BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
STATE OF THE SOX: The Red Sox last night snapped a 3-game losing streak…They’re 6-3 in their last 9 games. The Sox own MLB’s best record since 6/30 (17-8) and the AL’s best since 6/14 (24-15, 4th in MLB). At 57-50 (.533), Boston owns MLB’s 12th-best record.
SERIES BUSINESS: With a win today, the Sox would improve to 20-13-2 in series play, including 9-7-2 on the road. The Red Sox are 9-5 in rubber games this season. They are 6-2-0 in their last 8 series, beginning 6/30. BOS has lost consecutive road series for the 1st time this year (1-2 at SF from 7/28-30, 1-2 at OAK from 7/17-19).
SOX & M’s: The Sox are 11-3 in their last 14 games against the Mariners, beginning 9/14/21…They’ve won each of their last 4 series vs. SEA during that span. Boston took 2 of 3 games from Seattle during their 3-game set at Fenway Park from 5/15-17.
BEST WESTERN: The Red Sox are 12-9 against AL West teams this season and 37-17 (.685) since the beginning of 2022, the best record of any AL team over the last 2 seasons. The Sox have won their 4 home series against AL West teams and lost their 2 road series (3-1 vs. LAA, 2-1 vs. SEA, 0-3 at LAA, 2-1 vs. TEX, 3-0 vs. OAK, 1-2 at OAK).
BACK TO THE GRIND: The Sox are currently in a stretch of 32 games in 34 days, from 7/28-8/30…They played just 5 games in the previous 8 days coming into the series vs. SF. Boston is on a 6-game road trip (1-2 at SF, 1-1 at SEA). On Friday, the Red Sox begin a season-long 10-game homestand (3 vs. TOR, 4 vs. KC, 3 vs. DET).
TOUGH TEST: The Red Sox are 4-3 so far in a stretch of 11 straight games against teams who currently have a winning record (2-0 vs. ATL, 1-2 at SF, 1-1 at SEA, 3 vs. TOR). The Sox are 41-33 (.554) this season against teams currently at or above .500, the 3rd-best record in MLB (ATL-.625, BAL-.570) and 2nd most wins behind BAL (45). After the series vs. TOR, the Sox’ following 3 series are against teams with a combined record of 125-198 (.387).
LOCK IT DOWN: The Red Sox own MLB’s best record when leading after 6 innings (43-2, .956)…In 2022, they ranked 18th in MLB when leading after 6 (63-10, .863). The Red Sox lead MLB in save % (79.5, 31-for-39). Since the start of July, Kenley Jansen ranks T-2nd in the AL with 9 saves…He ranks 5th in the AL overall with 24.
HIGH FIVE: The Sox are an AL-best 46-7 (.868) when scoring 5+ runs, the 3rd-best record in MLB. The Sox scored 6 runs last night, snapping a streak of 4 consceutive games with 3 or fewer runs scored. Boston is 37-8 (.822) when recording 10+ hits, having won each of their last 10 (beginning 7/5 vs. TEX).
ON THE MEND: Trevor Story and Chris Sale are on rehab assignments with Triple-A Worcester. Sale made his 1st rehab start last night against Syracuse, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings (H, 2 BB, 3 SO, 40 pitches). Story has played in 9 games with Worcester and Double-A Portland, making 6 starts at SS and 3 as the DH (.250 AVG, 6-for-24, 2B, 3 HR, 5 R, 6 RBI, 5 BB, HBP).
SLUGGING SOX: The Red Sox lead MLB in doubles (237)… They rank 2nd in the AL in AVG (.264) and XBH (371), 3rd in OBP (.331), and T-3rd in runs scored per game (5.0). In their last 25 games since 6/30, the Red Sox lead MLB in AVG (.282), and lead the AL in OBP (.336), SLG (.482), and OPS (.818). The Sox have hit 30 HR in their last 18 games since 7/8, tied with HOU the AL’s 2nd most in that span (LAA-32).
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
6/14-7/27 22-12 .281 .803 5.4
7/28-pres. 2-3 .228 .659 3.2
COMEBACK KIDS: The Red Sox trailed 1-0 through 3 innings last night, earning their 31st come-from-behind win…They’ve trailed in 3 of their last 4 wins. The Sox’ 31 come-from-behind wins are tied for 2nd most in the AL and 3rd in MLB (BAL-35, CIN-35, LAA-31).
PITCHING IN: The Red Sox ranked 27th in MLB with a 5.09 ERA at the end of play on 5/15, but they lead in the AL and rank 4th in the majors with a 3.70 ERA since then…Overall, the Sox rank 17th in the majors in ERA (4.25). During that stretch that began 5/16, the Red Sox’ ERA leaders are Chris Martin (1.54), Chris Murphy (1.59), and Brennan Bernardino (1.90) (min. 20.0 IP).
WHAT A RELIEF: In 12 games since 7/17, Sox relievers lead MLB with a 1.71 ERA (12 ER/63.0 IP) and 72 SO. Boston ranks 6th in MLB with a 3.67 relief ERA (175 ER/429.2 IP)…They ranked 14th in the AL and 26th in MLB last season with a 4.59 mark. Among pitchers with at least 30.0 IP, Chris Martin’s 1.57 ERA ranks 4th in the AL and 7th in MLB…He’s allowed just 1 run in his last 19 outings since 6/9 (16.2 IP, 0.54 ERA).
PICK YOUR POISON: Red Sox players finished July with 6 of the AL’s top 25 batting averages and 4 of the top 15 OPS marks (min. 50 PA, see boxes on right). With RISP, 4 Red Sox batters own an AVG above .300 (min. 50 PA): Justin Turner (.355), Jarren Duran (.344), Rafael Devers (.317), and Rob Refsnyder (.314)…The only team with more such players is TEX (5). Since the start of June, Turner leads MLB with 50 RBI.
TRISTON TIME: Triston Casas led the AL and ranked 2nd in MLB during July with a 1.199 OPS (min. 50 PA). Prior to Casas, the only Red Sox player to post an OPS that high in any calendar month (min. 50 PA) before turning 24 was Ted Williams (8 times, 1939-42)…The last players on any team to do so were Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (June ‘21), Fernando Tatis Jr. (May ‘21), Ronald Acuña Jr. (August ‘20), and Juan Soto (August ‘20). His 7 HR since the All-Star break are tied with Shohei Ohtani for the AL lead and T-2nd in MLB (Austin Riley-8).
DURAN DURAN: Jarren Duran led the AL and ranked 3rd in MLB with a .384 AVG during July (min. 50 PA). He also ranked 2nd in the AL during the month in runs (19) and doubles (10), and ranked 3rd in stolen bases (8). Prior to Duran, the only Red Sox player to bat at least .380 in a calendar month (min. 50 PA) and steal as many
as 8 bases was Tris Speaker (4 times, 1912-14)…The last player in MLB to do so was Mallex Smith in August 2018.
RUNNIN’ RED SOX: The Red Sox ranked 2nd in the AL with 25 steals in July (23-for-31)…Overall, the Sox rank 4th in the AL and 10th in the majors in stolen base % (81.1, 77-for-95). The Sox’ top 3 leaders in steals are a combined 38- for-42 (90.5%): Jarren Duran (23-for-25), Masataka Yoshida (8-for-8), and Rob Refsnyder (7-for-9).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: 50 KUTTER CRAWFORD – RHP
W-L ERA G GS IP ER HR BB SO WHIP AVG
2023 5-5 3.86 20 12 77.0 33 12 18 76 1.09 .228
CAREER 8-12 4.89 42 25 156.1 85 25 49 155 1.29 .254
Earned the win on Friday at SF…Held the Giants scoreless through the first 5.0 IP, then allowed a run in the 6th inning (5.2 IP, 3 H, BB, 7 SO). In 12 starts, has a 4.72 ERA and .259 opponent AVG (55.1 IP, 29 ER, 55 H)…In 8 relief outings, has a 1.66 ERA and .143 opponent AVG (21.2 IP, 4 ER, 11 H). Opponents have hit .173 vs. his 4-seam fastball (17-for-98, 7 XBH, 41 SO). Held SEA to one hit over 5.0 scoreless innings in his last start at SEA on 6/12/22 (4 BB, 7 SO). Owns a 2.36 ERA (12 ER/45.2 IP) in 11 games (7 starts) on the road, compared to a 6.03 ERA (21 ER/31.1 IP) in 9 games (5 starts) at Fenway Park. Ranks in MLB’s 75th percentile or higher in chase rate (90th), walk rate (87th), fastball spin (90th), and avg. xBA (78th).
SEATTLE MARINERS NOTES:
No team release available.
