BOSTON RED SOX NOTES:
STATE OF THE SOX: The Red Sox are on a season-high tying 5-game losing streak (also 6/24-29)…They’ve lost 6 of their last 7 games since 8/25. The Sox are 13-19 in their last 32 games, beginning 7/29, after going an MLB-best 16-5 from 6/30-7/28. At 69-66 (.511), Boston is tied with Cincinnati for MLB’s 15th-best record.
SLUGGING SOX: The Red Sox have homered in 19 of their last 20 games, including in 18 straight from 8/11-29 (32 total HR). .Boston has hit 26 HR in their last 15 games since 8/17, 3rd-most in the AL over that span (NYY-31, SEA-27). Their 18-game streak was 4th-longest in franchise history (previous: 19 games, 8-7-30/2019).
The Sox have homered in 27 of their last 29 games since 8/1, after homering in only 16 of their previous 28. AT THE HELM: Alex Cora (431 wins) is 1 victory shy of matching John Farrell (432) for 6th place on the Red Sox’ all-time managerial wins list. The only people to manage 500+ Red Sox games and post a better winning percentage than Cora’s .550 mark are Don Zimmer (.575) and Terry Francona (.574).
SERIES BUSINESS: The Sox are 1-0-1 in their last 2 road series (3-0 at NYY, 2-2 at HOU) after losing each of their previous 4 since 7/17-19. At 22-18-3 in series play overall, they’ve matched their series win total from 2022 (22-24-6). At 9-9-3 on the road, they’re one series shy of tying their 2022 road series win total (10-14-2). Following their current series at KC, Boston has 8 series left to play in 2023, 4 on the road.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: 18 of the Red Sox’ remaining 27 games will be against teams that currently have a winning record (BAL-7, TB-5, TEX-3, TOR-3). BOS is 36-39 against teams with a current record of .500 or better, and 33-26 against teams below .500.
SOX & ROYALS: The Sox won 3 of the 4 games played vs. the Royals at Fenway Park from 8/7-10…Boston is 8-6 at Kauffman Stadium since the start of 2018, but have most each of the last 2 series played at the venue (2-6 beginning 2021). The Red Sox went 3-4 against Kansas City in 2022… They are 22-10 vs. the Royals since the start of 2018. With a win today or tomorrow, Boston would secure the season series vs. KC for the 5th time in the last 6 years (since 2018).
NO TIME TO REST: Yesterday began the Red Sox’ stretch of 28 games in 31 days to finish out the season…There are only 3 off-days remaining on their schedule (9/7, 9/21, and 9/25). Following their off-day on 9/7, the Sox will play 13 games on consecutive days from 9/8-20 (3 vs. BAL, 4 vs. NYY, 3 at TOR, 3 at TEX).
CENTRAL SCARIES: The Red Sox are 5-2-1 in series against AL Central opponents this season, but are 1-2-1 on the road. They beat the Tigers in a 3-game sweep in Detroit from 4/6-9, but dropped series at the Guardians (1-2, 6/6-8) and White Sox (1-2, 6/23-25)…They also split a 4-game series at the Twins from 6/19-22.
The Sox are 4-0-0 in series vs. AL Central teams at home… CWS will visit Fenway in a 3-game series from 9/22-24.
DUV-ALL ABOUT IT: In his last 11 games, Adam Duvall has hit .439 (18-for-41) with a 1.098 SLG, 1.587 OPS, 6 doubles, 7 HR, 9 runs scored and 15 RBI…He leads AL players during that span in HR, XBH, SLG, and OPS, is tied for 1st in hits, doubles, and RBI, and ranks 2nd in AVG (min. 40 AB). Duvall’s 13 XBH from 8/21-30 are the most by an AL player in any 10-game span this season…He’s the 3rd Red Sox player to hit a HR in 7 games of a single-season 9-game span. He was named AL Player of the Week on Monday, the 2nd time in his career he’s won the award (also 4/3).
ON THE OFFENSIVE: The Red Sox lead MLB in doubles (291)…Among AL teams, they rank 2nd in AVG (.264), and XBH (466), and rank 3rd in OBP (.330), SLG (.437) and OPS (.767). The Sox have recorded double-digit hits in 9 of their last 15 games, collecting at least 9 hits in 11 of those 15.
RISPY BUSINESS: With RISP, Boston ranks 2nd in MLB in hits (330), 4th in AVG (.279) and 5th in OBP (.354). With RISP and 0 or 1 out, they own an AL-best .300 AVG. BOS has gone 5-for-28 (.179 AVG) with RISP in their last 5 games, compared to 19-for-54 (.352) in the previous 4.
SCORING IN BUNCHES: The Red Sox have scored multiple runs in an inning at least once in 17 of their last 18 games (28 multi-run innings in that time). Their 15 straight games with a multi-run inning from 8/13-29 marked their longest such streak since April 2018 (15 games, 4/2-20). Since 6/1, they are 29-4 in games when they score 3+ runs in at least 1 inning.
HIGH FIVE: The Red Sox are 56-9 (.862) when scoring 5+ runs, the 2nd-best record in MLB behind SEA (57-8, .877). They’ve scored fewer than 5 runs in 5 of their last 7 games, after doing so in just 3 of their previous 11. Since 6/14, the Sox are 29-3 when scoring 5+ runs.
LATE SURGE: Boston has scored 287 runs in innings 6-9, 4th most in the AL behind HOU (301), TB (300), and TEX (292). The Red Sox lead MLB in AVG (.264) and hits (522) during those innings…They also rank 2nd in the AL in OBP (.335), SLG (.438), and OPS (.773).
LOCK IT DOWN: Boston owns MLB’s best record when leading after 6 innings (53-3, .946)…In 2022, they ranked 18th in MLB when leading after 6 (63-10, .863). The Sox lead MLB in save % (76.5; 39-for-51), after ranking 24th last season (57.4; 39-for-68).
CLOSING ACT: Kenley Jansen has converted each of his last 20 save opportunities since 5/20, MLB’s 2nd-longest active streak behind TOR’s Jordan Romano (21). Since 6/9, Chris Martin has allowed only 1 run over his last 30 outings (26.2 IP)…He leads MLB with a 0.34 ERA in that span (min. 20.0 IP).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: 89 TANNER HOUCK – RHP
W-L ERA G GS IP ER HR BB SO WHIP AVG
2023 3-8 4.93 15 15 76.2 42 11 28 70 1.29 .245
CAREER 12-17 3.68 68 35 222.2 91 19 80 234 1.18 .224
Is making his 1st career appearance vs. KC; has faced every other AL team at least once. In his last 4 starts, has posted a 3.32 ERA and .225 opponent AVG (19.0 IP, 7 R, 16 H). Began the season 3-0 in his first 4 starts, but is 0-8 in his last 11. Has pitched at least 5.0 innings in 11 of his 15 starts this season…Threw exactly 4.0 innings in each of his other 4 outings. Opponents have hit .197 against him the 1st time through the order this season, .303 the 2nd time, and .231 the 3rd and 4th time. Has allowed only 1 HR to his last 348 RHH faced (Gleyber Torres on 6/10/23)…Since the start of 2022, owns MLB’s lowest opponent SLG vs. RHH (.253; min. 300 PA). Has allowed 3 ER or fewer in 31 of his 35 career starts
KANSAS CITY ROYALS NOTES:
RAKER’S DOZEN: The Royals scored a season high in runs in last night’s 13-2 win over the Red Sox at Kauffman Stadium, matching their run total from their previous 6 games combined…they also matched a season high with 4 home runs, including Bobby Witt Jr.’s 28th of the season, and the 16th multi-homer game of Salvador Perez’s career, 1 shy of George Brett for the franchise record…Bobby and Salvy led the team with 3 hits each, as all nine starting position players recorded at least 1 hit…that included Nick Loftin, who had 2 knocks and a walk in his Major League debut, and an RBI double in the 2nd that fell just shy of the wall…Jordan Lyles took a shutout bid into the 8th, when Alex Verdugo spoiled the attempt with a 2-run home run, but Lyles completed 8.0 innings for the fifth time this season, matching Sandy Alcantara for the most such starts in the Majors. Last night’s 13-2 win was their largest margin of victory since an 11-0 win vs. Pittsburgh on Sept. 13, 20. The Royals kept the line moving last night with 17 hits, 1 shy of their season high on July 29 vs. the Twins. With a win tonight or tomorrow, the Royals would clinch their first series victory since they swept the Twins and Mets in consecutive series from July 28-Aug. 3, and would snap a run of eight winless sets.
YOSTED: Ned Yost will be inducted into the Royals Hall of Fame tonight during a pregame ceremony at Kauffman Stadium…Yost was elected on his first ballot appearance as the 27th member of the Royals Hall of Fame…he’s the Royals all-time leader in managerial wins (746) and led the franchise to back-to-back World Series appearances from 2014-15, including the second World Series title in Royals history in 2015…Yost led the Royals to a 22-9 postseason record for a .710 win pct., setting a Major League record (min. 20 games). More than two dozen members from Kansas City’s back-to-back AL-pennant winning teams in 2014-15 are expected at the pregame ceremony tonight, including Alcides Escobar, Wade Davis and Greg Holland.
HBD, HUD!: Bally Sports broadcast analyst Rex Hudler is celebrating his 63rd birthday today…Hud, who played 13 seasons in the Majors for six teams, shares a birthday with Brewers shortstop Willy Adames (28), former Royals pitcher Jason Hammel (41), 15-year veteran Rich Aurilia (52) and the Cleveland Guardians color commentator, Rick Manning (69), who the Royals will see in Kansas City on the next homestand…way to go, Hud!
REHABBING ROYALS: Nick Pratto went 2-for-5 with 2 HR and 5 RBI as the designated hitter last night in his 2nd rehab game of his current assignment with Triple-A Omaha…his first assignment began on Aug. 17, but he was returned a week later due to a setback…he was placed on the 10-day IL on July 28 with a groin strain. Brad Keller recorded 2.0 scoreless innings with 1 hit and 1 walk allowed last night with Double-A Northwest Arkansas…it was his 7th appearance—5th at Double-A—on his current rehab assignment as he works his way back from a right shoulder impingement that has sidelined him since mid May.
SOX STREAK: The Royals continue this 9-game, 10-day homestand tonight with the 2nd of 3 games vs. the Red Sox…starting Monday, the White Sox will be in town for a 3-game set, including a 1:10 p.m. start on Memorial Day, followed by a pair of 6:40 p.m. CT starts next Tuesday and Wednesday…the Royals will enjoy an off day next Thursday, which they’ll use to travel to Toronto to begin their penultimate road trip of the season. This marks the third-to-last homestand of the season, including a 6-game stay from Sept. 15-20 vs. Houston and Cleveland and a 3-game series vs. the Yankees to end the regular season from Sept. 9-Oct. 1…including tonight, there are only 14 home games remaining on the Royals 2023 schedule. The Royals lost 3 of 4 to the Red Sox in Boston last month, despite being outscored by 1 run…after last night’s win, the Royals are 2-3 vs. the Red Sox this year despite outscoring them 27-17 (+10), and can win the season series for a second straight year with wins tonight and tomorrow…with a win tonight or tomorrow, the Royals would clinch their third straight series win over Boston at Kauffman Stadium. Royals starters have recorded a quality start in 6 of their last 9 games vs. the Red Sox dating back to Aug. 7, 2022, a stretch in which they’ve have pitched to a 2.73 ERA (16 ER in 52.2 IP) and .211 opponents’ average (39-for-185), and only 11 of the 39 hits they’ve allowed have gone for extra bases (.578 OPS).
SALVY SPLASHES: Salvador Perez snapped a 13-game homerless drought last night with his 16th career multihomer game, matching Mike Sweeney for the 2nd most in Royals history, 1 behind George Brett (17)…Salvy’s 1st HR last night was his 20th of the year, marking his seventh season with at least 20 home runs, breaking a tie with Sweeney for 2nd most in franchise history, one behind Brett, who had eight 20-homer seasons. After last night’s 3-hit effort, Salvy is just 8 hits shy of Sweeney (1,398) for the 7th most in Royals history. Perez, who is the starting first baseman tonight, is 25.0 innings caught shy of 10,000.0 for his career.
TONIGHT’S STARTERS: RHP ALEC MARSH (0-7, 5.47)
ALEC MARSH is making his 8th career start (12th appearance) tonight vs. the Boston Red Sox, who he is facing for the second time in his career…he was selected by the Royals in the 2nd round of the 2019 Draft out of Arizona State University.
SEEKING RUN SUPPORT: Alec extended his skid to 7 straight losses (spanning 11 appearances) to begin his career despite allowing just 3 runs on 5 hits—with 9 strikeouts—in 5.2 innings of the Royals 3-2 loss to the Mariners on Sunday at T-Mobile Park…the outing marked his 1st start in 22 days, after making each of his previous 3 appearances out of the bullpen, filling a bulk pitcher role in each of those 3 games… after stranding one runner in the 1st inning, he yielded a leadoff home run to Teoscar Hernández to open the 2nd, but went on to retire eight of his next 11 batters through the 4th inning, with the help of a 4-6-3 double play in the 4th…in the next inning, he issued a 1-out walk to Josh Rojas, who came around to score two batters later on a 2-run homer from Julio Rodríguez…he struck out his next three hitters, but exited after a 2-out single in the 6th in favor of Collin Snider, who escaped the frame thanks to a 9-4-2 relay that nabbed the inherited runner at home plate. Ê In 7 starts, he’s pitched to a 6.61 ERA (24 ER in 32.2 IP) with 12 home runs allowed, compared to his 3.24 ERA (6 ER in 16.2 IP) and 2 HR in 4 relief outings.
STRIKEOUT SURGE: Alec has 59 strikeouts in 49.1 innings to start his career (10.8 K/9, 26.0 K%), which are the 2nd most by a Royal through 11 career outings, trailing the late Yordano Ventura, who recorded 64 strikeouts in his 1st 11 outings from 2013-14…Ventura also holds the club record through 12 games with 67 strikeouts. Since his Major League debut on June 30, his 10.8 K/9 ranks tied for 4th in the American League (min. 45.0 IP), behind Nick Pivetta (13.3 K/9), Kevin Gausman (11.2) and Kenta Maeda (11.1)…his 26.0 K% ranks tied for 11th in the AL. Marsh made his 3rd career start on July 15 in Game 1 of the Royals split doubleheader vs. the Rays, in which he set career highs in innings (6.0) and strikeouts (11)…his 11 strikeouts marked the most by a Royal since Brady Singer had 12 on July 23, 2022 vs. the Rays…it was the most strikeouts by a Royal within a player’s 1st 3 career outings, breaking the previous mark set by Runelvys Hernández, who had 9 in his 2nd start on July 20, 2002 (Game 1). Alec became just the sixth American League pitcher this century to record an 11-strikeout game within his 1st 3 career appearances, following Kyle Bradish (May 10, 2022), Shohei Ohtani (April 8, 2018), Chris Archer (Sept. 8, 2012), Matt Moore (Sept. 22, 2011) and Félix Hernández (Aug. 15, 2005). He recorded 5 strikeouts in his debut on June 30, which were the most by a Royal in his Majors debut since Brady Singer had 7 in his debut on July 25, 2020.
SWING AND A MISS: In just 11 outings (7 starts) this season, Marsh has already recorded 129 swings and misses (according to Baseball Savant), including 5 outings with at least 15 whiffs, on July 15 vs. Tampa Bay (15), July 5 at Minnesota (15), Aug. 16 vs. Seattle (15), Aug. 21 at Oakland (15) and on Sunday at Seattle (16)…since the start of July, he’s induced 121 swings and misses, which accounts for 14.7% of his 821 total pitches and is the T-9th highest rate in the AL in that span (min. 750 pitches)— and the T-15th highest rate in the Majors—trailing leader Tyler Glasnow (16.6%). Alec induced 51 swings and misses in the month of July alone, accounting for 11.3% of his total pitches thrown (450)…his 11.3% rate of pitches whiffed on led the Majors in July (min. 400 total pitches), ahead of Gavin Williams (9.8%).
THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR: Alec has surrendered 14 home runs in just 49.1 innings to start his career, and has allowed at least 1 home run in each of his first 7 career starts, while his only homerless appearances have come in relief outings…his 7 straight starts with at least 1 home run allowed is the longest such streak of starts by a Major Leaguer to begin his career since Baltimore’s Kyle Bradish yielded a home run in 8 consecutive starts to begin his career last season… it’s the longest streak of starts with a home run to start a career in Royals history. Marsh has pitched to a 5.47 ERA (30 ER in 49.1 IP) overall this year, however of the 30 earned runs he’s allowed, 19 have come via home runs (63.3%)… he’s held opponents to just a .229 batting average (11-for-48) with runners in scoring position this season, and 3 of those 11 such hits were home runs. His 14 HR allowed through 11 career appearances mark a club record through a pitcher’s first 11 career games, ahead of 2009 Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke and Chris George, who each yielded 13 homers through 11 games.
VS. BOSTON: The Red Sox tonight will become the second opponent that Marsh has faced multiple times in his career, joining the Seattle Mariners, who he faced in his most recent start on Sunday in which he fell just 1 out shy of recording a quality start…in his 1st appearance vs. Boston on Aug. 10 at Fenway Park, he pitched 5.0 innings as the bulk pitcher and suffered the loss despite holding the Sox to just 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks.
IT’S GOOD TO BE HOME: Tonight marks Alec’s 3rd career start (5th appearance) at Kauffman Stadium, where he has posted a 4.50 ERA (8 ER in 16.0 IP) over his first 4 outings with 23 strikeouts (12.9 K/9)…his home ERA is more than a full run lower than his 5.94 ERA (22 ER in 33.1 IP) in 7 road outings.
