BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
STATE OF THE SOX: The Red Sox have won each of their last 5 games, the longest active winning streak in the AL. The current winning streak is the Sox’ 2nd longest of the season (longest: 8 games from 4/29-5/6). The Red Sox are 7-3 in their last 10 games and 10-8 in 18 games since the start of June. Boston is currently in a stretch of 23 games in 23 days from 6/3-25 (9-8 so far). At 38-35 (.521), BOS entered today with a share of MLB’s 14th-best record, tied with CIN (1st in NL Central).
SOX & TWINS: Boston is 3-1 vs. MIN this season…The Sox won a 3-game series at Fenway Park from 4/18-20 (2-1). The Sox are 8-4 in their last 12 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 from 2016-22).
CENTRAL TIME: The Red Sox are 9-4 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.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: Last night began the Red Sox’ 7-game road trip to MIN (4 games) and CWS (3 games). 10 of the Sox’ 13 games from 6/19-7/2 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: Boston is set to play consecutive series against teams with a sub-.500 record: MIN (36-37) and CWS (31-43). The only other time this season that the Red Sox played back-to-back series against teams currently below .500 was 4/3-9 (vs. PIT, at DET). The Red Sox have played 48 games against teams that entered today with a record of .500 or better, tied with NYY for 3rd most in MLB (OAK-59, TOR-49). The Sox are 22-18 (.542) in those games, the 4thbest record in the AL and 6th best in MLB.
SERIES BUSINESS: The Red Sox are to 13-9-1 in series play…They have won 2 of their last 3 series (both wins against NYY), after losing each of their previous 3. This weekend’s sweep vs. NYY was the Sox’ 3rd sweep of the season (also 4/6-9 at DET and 5/1-4 vs. TOR). The Red Sox are 10-2-0 in series when they win Game 1.
SLUGGING SOX: The Red Sox have scored 6+ runs in 5 of their last 6 games…They scored 4+ runs in each of those 6 games (46 runs), compared to 1 of their previous 10 (25 runs). The Sox recorded 6 XBH last night (4 2B, 3B, HR) and have 30 XBH in their last 6 games (22 2B, 3 2B, 5 HR). The Red Sox scored 8 of their 9 runs last night with 2 outs…Over their last 4 games, they’ve scored 29 of their 34 runs with 2 outs, batting .418 (23-for-55) with 8 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, and 6 BB.
PITCHING IN: The Red Sox have allowed 3 ER or fewer in 9 of their last 10 games, beginning 6/9 at NYY. During that span, they lead MLB in ERA (2.45, 25 ER/92.0 IP) and WHIP (1.03, 69 H, 26 BB)…It marks their lowest ERA in any 10-game span this season (previous: 2.31 ERA from 6/6-16/22).
START ME UP: Beginning 5/17, Red Sox starting pitchers rank 4th in MLB with a 3.50 ERA (59 ER/151.2 IP)…They allowed 2 ER or fewer in 22 of those 30 games, including 8 of their last 10. Sox starters have posted a 2.89 ERA (18 ER/56.0 IP) over the last 10 games, making 7 quality starts in that span. The Sox are 17-6 (.739) when their starting pitcher throws 6.0+ innings, including 7-2 when they toss 7.0+.
WHAT A RELIEF: Red Sox relievers have tossed 12.1 consecutive scoreless innings (7 H, 3 BB, 14 SO), starting with the 9th inning on Friday vs. NYY. Over the last 10 games, Red Sox relievers have allowed 7 earned runs in 36.0 IP (1.75 ERA).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: 50 KUTTER CRAWFORD – RHP
W-L ERA G GS IP ER HR BB SO WHIP AVG
2023 1-3 4.20 13 5 40.2 19 6 9 41 1.13 .234
CAREER 4-10 5.33 35 18 120.0 71 19 40 120 1.36 .263
On the road, has a 2.60 ERA and 0.98 WHIP (17.1 IP, 5 ER, 16 H, 19 SO, 1 BB). Each of his last 3 outings has been as a starter…Has a 7.11 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, and .321 opponent AVG in 5 starts (19.0 IP, 15 ER, 26 H)…In 8 relief outings, has a 1.66 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, and .143 opponent AVG (21.2 IP, 4 ER, 11 H). Ranks in MLB’s 80th percentile or higher in chase rate (99th), average exit velocity (92nd), walk rate (88th), and hard-hit rate (82nd). Opponents have hit .167 against his 4-seam fastball (10-for-60, 4 XBH)…30 of his 41 strikeouts this season have been with his 4-seam fastball. Has a 12.00 ERA in 2 career outings against the Twins, one as a starter (8/30/22) and one in relief (4/18/22).
MINNESOTA TWINS NOTES:
THE TWINS: Have gone 3-4 through seven games on their 10-game homestand, going 2-0 vs. Milwaukee, 1-3 vs. Detroit and 0-1 vs. Boston…tonight, Minnesota will continue the homestand with the second of four against the Red Sox through Thursday afternoon…the Twins have gone 21-18 at home and 15-19 on the road.
The Twins are on game eight of a 16 games in 16 days stretch, their next off-day being in Baltimore on June 29…the Twins have 18 games in 20 days leading up to the All-Star Break (July 10-13).
The Twins are looking to avoid falling to a low-water mark of two games under .500 tonight, which would be their lowest since finishing the 2022 season 78-84.
TWINS DROP OPENER TO SOX: The Twins lost to the Red Sox last night at Target Field by a score of 9-3, suffering their fourth loss in their last five games and 10th loss in their last 15… Pablo López (3-4) was the starter and loser, allowing five runs (4 earned) on six hits in 5.2 innings pitched, with three walks and nine strikeouts…the offense recorded seven hits, two from Willi Castro…the only extra-base hit for Minnesota was a three-run homer by Christian Vázquez in the fifth inning, his first of the season; Vázquez’s three RBI marked a season-high.
ROSTER MOVES: The Twins have selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Oliver Ortega from Triple-A St. Paul…Ortega, 26, has appeared in 16 games for the Saints this season, going 3-0, 2.42 ERA (22.1 IP, 6 ER), two saves, seven walks, 28 strikeouts, a 1.03 WHIP and a .203 (16-for-79) BAA, including striking out 11 of his last 27 batters faced since June 8… the 6-foot, 204-pound right-hander was originally acquired by the Twins via waiver claim on January 6 from the Los Angeles Angels…the Nagua, Dominican Republic native has appeared in 35 major league games across parts of two seasons with the Angels from 2021-22, going 2-3, 3.95 ERA (43.1 IP, 19 ER), 20 walks and 37 strikeouts.
To make room for Ortega on the 26-man roster, the Twins have optioned right-handed pitcher Louie Varland to St. Paul…Varland has made 10 starts over two stints with the Twins this season, going 3-3, 5.30 ERA (56.0 IP, 33 ER), 16 walks and 54 strikeouts.
To make room for Ortega on the 40-man roster, the Twins have designated outfielder Kyle Garlick for release or assignment…Garlick has played in 14 games over three stints with the Twins this season, hitting .179 (5-for-28) with one double, two home runs, four RBI, two runs scored and two walks.
TWINS AND SOX: The Twins and Red Sox are playing the fifth of seven games in 2023…the Twins are 1-3 against Boston this season, going 1-2 at Fenway Park from April 18-20, followed by a loss last night at Target Field.
Carlos Correa is hitting .306 (56-for-183) with eight doubles, 10 home runs, 27 RBI, 36 runs scored, 33 walks, a .410 on-base percentage, a .514 slugging percentage and a .924 OPS in 49 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.
WE CC YOU ‘LOS: Carlos Correa has recorded an OPS of .945 (.340 OBP / .605 SLG) in his last 11 games, including three doubles, one triple, three home runs and 10 RBI…since May 10, he has raised his batting average 33 points, from .185 to .218 in 31 games…below are his first 32 games and last 31 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 31 .252 29 10 4 19 16 35 .344 .461 .804 .958
DONNIE BASEBALL: Donovan Solano has reached safely in each of his last 10 games, hitting .344 (11-for-32) with two doubles, two home runs, six RBI, seven walks, a .475 on-base percentage, a .594 slugging percentage and a 1.069 OPS in that span.
Solano is hitting .312 (29-for-93) with 10 RBI, 12 walks and an .800 OPS in 33 games at Target Field this season…his home batting average ranks 13th best in the American League (minimum of 75 at-bats).
This month, Donovan Solano leads the team in walks (9) and is tied for 12th in the AL.
EXTRA STRENGTH: 218 of the Twins’ 562 hits have gone for extra bases, equaling 38.8% of their hits, third-highest percentage in the AL:
XBH HITS XBH%
Tampa Bay……………………………………….266 ……………………………….662 …………………………….. 40.2%
Boston……………………………………………..256 ……………………………….657 …………………………….. 39.0%
Minnesota………………………………………..218 ……………………………….562 …………………………….. 38.8%
New York…………………………………………..211 ……………………………….549 …………………………….. 38.4%
Texas……………………………………………….261 ……………………………….687 …………………………….. 38.0%
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 baseball, trailing New York-NL (89.7%)…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).
WILLI WORLD: Willi Castro has hit safely in four-straight games, hitting .429 (6-for-14) with a 1.038 OPS in that span…in his last 22 games (since May 24), he is hitting .299 (20-for-67) with three doubles, three home runs, seven RBI, eight stolen bases (0 caught) and an .829 OPS.
RIP, GEORGE FRAZIER: Former Twins right-handed pitcher and 1987 World Series Champion George Frazier passed away on Monday at the age of 68 in Tulsa, Oklahoma…Frazier was acquired by the Twins via trade with Chicago-NL on August 13, 1986, along with Julius McDougal and Ray Fontenot, in exchange for Dewayne Coleman and Ron Davis…Frazier spent his final two major leagues seasons with the Twins from 1986-87…during the 1987 regular season, Frazier went 5-5, 4.98 ERA (81.1 IP, 45 ER) with two saves, 51 walks and 58 strikeouts in 54 games — third most appearances on the club, behind Jeff Reardon (63) and Keith Atherton (59)…he made one appearance during the Twins’ 1987 Postseason run, pitching in Game 4 of the World Series at St. Louis, throwing 2.0 shutout innings.
STARTING PITCHER – BAILEY OBER 17
2023: 4-3, 2.65 ERA CAREER: 9-9, 3.50 ERA
Making his 11th start of the season and eighth home start…also his 42nd career start and appearance.
Facing the Red Sox for the first time this season, third time in his career…is 0-1, 0.00 ERA (11.0 IP, 0 ER) with two walks and 10 strikeouts in his two previous appearances.
Began season with Triple-A St. Paul and was recalled when Kenta Maeda landed on the IL on April 29…since being inserted into the rotation, the Twins have gone 6-4 in his 10 starts.
Selected by the Twins in the 12th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of the College of Charleston.
LAST START: Snapped a career-high three-game losing streak after earning the 4-2 Twins win against Milwaukee at Target Field on June 14…pitched 6.0 innings and allowed two runs on six hits (2 HR), issued one walk and fanned seven batters…permitted his only runs on back-to-back homers by Brian Anderson and Luis Urías in the second inning; marked the second time in his career that he allowed back-to-back home runs (also, July 10, 2021 vs. Detroit – Niko Goodrum and Zack Short)…retired 13 of the last 16 batters he faced…struck out a season-high seven batters for the third time this season, (also, June 8 at Tampa Bay and May 28 vs. Toronto)… relieved by Brock Stewart in the seventh inning as the bullpen combined to pitch 3.0 scoreless innings…Griffin Jax entered in the ninth inning and ecorded his first save of the season.
The Twins are 19-11 when Ober issues one-or-fewer walks in a start, he is 6-5, 2.83 ERA (155.2 IP, 49 ER) with 19 walks and 156 strikeouts in those 30 games.
TWO STARTS AGO: Took his third loss of the season in a 4-2 Twins defeat against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on June 8, opposite Yonny Chirinos…pitched 5.1 innings and allowed four runs (3 earned) on three hits, issued two walks and tied a season high with seven strikeouts…tossed 3.0 perfect innings before issuing a walk in the fourth inning to outfielder Randy Arozarena who scored on an RBI triple by first baseman Luke Raley…also yielded a two-run home run to designated hitter Harold Ramírez…relieved in the sixth inning by Griffin Jax after allowing a single and a walk…shortstop Wander Franco crossed home on a throwing error by Jax after stealing third base…José De León closed the game by pitching 2.0 scoreless innings as the Twins were swept in three games.
OBER VS. BOSTON: Facing the Red Sox for the first time this season and the third time in his career; is 0-1, 0.00 ERA (11.0 IP, 0 ER) with two walks and 10 strikeouts in two previous starts… last faced Boston on April 17, 2022 at Fenway Park; did not factor into the decision after pitching 6.0 innings and allowing two runs (0 ER) on four hits, walking one batter and striking out three…allowed both runs in the sixth inning…Rafael Devers reached first on an error by Miguel Sanó, followed by a double by Xander Bogaerts, finally allowed consecutive sacrifice flies to J.D. Martinez and Alex Verdugo…relieved by Tyler Duffey in the seventh inning…Caleb Thielbar entered in the eighth inning and allowed two runs via an RBI single by Bogaerts and an RBI double by Martinez…replaced by Cody Stashak who allowed three runs (two RBI singles from Trevor Story and Jackie Bradley Jr. and a sacrifice fly by Kevin Plawecki).
Making his first career start against the Red Sox at Target Field.
BACK HOME: Ober is making his eighth home start this season, 23rd of his career…in his seven previous home starts this season, Ober is 2-2, 2.97 ERA (39.1 IP, 13 ER) with 10 walks and 35 strikeouts…is 6-3, 3.56 ERA (111.1 IP, 44 ER) with 27 walks and 112 strikeouts in 22 career home starts…Twins have gone 14-8 in his home starts.
Owns the fourth-most strikeouts through a pitcher’s first 22 home games in Twins history (since 1961), trailing Joe Ryan (136), José Berríos (124) and Francisco Liriano (118).
LEFT AND RIGHT: Left-handed hitters are batting .209 (23-for-110) with 26 strikeouts and 10 walks against Ober after 10 starts this season…right-handed hitters are hitting .204 (20-for-98) with 28 strikeouts and four walks…in his career, left-handed hitters are batting .256/.320/.418 with 84 strikeouts against Ober…righties are hitting .219/.242/.416 with 117 strikeouts off him.
Owns the ninth-lowest opponent batting average against righties in the American league… ranks 11th in all of baseball (min 55.0 IP).
Tied for the 19th-lowest opponent batting average against righties in the American League since 2021…tied for 23rd in all of baseball (min 205.0 IP).
ARSENAL: Ober has used a four-pitch mix in his 10 starts of the 2023 season, per Baseball Savant…five out of the seven strikeouts he recorded in his last start came from changeups… mostly uses his slider (164 pitches) against righties while relying on his changeup (162 pitches) and curveball (60 pitches) against lefties…here’s a look at his repertoire:
PITCH (AVG. MPH) PCT. (#, vs. RHB/LHB) RESULTS
4-Seam Fastball (91.4)46.0% (412 pitches, 174/238)……. .218 (19-for-87), 6 2B, 3 HR, 24 K
Changeup (83.7)………. 24.3% (218 pitches, 56/162)…….. .193 (11-for-57), 2 2B, 1 3B, 15 K
Slider (81.5)…………….. 21.7% (194 pitches, 164/30)…….. .213 (10-for-47), 3 2B, 3 HR, 12 K
Curveball (78.0)………….. 8.0% (72 pitches, 12/60)…………………… .176 (3-for-17), 1 2B, 3 K
Tied for the 12th-lowest opponent batting average against a curveball in the American League (min. 750 pitches)…also tied for the 10th-lowest opponent batting average against a changeup (min. 50 PA).
THE CHASE: According to Baseball Savant, Ober owns a 34.8 chase percentage this season, ranking in the 94th percentile in baseball…ranks third on the Twin’s pitching staff, trailing Joe Ryan (37.2) and Pablo López (35.3).
