BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
STATE OF THE SOX: The Red Sox have won each of their last 4 games, the longest active winning streak in the AL. The current winning streak ties their 2nd longest of 2023 (also 4 games-5/16-20; season-high 8 games-4/29-5/6). The Red Sox went 4-2 over their 6-game homestand vs. COL (1-2) and NYY (3-0)…They are 6-3 in their last 9 games and 9-8 in 17 games since the start of June. At 37-35 (.514), Boston entered today with a share of MLB’s 15th-best record.
YESTERDAY’S NEWS: The Sox swept a doubleheader against the Yankees at Fenway Park yesterday (G1: 6-2, G2: 4-1). It was the first time the Red Sox swept a doubleheader at Fenway Park in 10 years to the day (6/18/13 vs. TB). It marked Boston’s first doubleheader sweep against NYY since 9/17/06 at Yankee Stadium, and their first at Fenway Park since 7/31/1976.
SERIES BUSINESS: After completing a 3-game sweep vs. NYY at Fenway Park over the weekend, the Red Sox improved to 13-9-1 in series play (7-5-0 at home). This weekend marked the Red Sox’ 3rd sweep of the season (also 4/6-9 at DET and 5/1-4 vs. TOR). Boston is 2-0-0 in series vs. NYY (5-1 in games). The Sox have won 2 of their last 3 series (both wins against NYY), after losing each of their previous 3. The Sox are 10-2-0 in series when they win Game 1.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Tonight begins the Red Sox’ 7-game road trip to MIN (4 games) and CWS (3 games). 10 of Boston’s next 13 games will be on the road. 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.
TOUGH TEST: The Red Sox have played 51 games against teams that entered today with a record of .500 or better, 4th most in MLB (OAK-59, NYY-55, TOR-54). The Sox are 28-23 (.549) in those games, the 4thbest record in the AL and 6th best in MLB. From 6/16-7/6, 5 of Boston’s 6 series are against teams currently at or above .500 (vs. NYY, at MIN, at CWS, vs. MIA, at TOR, vs. TEX).
NO TIME TO REST: The Red Sox are currently in a stretch of 23 games in 23 days from 6/3-25 (8-8 so far). After Saturday’s game was postponed and made up yesterday, the Sox are now playing 9 games in 8 days from 6/18-25.
SOX & TWINS: The Red Sox won a 3-game series vs. MIN at Fenway Park from 4/18-20 (2-1). The Sox are 7-4 in their last 11 games at Target Field…They are 4-2-0 in their last 6 series at the venue, dating back to the start of 2016. Boston lost the season series vs. MIN last year for the 1st time since 2015 (4-1-1 since 2016).
CENTRAL TIME: The Red Sox are 8-4 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). The Sox’ record would rank 1st in the AL Central.
PITCHING IN: The Red Sox allowed just 3 R on 9 H with 4 BB and 22 SO during yesterday’s doubleheader vs. NYY. The Sox have allowed 3 ER or fewer in 8 of their last 9 games, beginning 6/9…Over that span, they lead MLB in ERA (2.39, 22 ER/83.0 IP) and WHIP (1.02, 62 H, 23 BB).
RED SOX PITCHING, LAST 30 GAMES (5/16-PRES.)
Stat AL Rank MLB Rank
3.50 ERA (103 ER/265.0 IP) 3rd 5th
0.88 HR/9.0 IP (26 HR) 1st 4th
.226 AVG (227-for-1,003) 2nd 3rd
1.18 WHIP (227 H, 87 BB) 2nd 5th
START ME UP: Beginning 5/17, Red Sox starting pitchers rank 5th in MLB with a 3.47 ERA (56 ER/145.1 IP)…They allowed 2 ER or fewer in 22 of those 29 games, including 8 of their last 9. Sox starters have posted a 2.72 ERA (15 ER/49.2 IP) over the last 9 games, making 6 quality starts in that span. The Sox are 16-6 (.727) when their starting pitcher throws 6.0+ innings, including 7-2 when they toss 7.0+.
WHAT A RELIEF: Red Sox relievers tossed 8.2 scoreless innings with 3 H, 0 BB, and 10 SO during yesterday’s doubleheader vs. NYY…They have tossed 9.2 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to the 9th inning Friday vs. NYY. Over the last 9 games, Red Sox relievers have allowed 7 earned runs in 33.1 IP (1.89 ERA).
COMEBACK KIDS: The Red Sox trailed in both games of yesterday’s doubleheader vs. NYY…They have come from behind in 9 of their last 10 wins and 23 of their 37 wins overall, tied for 3rd most in MLB (BAL-25, LAA-25). Opponents have earned only 9 comeback wins against the Red Sox, fewest in MLB, including 0 walk-off wins.
SLUGGING SOX: The Red Sox rank 4th in the AL and 7th in MLB in runs scored (320)…They lead MLB in doubles (166) and rank 4th in OBP (.335), 6th in AVG (.263), and 7th in OPS (.765). The Sox rank 3rd in the AL and 6th in MLB in SO% (20.5). During the 3-game series vs. NYY, the Red Sox hit .442 (19-for-42) with 2 outs…They scored 21 of their 25 runs during the series with 2 outs.
RISPY BUSINESS: Boston went 16-for-37 (.432) with runners in scoring position over the 3-game series vs. NYY, after going 18-for-109 (.165) in the previous 12 games. Overall with RISP, Boston ranks 2nd in MLB in strikeout rate (18.6%), 3rd in AVG (.287) and OBP (.365), 6th in OPS (.815), and 7th in SLG (.450). With 2 outs and RISP, The Sox led MLB in OBP (.387) and rank 2nd in AVG (.291) and OPS (.864).
CROOKED NUMBERS: The Red Sox have scored multiple runs in 10 innings over their last 5 games, after doing so in just 1 inning over their previous 10 games. The Sox have scored 5+ runs in 13 innings this season, 2nd most in MLB (TEX-18).
UPS AND DOWNS: The Red Sox have scored 4+ runs in each of their last 5 games, compared to 1 of their previous 10. The Sox have hit 24 XBH in their last 5 games, matching their total from their previous 9 games.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: 65 JAMES PAXTON – LHP
W-L ERA G GS IP ER HR BB SO WHIP AVG
2023 2-1 3.09 6 6 32.0 11 4 10 44 1.16 .221
CAREER 59-34 3.57 143 143 786.2 312 85 241 875 1.21 .238
Has a 1.50 ERA with 0 HR allowed in his last 3 starts (18.0 IP, 4 R/3 ER, 14 H, 4 BB). Has struck out 8+ batters in each of his last 3 starts (25 SO, 18.0 IP). Has pitched 5.0+ innings and allowed 2 runs or fewer in 5 of his 6 starts…Has pitched 6.0+ innings in 3 of his starts, including each of his last 2. Has a 5.00 ERA in innings 1-3 (10 ER/18.0 IP, 4 HR) and a 0.64 ERA in innings 4-7 (1 ER/14.0 IP, 0 HR)…Opponents are 3-for-26 (.115) the 3rd and 4th time through the order. Is 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA (8 ER/31.2 IP) in 6 career starts vs. MIN…The only team he has a lower career ERA against is KC (1.70) (min. 5 GS). Allowed 1 UER on Monday vs. COL, his 1st start with 0 ER since 9/21/19 vs. TOR with NYY.
MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:
THE TWINS: Have gone 3-3 through six games on their 10-game homestand, sweeping the Brewers in two games on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by going 1-3 vs. the Tigers over the last four days…tonight, they will continue the homestand with the first of four against the Red Sox through Thursday afternoon…the Twins have gone 21-17 at home and 15-19 on the road.
The Twins are on game seven of a 16 games in 16 days stretch, their next off-day being in Baltimore on June 29…the Twins have 19 games in 21 days leading up to the All-Star Break (July 10-13).
TWINS DROP SERIES TO TIGERS: The Twins lost to the Tigers yesterday afternoon by a score of 6-4 as their rally in the bottom of the eighth fell short…they scored three runs in the eighth inning but left the bases loaded…Louie Varland (3-3) was the starter and loser, allowing six runs on nine hits in 4.1 innings pitched…Jordan Balazovic made his major league debut with 3.2 scoreless innings of relief, allowing two hits with one walk and two strikeouts…he fanned Spencer Torkelson in the sixth inning for his first career strikeout…the offense recorded seven hits and struck out 14 times…Carlos Correa went 2-for-3 with one walk.
Balazovic and Edouard Julien are the second pair of Canadian-born players to debut in the same season for the Twins, joining Rene Tosoni (first game of the doubleheader on April 28) and Scott Diamond (second game of the doubleheader on July 18), who both debuted for Minnesota in 2011.
LOVE THAT DIRTY WATER: The Twins and Red Sox are playing the fourth of seven games in 2023…these two played a three-game series at Fenway Park from April 18-20 as the Twins won the middle game by a score of 10-4…Minnesota was outscored in the series 20-19…the Twins last hosted the Red Sox at Target Field for three games from August 29-31, 2022 as the Twins won two of three…Minnesota is 3-1 in their last four against Boston in Minneapolis.
Carlos Correa is hitting .307 (55-for-179) with eight doubles, 10 home runs, 27 RBI, 36 runs scored, 33 walks, a .413 on-base percentage, a .520 slugging percentage and a .932 OPS in 48 career regular season games against the Red Sox.
Max Kepler has reached base in nine of his last 18 plate appearances vs. the Red Sox, recording six hits, drawing one walk and being hit by two pitches…he also has three doubles and one home run in that span.
CHRISTIAN MINGLE: Christian Vázquez was selected by the Red Sox in the ninth round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft and played parts of eight seasons in Boston, hitting .262 (610- for-2329) with 124 doubles, 54 home runs, 266 RBI and 275 runs scored.
He still ranks fifth on the Sox all-time list in games caught (651), trailing Jason Varitek (1488), Carlton Fisk (990), Sammy White (967) and Rich Gedman (858).
Hit a walk-off homer for Red Sox in 13th inning of 2021 ALDS Game 3 vs. Tampa Bay… caught final pitch of the 2018 World Series, a swinging third strike to Manny Machado.
Earned the Unsung Hero Award from the Boston Chapter of the BBWAA following the 2017 season.
C4 IGNITING: Carlos Correa has recorded an OPS of .990 (.349 OBP / .641 SLG) in his last 10 games, including three doubles, one triple, three home runs and 10 RBI…since May 10, he has raised his batting average 32 points, from .185 to .217 in 30 games…below are his first 32 games and last 30 games (since May 10) by comparison:
AVG H 2B HR RBI BB K OBP SLG OPS OPS w/ RISP
FIRST 32 .185 23 5 5 15 13 30 .261 .363 .624 .499
LAST 30 .252 28 10 4 19 16 35 .346 .468 .815 .958
EXTRA STRENGTH: 217 of the Twins’ 555 hits have gone for extra bases, equaling 39.1% of their hits, second-highest percentage in the AL:
XBH HITS XBH%
Tampa Bay……………………………………….266 …………………………662 …………………………………40.2%
Minnesota………………………………………..217 …………………………555 …………………………………39.1%
Boston……………………………………………..250 …………………………647 …………………………………38.6%
New York…………………………………………..211 …………………………549 …………………………………38.4%
Baltimore…………………………………………230 …………………………615 …………………………………37.4%
FREE BAGS: The Twins have walked 245 times this season, fifth most in the AL, just ahead of Boston (242)…additionally, they have seen 3.95 pitches-per-plate appearance, second most in the AL, trailing Seattle (3.96), and ahead of Los Angeles (3.95) and Boston (3.93).
This month, Donovan Solano leads the team in walks (9) and is tied for 12th in the AL.
LINING UP THE LEFTIES: Today marks the 15th time this season Minnesota has faced a lefty starter…Twins are 7-7 when a left-hander is the opposing starter.
The Twins have the seventh-fewest at-bats in baseball vs. left-handed pitching at just 546…also tied for third-fewest hits (120).
Twins are slashing .220/.293/.368 with 17 homers vs. lefties, compared to .233/.315/.406 with 73 homers vs. righties.
Donovan Solano is hitting .311 (19-for-61) with eight doubles and an .855 OPS against lefties this season…he ranks eighth in the AL in batting average vs. lefties among players with a minimum of 60 at-bats in such instances.
SOLANO SMOKING: Donovan Solano is leading off for the 12th time this season, third most on the club, trailing Max Kepler (17) and Byron Buxton (13)…Solano has reached safely in each of his last nine games, hitting .370 (10-for-27) with two doubles, two home runs, six RBI, seven walks, a .514 on-base percentage, a .667 slugging percentage and a 1.181 OPS in that span.
Solano is hitting .318 (28-for-88) with 10 RBI, 12 walks and an .821 OPS in 32 games at Target Field this season…his home batting average ranks 11th best in the American League (minimum of 75 at-bats).
TOUCHING BASE WITH ALEX KIRILLOFF: Alex Kirilloff has posted a .410 on-base percentage in his last 20 games, since May 27, reaching base 32 times in 78 plate appearances (18 hits, 12 walks, 2 hit-by-pitch)…in 38 games for the Twins, he has posted a .394 on-base percentage, which is fifth among AL players with a minimum of 130 plate appearances.
RUNNING MEN: Twins have stolen 35 bases in 41 attempts this season, for a 85.4 success rate, best in the AL and second best in base- ball, trailing New York-NL (89.5%)…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)…the longest streak in baseball this season is Tampa Bay’s streak of 35, which was snapped on June 11.
STARTING PITCHER – PABLO LóPEZ #49
2023: 3-3, 4.27 ERA CAREER: 31-34, 3.98 ERA
Making his 15th start and appearance and eighth home start of 2023…also his 109th career appearance (all starts) in his sixth major league season (Miami – 2018-22).
Facing the Red Sox for the first time in his career; Boston will become the 27th team he has faced in MLB…is 3-4, 3.16 ERA (62.2 IP, 22 ER) in 11 career starts vs. American League East teams.
Acquired by the Twins from Miami on January 20, 2023, along with infielder Jose Salas and outfielder Byron Chourio, in exchange for infielder/outfielder Luis Arraez.
KEEPING IT 100: López became the third American League pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts this season in his last start on June 13 vs. Milwaukee…Tuesday marked Lopez’s 14th game with the Twins; he is the sixth-fastest pitcher in American League history (since 1901) to reach 100 strikeouts in the AL and the fastest since Gerrit Cole did it in a record 10 games in 2018…also became the fourth pitcher in Twins franchise history (since 1901) to record 100 strikeouts in his first 14 games of a season…here is the complete list:
PLAYER SO THROUGH 14 G SEASON
Pablo López…………………………………………….. 101 ………………………………………………………. 2023
Francisco Liriano………………………………………. 100 ………………………………………………………. 2010
Johan Santana …………………………………………. 105 ………………………………………………………. 2007
Johan Santana …………………………………………. 104 ………………………………………………………. 2006
Johan Santana …………………………………………. 121 ………………………………………………………. 2005
Walter Johnson …………………………………………. 102 ………………………………………………………. 1912
Walter Johnson …………………………………………. 102……………………………………………………….. 1910
LAST TIME OUT: Took his third-consecutive no-decision in the Twins’ 7-5, walk-off victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Target Field on June 13; recorded a quality start, pitching 6.0 innings with three runs and four hits allowed, one walk and nine strikeouts…retired the first six batters he faced with four strikeouts…allowed all three runs in the third inning on two hits and one walk; leftfielder Christian Yelich doubled home two runs and first baseman Rowdy Tellez had an RBI single…held the Brewers hitless for the remainder of his outing, retiring 10 of the final 12 batters he faced; was relieved by José De León to start the seventh inning with Minnesota trailing 3-2…Twins scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth, capped by a two-run, walk-off homer by shortstop Carlos Correa, coming from behind to take the series opener.
Tied his start on May 21 at Los Angeles-AL for his second-highest strikeout total of the year, one shy of his season high of 10 strikeouts on April 11 vs. Chicago-AL.
Through 14 starts this season, López is among the American League leaders in several statistical categories, including strikeouts (101 – 4th), pitches-per-inning (15.5 – 11th), FIP (3.53 – 11th) and innings pitched (84.1 – T-12th).
TWO STARTS AGO: Went 7.0 innings and allowed only one run but took a no-decision in the Twins’ 2-1 defeat against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on June 7…allowed five hits (1 HR), issued one walk and struck out six batters…pitched opposite Shawn Armstrong who fired 2.0 scoreless innings as an opener…allowed a solo home run to third baseman Isaac Paredes to lead off the second inning, then retired 17 of the final 21 batters he faced from the second through the seventh inning…was relieved by Brock Stewart to begin the eighth inning with Minnesota trailing 1-0; Twins tied the game on an RBI single from third baseman Royce Lewis in the top of the ninth inning, but Jhoan Duran allowed a walkoff solo home run to designated hitter Randy Arozarena in the bottom of the ninth.
Marked just the fourth time in his career that his team lost when he worked at least 7.0 innings and allowed one-or-fewer runs (9-4 team record in 13 career starts under those parameters).
Picked off shortstop Wander Franco in the third inning; was his third pickoff of the season (2 at Miami on April 5), tied with KC’s Taylor Clarke for the most in the American League this year.
LÓPEZ VS. BOSTON: Facing the Red Sox for the first time in his career tonight…Boston will become the 27th team he has faced in the majors; has also yet to face Detroit, Seattle and Minnesota in his career…in 26 career starts when facing a new opponent, he is 9-7 with a 3.32 ERA (152.0 IP, 56 ER), 31 walks and 151 strikeouts…tonight will be his 12th career start vs. an American League East opponent, having faced Tampa Bay six times, New York-AL twice, Toronto twice and Baltimore once previously; is 3-4, 3.16 ERA (62.2 IP, 22 ER) with 12 walks and 68 strikeouts in 11 career starts vs. the AL East.
Boston outfielder Adam Duvall has had the most success vs. López among the six Red Sox batters who have faced him previously, going 3-for-4 with one double, one RBI and two walks in six plate appearances.
EXTENDED STAY: Making his eighth home start of 2023 in the seventh game of the Twins’ season- long-tying 10-game homestand…has gone 2-1 with a 5.88 ERA (41.1 IP, 27 ER), 13 walks and 51 strikeouts in his first seven home outings…despite López having the second-highest home ERA among qualified pitchers in the American League (DET’s Joey Wentz – 6.29), the Twins have gone 6-1 in his seven home starts as the offense has provided him with an average of 5.66 runs of support at Target Field…in seven road starts this year, he is 1-2 with a 2.72 ERA (43.0 IP, 13 ER), 10 walks and 50 strikeouts; Minnesota owns a 2-5 record in his seven starts away from Target Field in 2023, with López receiving only 1.67 runs of support on average.
In 57 career home starts, he is 16-16, 3.76 ERA (325.1 IP, 136 ER) with 92 walks and 319 strikeouts…is 15-18, 4.25 ERA (269.0 IP, 127 ER) with 73 walks and 271 strikeouts in 51 career road starts.
RIGHT ON: López has limited right-handed hitters to a .197 (35-for-178) batting average this season; with right-handed hitters going 0-for-12 with six strikeouts against him in his last start on June 13
vs. Milwaukee…his 65 strikeouts against righties are the fourth most in the American League this year, trailing only TB’s Shane McClanahan (83), HOU’s Framber Valdez (80) and TOR’s Kevin Gausman
(73)…his .197 opponent batting average vs. righties this season ranks seventh in the AL (min. 10
GS)…left-handed hitters are batting at a .265 (36-for-136) clip against him in 2023…over his career, he has better numbers against right-handed hitters (.654 OPS) than left-handed hitters (.745 OPS).
PITCH BREAKDOWN: Used a five-pitch mix in his first 14 starts this season, according to Baseball Savant…has primarily used his sweeper and sinker against right-handed hitters, favoring his
changeup and curveball against left-handed hitters…threw 17 curveballs in his last start on June
13 vs. Milwaukee, the second-most curveballs he has thrown in a start this season (19 vs. Kansas
City on April 28)…here is a look at his 2023 arsenal:
PITCH (AVG. MPH) PCT. (# OF PITCHES, VS. RHB/LHB) RESULTS
4-Seam Fastball (95.0)……………..34.0% (444 pitches, 212/232)….. .277 (26-for-94), 5 2B, 6 HR, 29 K Sweeper (84.3)…………………………22.7% (296 pitches, 253/43) .172 (11-for-64), 1 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 27 K Changeup (88.5)……………………..21.1% (276 pitches, 113/163) … .165 (13-for-79), 1 2B, 1 HR, 27 K Sinker (94.5) …………………………….11.9% (155 pitches, 150/5) … .268 (11-for-41), 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 K Curveball (82.1)……………………….10.3% (135 pitches, 24/111) .278 (10-for-36), 1 3B, 1 HR, 15 K
Lopez’s changeup has accumulated a run value of -6 this year, the 11th-best run value on a changeup in baseball, according to Baseball Savant.
In his first 14 starts this year, López has an average fastball velocity of 94.8 mph, a 2.1 mph increase from last season and the largest year-to-year jump of his career.
