BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
STATE OF THE SOX: The Red Sox are on a 5-game winning streak, the longest active in the AL and 2nd in MLB (CHC-7). The Sox own MLB’s best record since 6/30 (16-5)
and the AL’s best since 6/14 (23-12, 2nd in MLB). They are a season-high 9 games over .500 (56-47 .544), tied with PHI for MLB’s 9th-best record.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Sox defeated the Giants in the opener of the 3-game series at Oracle Park, 3-2. Triston Casas drove in a pair of runs with an RBI double in the 2nd inning and a solo HR in the 5th (435 feet). Rob Refsnyder hit a pinch-hit RBI-single in the 8th inning. It was just the Sox’ 6th win when scoring less than 4 runs.
SERIES BUSINESS: With a win tonight or tomorrow, the Sox would improve to 20-12-2 in series play, including 7-1-0 in their last 8, beginning 6/30. They would also improve to 6-0-1 on the road facing NL opponents, and 8-5-1 in Interleague series overall. Boston improved to 20-14 in series openers last night… They are 14-4-1 in series when they win Game 1.
TOUGH TEST: The Red Sox are 3-0 so far in a stretch of 11 straight games against teams who currently have a winning record (2-0 vs. ATL, 1-0 at SF, 3 at SEA, 3 vs. TOR). The Sox are 43-33 (.566) this season against teams currently at or above .500, the 2nd-best record in MLB (ATL-.619, 39-24) and tied with BAL for most wins (43).
BACK TO THE GRIND: The Sox last night began a stretch of 32 games in 34 days, from 7/28-8/30…They played just 5 games in the previous 8 days. Boston is on a 6-game road trip (3 at SF, 3 at SEA). This is the first time since June 2007 that the Sox fly to the West Coast on consecutive road trips.
SOX & GIANTS: The Red Sox and Giants are meeting for the 1st time since 9/17-19/2019 in Boston…They last played at Oracle Park in a 2-game set from 6/7-8/2016. The Red Sox last night improved to 13-7 vs. SF all time, and 7-5 at Oracle Park…They are 4-2-1 in series play vs. SF.
NATIONAL AFFAIRS: The Red Sox are an MLB-best 306-215 (.587) all-time in Interleague play…They’re the only team with 300+ Interleague wins (2nd: NYY-297). Boston is in a stretch of 8 straight games against NL teams (2-1 vs. NYM, 2-0 vs. ATL, 1-0 at SF). The Sox are 7-5-1 in Interleague series this year, including 5-0-1 on the road and 2-5-0 at home…They are 18-20 in games vs. NL clubs (12-6 road, 6-14 home).
WILD WEST: Boston is 47-26 (.644) vs. the NL West since the start of 2010, and 67-45 (.598) all time. The Sox have won 2 of their 3 series vs. NL West teams this season, including both on the road (2-1 at SD, 2-1 at ARI, 1-2 vs. COL)…They’ll host LAD from 8/25-27.
HIGH FIVE: The Sox have scored 5+ runs in 14 of their last 21 games (122 runs, 5.8 runs/game)…They are 45-7 (.865) when scoring 5+ runs, the best record in the AL and 3rd-best in MLB. BOS has recorded 10+ hits in 45 games, 2nd most in MLB (TEX-52)…The Sox are 37-8 (.822) in those games. The Sox have recorded 10+ hits in 3 of their last 5 games and 13 of their last 20…They’ve won 10 straight games when recording 10+ hits, beginning 7/5 vs. TEX.
SLUGGING SOX: The Red Sox lead MLB in doubles (229)… They rank 2nd in the AL in AVG (.266) and XBH (359), 3rd in OBP (.333), and 4th in runs scored per game (5.0). In July, the Sox lead MLB in AVG (.297), SLG (.502), and OPS (.855), and rank 3rd in OBP (.353). The Sox have hit 26 HR in their last 14 games, since 7/8, 2nd most in the AL over that span behind LAA (28).
RED SOX OFFENSE BY DATE
Dates Record AVG OPS Runs/G
3/30-5/6 21-14 .273 .800 5.9
5/7-6/13 12-21 .243 .704 3.8
6/14-pres. 23-12 .280 .801 5.3
PICK YOUR POISON: Since 6/30, Red Sox players own 6 of the AL’s top 15 batting averages (min. 50 PA, see box on right). Triston Casas’ 7 HR since the All-Star Break are tied for most in MLB (also Shohei Ohtani & Austin Riley). Since the start of June, Justin Turner leads MLB in RBI (45). With RISP, Justin Turner ranks 2nd in the AL in AVG (.343) and Rafael Devers ranks 3rd (.320), behind CLE’s Josh Naylor (.348) (min. 100 AB).
PITCHING IN: The Red Sox ranked 27th in MLB with a 5.09 ERA at the end of play on 5/15, but they rank 2nd in the AL and 5th in the majors with a 3.69 ERA since then… Overall, the Sox rank 17th in the majors in ERA (4.26). During that stretch that began 5/16, the Red Sox’ ERA leaders are Brennan Bernardino (1.59), Chris Martin (1.69), Chris Murphy (1.80), and Richard Bleier (1.80). Boston has allowed 7 runs in its last 4 games (1, 1, 3, 2).
WHAT A RELIEF: Boston ranks 3rd in the AL and 4th in MLB with a 3.67 relief ERA (169 ER/414.0 IP)…They ranked 14th in the AL and 26th in MLB last season with a 4.59 mark. In their last 9 games, since 7/17, Red Sox relievers have posted a 1.14 ERA with 61 SO (6 ER/47.1 IP). Prior to the 8th inning last night, the Sox’ bullpen had allowed 0 HR in its previous 52.1 IP, the club’s longest single-season streak since 2008 (63.0 IP, 6/29-7/30).
WE’RE GOING STREAKING: Nick Pivetta has not allowed a run in his last 12.0 IP, tied for the 4th longest active scoreless streak among ML relievers. Since making his 1st relief appearance of 2023 on 5/21, Pivetta leads the majors (min. 30.0 IP) in opponent AVG (.128) and WHIP (0.80)…In that time, he leads the AL in strikeout rate (36.9%) and ranks 2nd in ERA (1.98).
RUNNIN’ RED SOX: The Red Sox rank 2nd in the AL with 23 steals in July (23-for-27)…Overall, the Sox rank 3rd in the AL and 7th in the majors in stolen base % (81.5, 75-for-92). The Sox’ top 3 leaders in steals are a combined 36- for-39 (92.3%): Jarren Duran (21-for-23), Masataka Yoshida (8-for-8), and Rob Refsnyder (7-for-8).
LOCK IT DOWN: The Red Sox own MLB’s best record when leading after 6 innings (41-2, .955)…In 2022, they ranked 18th in MLB when leading after 6 (63-10, .863). 7 pitchers have earned a save for Boston, tied for 2nd most in the AL behind NYY (8)…Kenley Jansen ranks T-5th in the AL with 22 saves.
LATE SURGE: The Red Sox have scored 200 runs in innings 6-8, 2nd most in the AL and 3rd in MLB (LAD-205, TEX-202). Boston leads the AL and ranks 3rd in MLB in hits during those innings with 330 (COL & MIA-335).
ON THE MEND: Trevor Story and Reese McGuire are on rehab assignments with Triple-A Worcester. Story has played in 6 games with Worcester and Double-A Portland, making 4 starts at SS and 2 as the DH (.313 AVG, 5-for-16, 2B, 2 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, 4 BB, HBP). McGuire has made 2 starts at C, going 2-for-7 (2B, RBI).
TODAY’S STARTER: 65 JAMES PAXTON – LHP
W-L ERA G GS IP ER HR BB SO WHIP AVG
2023 6-2 3.46 12 12 65.0 25 9 18 75 1.00 .198
CAREER 63-35 3.58 149 149 819.2 326 90 249 906 1.20 .236
Earned his 6th win of the season last Saturday night vs. NYM, allowing 3 R (2 ER) in 6.0 IP while striking out 7 batters (3 H, BB). The Red Sox have won 3 of his last 4 starts and are 4-2 in his last 6. In his last 9 starts, beginning on 5/31, is 5-1 with a 3.00 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, .185 opponent AVG, and 4.67 SO/BB (51.0 IP, 19 R/17 ER, 34 H, 10 BB, 56 SO). Has allowed 2 ER or fewer in 9 of his 12 starts (1 or 0 runs in 5 of them). Earned the win in his only start vs. SF, on 4/26/19 with NYY (5.2 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 8 SO). Has struck out 29.1% of batters, the 13rd-best rate in MLB (8th in the AL; min. 60.0 IP)…37 of his 75 strikeouts have come with the 4-seam fastball.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS NOTES:
RED (SOX): The Giants dropped the opening game of the three-game series last night, 3-2, and will aim to level the series this afternoon…SF is 2-7 in their last nine games since they had their five-game winning streak out of the All-Star break snapped on July 19 at Cincinnati.
‘TIS THE DAMN SEASON: The Giants continue their nine-game homestand with the second of three against the Red Sox and a four-game set against Arizona (July 31-August 3)…SF has won four of its last five and five of their last seven games at Oracle Park dating to before the All-Star break…SF has won four of its last five series at Oracle overall…13 of SF’s next 18 games after this series are at Oracle Park.
TEARDROPS ON MY GUITAR: SF’s offense was held to two runs in last night’s loss to Boston, has now scored two runs or fewer 12 times in 22 games this month (54.5%) and more recently in seven of its last nine games overall dating to July 19 in Cincinnati…the Giants .622 OPS this month is worst in the Majors as is their 3.32 runs/game…below is the Giants offense by month breakdown with MLB rankings in parentheses.
DANCING WITH OUR HANDS TIED: Last night marked the 19th time in RHP Logan Webb’s last 31 starts (61.3%) dating to August 13 of last year where the Giants scored two or fewer runs…the Giants as a team are 4-15 in those 19 games while Webb has posted a 3.53 ERA…narrowing it down to just this season, Webb’s 3.24 run support average is second-lowest among qualified MLB pitchers behind COL’s Kyle Freeland (3.03)…yesterday marked the 11th time this year that Webb has worked 7.0+ innings and allowed three or fewer runs, most in the Majors ahead of ARI’s Zac Gallen (eight such games)… SF is now 8-3 in those 11 starts.
SO IT GOES…: The Giants will face lefty James Paxton this afternoon and try to improve upon its .672 OPS vs. lefties, which ranks 29th of 30 MLB teams…this month, it’s .581 (still 29th of 30 MLB teams) as they’ve been missing two key bats vs. LHP in Mitch Haniger (went down in mid-June) and Thairo Estrada (went down on July 2)…for reference, SF posted a .724 OPS in June vs. LHP (11th-best in MLB)…since June 22, the Giants are 4-6 in their 10 games vs. a LHSP…they were 12-6 vs. lefty starters prior to that date.
RIGHT WHERE YOU LEFT ME: SF is turning once again to RHP Ryan Walker to open this afternoon’s game and that has usually been a recipe for success as they are 6-0 when Walker has opened games…he has a 3.86 ERA in his six opener starts this year, most recently tossing 2.2 scoreless innings vs. the A’s in this role on Wednesday…when the Giants have gone with the opener strategy this year, they are 12-4 with the team posting a 3.04 ERA in those games.
THE 1: IF Wilmer Flores is batting .379 (25×66) this month with 11 runs, six doubles, five home runs, eight RBI and a 1.129 OPS (20 games)…the .379 average is fourth-best this month behind CHC’s Cody Bellinger (.427), BOS’ Jarren Duran (.381) and HOU’s Kyle Tucker (.380)…the 1.129 OPS is seventh-best…on a broader note, Flores has been excellent with two strikes this year, logging a .739 OPS that ranks eighth-best in MLB…his .439 slugging % with two strikes is fourth in MLB
behind NYY’s Aaron Judge (.514), ATL’s Ronald Acuña Jr. (.452) and ARI’s Christian Walker (.447) (SIS)…Flores enters today have reached base safely in each of last 11 games dating to July 16.
WHITE HORSE: OF Joc Pederson homered for the third time in his last seven games dating to July 21 with last night’s solo blast in the 8th inning…Pederson is 6-for-14 in this stretch with five of the six hits going for extra-bases (two doubles to go with the three homers)…for reference, Pederson had four extra-base hits total in his prior 25 games leading into the game on July 21.
LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO: C Patrick Bailey threw out Jarren Duran stealing yesterday and was credited with his 17th caught stealing since his debut on May 19…he’s been credited with throwing out 37% of basestealers this season…the 17 caught stealings are four more than anyone else has been credited with since Bailey’s debut on May 19.
TAYLOR’S VERSION: LHP Taylor Rogers worked 1.2 innings last night albeit allowing one inherited runner to score…since being charged with six earned runs in his first four games here at Oracle Park back in early April, Rogers has been charged with just three runs in 18 games (16.2 innings) since for a 1.62 ERA…he’s struck out 20, walked five and limited opposing hitters to a .145 average in that time.
END GAME: The Giants as a whole have converted saves at a league-leading clip…their 81.3% save rate (39/48) leads MLB, and is the franchise’s second-best mark since 1969, trailing 1973’s 83.0% (44/53) mark (Stats, LLC).
CRUEL SUMMER: The Giants’ have the third-toughest remaining schedule in the Majors entering play today with their remaining opponents boasting a .518 winning percentage… only the Nationals (.525) and Rockies (.518) have tougher remaining schedules…only two games out of their next 29 coming against teams with records below .500 (Oakland, Aug. 5-6)…SF’s been at its best against winning teams, however, with its 29-26 (.527) record vs. teams that are currently .500 or better, ranking seventh-best in the Majors.
