BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
STATE OF THE SOX: The Red Sox lost last night to snap a 6-game winning streak…They’ve won 7 of their last 10 games. Their recent winning streak was the longest active streak in the AL and the Sox’ 2nd longest of the season (longest: 8 games from 4/29-5/6). At 39-36 (.520), Boston entered today with MLB’s 15th-best record.
RED HOT SOX: The Red Sox are 8-4 in their last 12 games, the highest winning percentage in the AL during that span. The Sox are outscoring opponents 70-41 in those games. Over that span, which began 6/9, Boston owns MLB’s lowest ERA (2.69, 33 ER/110.1 IP)…Starters are 5-1 with a 2.91 ERA (22 ER/68.0 IP), while relievers are 4-for-4 in save opportunities with a 2.34 ERA (11 ER/42.1 IP).
SERIES BUSINESS: With a win today, the Red Sox would improve to 14-9-1 in series play (7-4-1 on the road). With a loss today, the Sox would split their 2nd series of the season (also 5/9-10 at ATL). They have won 2 of their last 3 series (both wins against NYY), after losing each of their previous 3. The Red Sox are 10-2-0 in series when they win Game 1.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: The Red Sox are 4-2 in their last 6 road games…They’re looking to win back-to-back road series for the 1st time this season. The Sox have alternated series results on the road (W, L, W, L, W, T, W, L, W, L, W): 3-0 at DET, 0-4 at TB, 2-1 at MIL, 1-2 at BAL, 2-1 at PHI, 1-1 at ATL, 2-1 at SD, 0-3 at LAA, 2-1 at ARI, 1-2 at CLE, 2-1 at NYY. 10 of the Sox’ 13 games from 6/19-7/2 will be on the road.
SOX & TWINS: Boston is 4-2 vs. MIN this season, winning the season series for the 5th time in the last 7 seasons that they’ve played the Twins (5-1-1 from 2016-23, DNP in 2020). The Sox are 9-5 in their last 14 games at Target Field…They are 4-2-0 in their last 6 series at the venue, dating back to the start of 2016.
CENTRAL TIME: The Red Sox are 10-5 against AL Central teams this season, after going 18-15 in 2022. They are 3-1-0 in series against AL Central opponents (3-0 at DET, 2-1 vs. MIN, 2-1 vs. CLE, 1-2 at CLE). Boston’s record would lead the AL Central by 2.0 games.
TOUGH TEST: Boston is set to play consecutive series against teams with a sub-.500 record: MIN (37-38) and CWS (32-44). The Red Sox have played 45 games against teams that entered today with a record of .500 or better, tied for 3rd most in MLB (OAK-52, TOR-48). The Sox are 24-21 (.533) in those games, the 3rd-best record in the AL and 5th best in MLB.
NO TIME TO REST: The Red Sox are currently in a stretch of 23 games in 23 days from 6/3-25 (10-9 so far). After Saturday’s game was postponed and made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday, the Sox are now playing 9 games in 8 days from 6/18-25.
SLUGGING SOX: The Red Sox have scored 6+ runs in 6 of their last 8 games…They scored 4+ runs in each of those 8 games (60 runs), compared to 1 of their previous 10 (25 runs). The Sox recorded 4 XBH last night (2 2B, 3B, HR) and have 39 XBH in their last 8 games (26 2B, 4 3B, 9 HR). Over their last 6 games, they’ve scored 33 of their 48 runs with 2 outs, batting .375 (30-for-80) with a .451 OBP, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 5 HR, and 9 BB.
RISPY BUSINESS: Boston is batting .351 (26-for-74) with runners in scoring position over the last 6 games, after hitting .165 (18-for-109) with RISP in the previous 12 games. Overall with RISP, Boston ranks 2nd in MLB in strikeout rate (18.9%), 3rd in OBP (.367), 4th in AVG (.286), 6th in OPS (.816), and 7th in SLG (.449). With 2 outs and RISP, The Sox lead MLB in OBP (.386) and rank 2nd in AVG (.287) and 3rd in OPS (.861).
RUNNIN’ RED SOX: David Hamilton made his Major League debut last night, pinch-running in the 8th inning and stealing 2nd base, then scoring the game-tying run. Hamilton became the 1st Red Sox player to make their MLB debut as a pinch-runner and steal a base since Trot Nixon on 9/21/1996 at NYY. Hamilton was the 15th player to steal a base for the Red Sox this season, most in the AL and tied with CIN and PIT for 2nd most in MLB (MIA-16).
PITCHING IN: The Red Sox have allowed 3 ER or fewer in 9 of their last 12 games and 18 of their last 33 games. The only walk the Sox allowed last night was an intentional walk in the 10th inning…They’ve issued 10 walks and recorded 51 strikeouts in their last 5 games.
START ME UP: Beginning 5/17, Red Sox starting pitchers rank 3rd in MLB with a 3.46 ERA (63 ER/163.2 IP). Sox starters have allowed 2 runs or fewer in 9 of their last 12 games…They’ve allowed 3 runs or fewer in 20 of teir last 25 games.
COMEBACK KIDS: Last night was just the 10th comeback win against the Red Sox this season, fewest in MLB…It was their 1st walk-off loss. The Sox took a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning last night… They tied the score 2-2 in the 3rd, 3-3 in the 5th, and 4-4 in the 8th, but were unable to regain the lead. The Red Sox have come from behind in 9 of their last 12 wins and 23 of their 39 wins overall, 4th most in MLB (CIN-26, BAL-25, LAA-25).
CLOSE SHAVES: 12 of the Red Sox’ last 18 games have been decided by 3 runs or fewer, including 8 of their last 12. 10 of Boston’s last 12 losses have been decided by 3 runs or fewer…7 of those losses have been by 1 or 2 runs. Boston’s 16-18 (.471) mark in games decided by 1 or 2 runs ranks 20th in MLB.
TODAY’S STARTER: 63 JUSTIN GARZA – RHP
W-L ERA G GS IP ER HR BB SO WHIP AVG
2023 0-1 3.46 12 0 13.0 5 0 6 12 1.23 .204
CAREER 2-2 4.32 33 0 41.2 20 5 24 41 1.46 .236
Is making the 1st start of his MLB career…Has made 50 minor league starts, most recently on 7/25/19 for High-A Lynchburg (CLE) at Fayetteville. Began the season with LAA’s Triple-A Salt Lake affiliate…Claimed off waivers by BOS on 4/28…Has been on the Sox’ ML roster since first being recalled on 5/16. 9 of his 12 outings with BOS have been scoreless…Tossed scoreless 8th and 9th innings Monday at MIN (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 SO). Has allowed 7 runs on 10 hits in his last 7 appearances, after giving up 0 runs and 0 hits in his first 5 outings. Has allowed 0 HR to his 57 batters faced in the majors this season. Right-handed hitters are 6-for-31 (.194) against him and lefties are 4-for-18 (.222). Has stranded all 7 inherited runners…With RISP, opponents are 3-for-18 (1 BB).
MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:
THE TWINS: Have gone 4-5 through nine games on their 10-game homestand, going 2-0 vs. Milwaukee, 1-3 vs. Detroit and 1-2 vs. Boston…today, Minnesota will complete the homestand with the four-game series finale against the Red Sox…after today’s game, the Twins will travel to Detroit to begin a nine-game, 10-day roadtrip with three games against the Tigers over the weekend, three games against the Braves (June 26-28) and three games against the Orioles (June 30-July 2)…the Twins have gone 22-19 at home and 15-19 on the road.
The Twins are on game 10 of a 16 games in 16 days stretch, their next off-day being in Baltimore on June 29…the Twins have 16 games in 18 days leading up to the All-Star Break (July 10-13).
NEEDED THAT ONE: The Twins beat the Red Sox last night at Target Field by a score of 5-4 in 10 innings, marking their seventh extra-inning win this season (7-3)…Sonny Gray was the starter but did not factor into the decision, allowing three runs on six hits in 5.0 innings pitched… Jovani Moran (1-2) was the winner, pitching a scoreless 10th inning, holding a 4-4 tie…Kyle Farmer drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning with a single, his second walk-off plate appearance of the season and third of his career…the offense recorded nine hits and were led by Max Kepler, who went 2-for-4 with a home run, his ninth of the season.
SEEING RED AGAIN: The Twins and Red Sox are playing for the seventh and final time in 2023…the Twins are 2-4 against Boston this season, going 1-2 at Fenway Park from April 18-20 and 1-2 this week.
Carlos Correa is hitting .300 (57-for-190) with eight doubles, 10 home runs, 28 RBI, 36 runs scored, 33 walks, a .402 on-base percentage, a .500 slugging percentage and a .902 OPS in 51 career regular season games against the Red Sox.
Max Kepler has hit safely in six-straight games against the Red Sox, hitting .409 (9-for-22) with three doubles, three home runs, five RBI, two walks, a .500 on-base percentage and a 1.455 OPS in that span.
RYAN EXPRESS: Through 14 starts, Joe Ryan has gone 7-4, 3.30 ERA (84.2 IP, 31 ER) with 15 walks, 91 strikeouts and a 0.97 WHIP…below are a few of his rankings among all AL starters:
OPS SLG WHIP FIP WAR K/BB
Ryan – .580 Valdez – .318 Wells – 0.89 Gray – 2.67 Valdez – 3.3 Kirby – 12.50
Valdez – .584 Ohtani – .324 Ryan – 0.97 Gausman – 2.67 Gausman – 3.2 Ryan – 6.07
Ohtani – .609 S. Gray – .329 Eovaldi – 0.99 Valdez – 2.68 Eovaldi – 2.8 Eflin – 5.92
Eflin – .612 Ryan – .330 Eflin – 1.00 Ryan – 2.92 S. Gray – 2.6 Greinke – 5.80
Cole – .613 Cole – .331 Valdez – 1.00 Eovaldi – 3.08 Ryan – 2.5 Gilbert – 5.25
ADDITIONALLY: Ryan has a .211 opponent batting average on his fastball this season, the eighth lowest in the AL…also, he has the 10th-lowest BAA on offspeed at .170.
STARTING STRONG: Below are the starting staff’s rankings in a few categories among other all MLB teams:
INNINGS ERA BAA BB/9.0 FIP WHIP K’s OPS
HOU – 425.1 TB – 3.19 TB – .222 SEA – 2.09 TB – 3.50 TB – 1.14 CWS – 444 TB – .644
TEX – 421.1 TEX – 3.48 MIN – .235 MIN – 2.38 MIN – 3.59 SEA – 1.14 MIN – 441 MIN – .678
MIN – 419.0 HOU – 3.49 LAD – .236 SF – 2.55 SEA – 3.69 MIN – 1.16 TOR – 417 SEA – .678
TOR – 417.1 CHC – 3.77 TEX – .237 PHI – 2.59 PHI – 3.79 TEX – 1.17 MIA – 412 CHC – .687
CWS – 410.0 MIN – 3.78 CHC – .238 LAD – 2.62 MIA – 3.79 LAD – 1.19 HOU – 409 TEX – .691
MAX POWER: Max Kepler has homered in two-straight games and in three of his last nine… last night’s home run was his ninth of the season, matching his total from 2022…last night marked the 138th home run of his career, moving within three of tying Michael Cuddyer for 13th on the Twins all-time list (since 1961):
ROYCE OF SUMMER: Royce Lewis has reached base safely in six-straight games…in 18 games for the Twins this season, he is hitting .308 (20-for-65) with two doubles, three home runs, 11 RBI, eight runs scored and an .805 OPS…he’s also hitting .438 (14-for-32) with a .471 OBP and 1.033 OPS in his last 10 games.
STEAL AWAY: Twins have stolen 35 bases in 41 attempts this season, for a 85.4 success rate, best in the AL and third best in baseball, trailing New York-NL (90.3%) and Arizona (86.0%)…since May 15, they have successfully stolen a club-record 25 consecutive bases, their last caught stealing being Ryan Jeffers on May 13 vs. Chicago-NL (Barnhart/Wesneski).
LAND OF 10,000 RAKES: The Twins have homered 95 times this season, fifth most in the AL and eighth most in baseball…Twins are 29-23 when they homer at least once in a game, 20-7 when they homer at least twice and 9-2 when homering at least thrice.
The Twins have 19 different players with a home run this season, the most in baseball… next are the Yankees and Brewers, both with 18.
Five more home runs and the Twins will reach 100…through games of June 22, 2022, they had 82, not reaching their 100th homer until July 5.
EDDIE, MONEY: Since being recalled from Triple-A St. Paul on June 10, Edouard Julien is hitting .314 (11-for-35) with five doubles, five walks, a .400 on-base percentage and an .857 OPS in 10 games…in his last 17 major league games (dating back to May 24), he is hitting .295 (18-for-61) with seven doubles, two home runs, four RBI, 10 walks, a .389 on-base percentage, a .508 slugging percentage and an .897 OPS.
Julien has posted a .400 on-base percentage this month, third best among MLB rookies, trailing St. Louis’ Jordan Walker (.418) and Seattle’s Jose Caballero (.408).
STARTING PITCHER – JOE RYAN #41
2023: 7-4, 3.30 ERA CAREER: 22-13, 3.52 ERA
Making his 15th start and appearance of 2023 and his seventh home start of the year…also his 47th career start and appearance.
Facing Boston for the second time this season and fourth time in his career; earned the win against the Red Sox in the Twins’ 10-4 victory on April 19 at Fenway Park (6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R/ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 3 K).
Owns most strikeouts (272) and second-most wins (22) through a pitcher’s first 46 career games in Twins history (since 1961).
LAST TIME OUT: Took the loss on June 16 vs. Detroit at Target Field in the Twins 7-1 defeat; pitched 7.0 innings, allowing a season-high six runs on seven hits (2 HR), with no walks and seven strike- outs…allowed five runs in the top of the third inning on four singles, a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Kerry Carpenter and a three-run homer by shortstop Javier Báez…allowed a solo home run to centerfielder Matt Vierling in the top of the fourth…needed only 35 pitches to toss 3.0 scoreless innings from the fifth through the seventh innings…was relieved by Josh Winder to start the top of the eighth with Minnesota trailing 6-1…Twins scored only one run as Detroit took the second game of the four-game series.
Marked the most runs he has allowed in a start since August 9, 2022 at Los Angeles-NL, when he also yielded six runs.
Ryan’s current three-game losing streak is the longest of his career…last won on May 24 vs. San Francisco; his current four-start span without a win (3 L, 1 ND) is also the longest of his career.
Allowed multiple homers for the second time this season (also, 2 on May 30 at Houston) and sixth time in his career; Twins have gone 0-6 when Ryan allows multiple homers in his career.
Marked his eighth career start without issuing a walk; after winning each of his first six career starts without issuing a walk, he has since lost his last two such starts (also, May 7 at Cleveland).
TWO STARTS AGO: Recorded his team-leading 10th quality start of the season but took a no-decision on June 10 at Toronto as the Twins won 9-4 at Rogers Centre; went 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, with one walk and four strikeouts…opposed Trevor Richards who tossed 3.0 shutout innings as an opener…allowed an RBI single to leftfielder Whit Merrifield in the second inning and first base- man Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the third inning…allowed a sacrifice fly to pinch hitter Nathan Lukes in the fifth then retired the final four batters he faced, including recording his only 1-2-3 inning of his outing in the sixth inning…was relieved by Jorge López in the bottom of the seventh with Minnesota trailing 3-1; Twins rallied for seven runs in the top of the eighth, winning the game and the series.
RED SOX REDUX: Facing Boston for the second time this season after earning the win on April 19 in the Twins’ 10-4 victory over the Red Sox at Fenway Park; pitched 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits (1 HR), with one walk and a season-low three strikeouts…in three career starts against Boston, he is 2-1, 4.76 ERA (17.0 IP, 9 ER) with two walks and 18 strikeouts…last faced the Red Sox at Target Field on August 31, 2022, taking the loss in a 6-5 Twins’ defeat (5.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R/ER, 2 HR, 1 BB, 8 K).
In nine career starts against the American League East division (BOS – 3, NYY – 3, BAL – 2, TOR – 1), he is 4-2, 3.59 ERA (52.2 IP, 21 ER) with nine walks and 52 strikeouts; Twins have gone 7-2 in those games.
WRAPPING UP THE HOMESTAND: Making his seventh start at Target Field this season; he is 4-2, 3.35 ERA (37.2 IP, 14 ER) with five walks and 42 strikeouts in his six home starts…Twins have gone 12-4 in his last 16 home starts dating back to June 26, 2022, with Ryan going 9-4, 3.07 ERA (93.2 IP, 32 ER) with 23 walks and 104 strikeouts in that span…is 3-2, 3.26 ERA (47.0 IP, 17 ER) with 10 walks and 49 strikeouts in eight road starts in 2023.
Ryan has gone 11-7 with a 3.46 ERA (135.1 IP, 52 ER), 38 walks and 147 strikeouts in 24 career home starts…has similar numbers in 22 career road starts, going 11-6 with a 3.59 ERA (123.0 IP, 49 ER), 29 walks and 125 strikeouts.
LEFT/RIGHT: Left-handed hitters are batting just .199 (29-for-146) with a .523 OPS and 33 strikeouts against Ryan this year…his .523 opponent OPS against lefties ranks fifth in the American League this season…right-handed hitters are hitting .225 (38-for-169) with a .630 OPS and 58 strikeouts… his .213 (67-for-315) overall opponent batting average in 2023 ranks fifth in the American League and tied for ninth in baseball, among qualified pitchers.
Over his career, Ryan has slightly better splits against left-handed hitters than righties, with lefties batting just .196 (90-for-460) with a .597 OPS since his debut in 2021…right-handed hitters are hitting .218 (108-for-496) with a .654 OPS off Ryan.
THE ARSENAL: Ryan has utilized a four-pitch mix in his first 14 starts of the 2023 season…has leaned on his four-seam fastball and split finger, combining to throw the two pitches 86.1 percent of the time this year…threw 66 four-seam fastballs in his last start on June 16 vs. Detroit, the second-most fastballs he has thrown in a start this year (68 on May 24 vs. San Francisco)…also allowed his first career home run off a split-finger in his last outing (Javier Báez, 3rd inning)…here’s a look at Ryan’s repertoire, per Baseball Savant: PITCH (AVG. MPH) PCT. (# OF PITCHES, VS. RHB/LHB) RESULTS
4-Seam Fastball (92.5)………….58.8% (760 pitches, 397/363).. .211 (37-for-175), 7 2B, 4 HR, 56 K Split Finger (83.5)…………………27.3% (353 pitches, 134/219).. .170 (18-for-106), 4 2B, 1 HR, 24 K Sweeper (78.8)………………………..7.8% (101 pitches, 84/17)………. .267 (4-for-15), 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 K Slider (82.6)…………………………….6.1% (79 pitches, 64/15)……….. .444 (8-for-18), 1 2B, 2 HR, 6 K
Ryan’s four-seam fastball has accumulated a run value of -13 this season, tied with ARI’s Zac Gallen for the second-best run value on a four-seam fastball in the majors according to Baseball Savant, trailing only NYY’s Gerrit Cole (-16)…also has a run value of -6 on his splitter, the sixth-best run value on a splitter in baseball.
IN THE ZONE: In 14 starts this year, Ryan’s first-pitch strike percent is 68.8 percent, the fourth-highest first-pitch strike percent among qualified American League pitchers this season…teammate Pablo López is the AL leader at 72.0 percent…opponents have swung at the first pitch 39.9 percent of the time against Ryan in 2023, the highest first-pitch swing percent in the AL this year.
THIRD INNING TROUBLES: Ryan allowed five runs in the third inning in his last start on June 16 vs. Detroit and has allowed 14 of his 33 runs (42.4 percent) and 20 of his 67 hits (29.9 percent) in the third inning this season…opponents are slashing .339/.382/.475 against him in the third inning, while Ryan has held opponents to a .184 (47-for-256) average in all other innings combined.
