franchise history with the 2004 club, who won 12 straight from 6/9-22, 2004.
The Rays’ nine-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), Randy Arozarena (3HR), Yandy Díaz (3HR), Isaac Paredes (3HR), Luke Raley (3HR), Harold Ramírez (3HR), Josh Lowe (2HR), Manuel Margot (2HR) and Jose Siri (2HR)…the next closest team is the San Francisco Giants, who have eight players with multiple homers.
Tampa Bay has an MLB-best seven players with 3+ HR…the next closest team is the Los Angeles Dodgers with five.
Tampa Bay has four players with 10+ RBI, including Randy Arozarena (15RBI), Wander Franco (12RBI), Brandon Lowe (10RBI) and Isaac Paredes (10RBI)… the only other team in the majors that has four players with 10+ RBI is the Los Angeles Dodgers (Max Muncy: 14RBI, Will Smith: 12RBI, Trayce Thompson: 11RBI and James Outman: 10 RBI).
ON THE OFFENSIVE — Tampa Bay has homered in each of its first 12 games, becoming one of 11 teams since 1901 to open the season with a streak of 12+ games with a homer…the last to do so was the 2020 New York Yankees, who also homered in 12 straight to open the year.
Tampa Bay’s 92 runs scored are its most ever through 12 games to start the year, ahead of the 1998 Rays (66R)…marks the most runs scored by an MLB team through 12 games since the 2019 Seattle Mariners (98R)
The Rays have hit three more home runs (30) than their total number of runs allowed (27).
BLAST OFF — The Rays have hit a major league-best 30 homers, ahead of Los Angeles-NL (24HR)…the Rays are one of only three teams since 1901 to have 30+ HR in the first 12 games of a season, joining the 2019 Seattle Mariners (32) and 2000 St. Louis Cardinals (31).
The Rays would need three home runs today to match the current MLB mark for most homers through 13 games, done by the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals and 2019 Seattle Mariners (33HR)…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 five home runs across 108.0 innings, good for an MLB-best 0.42 HR/9.0IP…the five homers are the fewest allowed through 12 games in franchise history, surpassing the 2014 Rays (7HR)…the fewest home runs allowed through the first 13 games of a season in franchise history is nine by the 2014 club.
Overall, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has produced an MLB-leading 2.17 ERA, including the best starter ERA (2.11) and third-best bullpen ERA (2.25) behind Milwaukee (1.37) and New York-AL (1.88)
The entire Rays pitching staff ranks among the league in first-pitch strike percentage (1st, 66.0%), fewest runs (1st, 27), fewest HR (1st, 5), fewest hits (T1st, 75), WHIP (2nd, 0.95), fewest walks (T2nd, 28) and SO/BB ratio (3rd, 3.93).
BOSOX IN THE BAY — The Rays play game four of a 13-game season series against Boston today 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 45-25 (.643) 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 12 consecutive home games over the Red Sox since 4/23/22, outscoring Boston, 60-32 (+28), in those games.
Tampa Bay last completed a four-game sweep of Boston from 7/11-14, 2022 at Tropicana Field…a win today would mark the fourth four-game sweep of Boston in club history (also: 4/16-9, 2010 & 8/10-13, 2020).
FOUR IS MORE — Following last night’s 4 RBI performance, Randy Arozarena is tied for third in the majors with 15 RBI…Arozarena joins Houston’s Yordan Alvarez (2G) and Los Angeles-NL Max Muncy (2G) as the only players with multiple 4+ RBI games this season.
IT’S A WANDERFUL LIFE — After going 3-for-5 with three doubles, 2 RBI and two runs in last night’s win, Wander Franco’s 11 extra-base hits are tied with Toronto’s Matt Chapman for the league lead…his three doubles marked a career high and were the most by a Rays hitter since Randy Arozarena on 8/28/22 at Boston (also 3 2B)…Franco is one of three players in the majors this season to record three doubles in a game, joining Pittsburgh’s Connor Joe (4/7 vs. CHW) and Cleveland’s Mike Zunino (4/10 vs. NYY).
TODAY’S STARTER: LHP JEFFREY SPRINGS (2-0, 0.00)
SPRING FEVER — A sixth-year veteran, Springs has not permitted a run while holding opponents to a .075 (3-for-40) average over his first two starts in 2023…is coming off a career year in 2022 that saw him post a 9-5 mark with a 2.46 ERA (135.1IP, 37ER) over 33 games (25 starts)… was acquired by the Rays along with RHP Chris Mazza from Boston on 2/17/21 in exchange for C Ronaldo Hernández and 2B Nick Sogard… signed a four-year, $31 million deal with Tampa Bay through the 2026 season on 1/25/23, including a club option.
ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE — Crafted 7.0 scoreless frames while holding Oakland to three hits in Tampa Bay’s 11-0 win over the Athletics on 4/8 (7.0IP, 3H, 0R, 3BB, 7SO)…his 7.0 innings marked a career high… received a career-high nine runs of support in the outing (prev. 6R, 2x, last 9/3/22 vs. TOR)…has won back-to-back starts for the third time in his career, including the first since 9/13-18, 2022.
SPRINGS HAS SPRUNG — Springs’ 13.0 scoreless inning streak is tied for the third-longest by a Rays starting pitcher to open a season in club history, trailing only Mark Hendrickson (14.0IP, 2006) and Matt Moore (13.1IP, 2013)…Springs’ streak is also tied for ninth-longest by any pitcher to begin a season in Rays history (Elias).
BEANTOWN RUNDOWN — Has gone 0-2 with a 3.80 ERA (23.2IP, 10ER) across 12 career appearances (4 starts) against Boston…over his last two starts against the Red Sox (9/7/22 & 10/4/22), Springs has pitched to a 1.50 ERA (6.0IP, 1ER) while holding Boston hitters to a .143 average (3-for-21).
vs. AL EAST — Springs is 7-4 with a 2.85 ERA (104.1IP, 33ER), 35 walks and 135 strikeouts in 50 career outings (12 starts) against AL East opponents, including 4-3 with a 2.93 ERA (58.1IP, 19ER) in his 12 starts opposite the division.
Over his last five starts against division rivals since 9/2/22, Springs is 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA (22.2IP, 4ER), holding opposing hitters to a .159/.258/.259 (16-for-85) clip with zero homers in that stretch.
HOME COOKING — Has turned in a 5-2 record with a 1.98 ERA (68.1IP, 15ER) in 13 starts at Tropicana Field since the beginning of 2022, the 4thbest home ERA in the AL in that span (min. 10 home starts).
Springs has permitted three or fewer earned runs in each of his first 13 starts at Tropicana Field since joining the Rays…this includes eight home starts allowing one or zero earned runs.
SWING AND A MISS—Springs has registered a 36.8 pct. whiff rate this season, fourth highest among all qualifying pitchers behind TEX Jacob DeGrom (39.9%), MIN Pablo Lopez (37.1%) and ATL Spencer Strider (37.0%)
Has also produced a 47.2 pct. whiff rate on his changeup this season, fifth-best in MLB (min. 50 changeups thrown)…Springs has used his changeup 35.9 pct. of the time, the highest clip in the AL ahead of NYY Ron Marinaccio (35.8 pct.) (min. 100 total pitches thrown).
