Author Archives: Matthew Martin

Importance of Dustin Pedroia’s Comeback

Many in Red Sox Nation have started growing tired of waiting for Dustin Pedroia. The four-time Gold Glove award winner started this season on the DL with a left knee injury. Many people bring up the idea of getting rid of the 2008 AL MVP. It seems as though many fans are comfortable with Eduardo Nunez being the everyday second baseman over the four-time All-Star, but they should not be.

Importance of Pedroia’s Defense

Eduardo Nunez is not a good defensive second baseman. His range has not been the same since his knee injury that he suffered last year. The difference between the two knee injuries was that since Nunez tried to play through his, he aggravated it, while the Red Sox were much more careful with Pedroia’s.

Dustin Pedroia will be a difference-maker defensively. He is a four-time Gold Glove Award winner, and he has never had a season with a negative dWAR (defensive wins above replacement) rating. So far this year, Nunez’s dWAR is -0.3, which needs improvement.

Pedroia at second base instead of Nunez will make the first baseman’s job much easier also, with more accurate throws coming from that direction. Also, pitchers will feel more comfortable throwing strikes with Pedroia behind them.

Pedroia’s Offense

Many of Pedroia’s doubters have not been paying attention to how bad of a year Eduardo Nunez is having offensively. Currently, he is hitting .233/.256/.353 in 150 at-bats. His OPS (.610) is 116 points below the league average. How could Dustin Pedroia do any better? I’ll tell you how.

The four-time All-Star had a great season in 2016. He hit .318/.376/.449/.825 in 154 games and 633 at-bats. While he may not have as great of a season as he did in 2016, there is no way his numbers will be too far from those. If that is not enough for you, last year he hit .293/.269/.392/.760 in 105 games last year. Sure, he may not be as durable as Nunez, but he is a clear offensive and defensive upgrade.

Pedroia’s Role in the Clubhouse

Credit: Christopher Evans.

Pedroia’s doubters also believe that he is not a leader in the clubhouse, but that is not true. Our roster is filled with young talent, and not many of them have played in Boston as long as Pedroia. Dustin Pedroia is a fan-favorite in Boston no matter how many doubters there are. He knows how to deal with the Boston media and will be the voice of the team.

In conclusion, the return of Dustin Pedroia will give a much-needed boost to a team that is playing .500 baseball in the last 24 games.

Do Not Worry About Drew Pomeranz

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The Red Sox acquired Drew Pomeranz during the 2016 MLB All-Star break from the San Diego Padres. He has become an important part of the Red Sox rotation over the past two seasons. Last year, Pomeranz had a great season, going 17-6 with a 3.32 ERA. He struggled in the postseason, and this has caused Red Sox Nation to worry about his future.

(AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Injury

Going into the Spring Training before the 2018 season, Red Sox Nation had high hopes for their rotation. This rotation had two Cy Young Award winners, an arm with a 300-strikeout season, and an All-Star, so of course there was excitement. In the middle of Spring Training, Drew Pomeranz suffered from a strained left forearm flexor, thus his season started on the DL. With other important injuries and other issues affecting the rotation (Eduardo Rodriguez and Steven Wright), the Red Sox were forced to count on lesser arms to start games.

As you could tell, Drew Pomeranz was discouraged when he heard the news. When he finally recovered from his injury, he had to finish his Spring Training, which was rudely interrupted. After two rehab starts in Double-A Portland, he was finally able to come back to the majors.

Comeback to the Majors

Pomeranz had his first start to the season on April 20 against the Oakland A’s in Oakland Coliseum. He had a shaky performance, only pitching 3 2/3 innings and giving up three earned runs on 88 pitches thrown. Most people did not notice, but he did strike out seven of the eleven batters he retired. The Red Sox went on to win that game because of a strong bullpen performance and key homers by Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mitch Moreland.

This was Pomeranz’s first start back, so many people brushed it aside, as did I.

His second start wasn’t much better. Against the Rays in Fenway Park, Pomeranz went five innings, giving up four runs on 81 pitches. This start caused Red Sox Nation to worry badly, because they felt that the Rays shouldn’t be talented enough to score that many runs. May I remind you that the Rays had seven of the eight games prior and had not scored under eight runs in a game in over a week. This Rays team was blistering hot, and there was no stopping them.

Signs of Improvement

Drew Pomeranz finally achieved a quality start on May 2. It was against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park, and he pitched well. Pomeranz went six innings, giving up three runs on 89 pitches. He was able to keep his pitch count low, thus he had success. Although this was a terrible Royals team, it was still an impressive performance.

Then, at Yankee Stadium, Drew got his first crack at the vaunted Yankees lineup.

Many had low expectations, since he was going head-to-head with Yankees ace Luis Severino, but Pomeranz didn’t disappoint. Both starters went six innings and gave up two runs. The big difference was that Severino had 11 strikeouts, and Pomeranz had six. Drew also gave up two solo home runs to Giancarlo Stanton, but he still limited damage, as any pitcher is paid to do.

Why Not to Worry

Drew Pomeranz has thrown together two consecutive quality starts, one against a team that is leading the league in runs. As long as Pomeranz is finishing his pitches and cutting his fingernails correctly, he will continue to be a valuable part of the Red Sox rotation.

Updates on Our Favorite Ex-Red Sox Players

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The Red Sox are a storied franchise with many great moments and great players, but many of them have become ex-Red Sox. Many of these come from the last ten years. Here are updates on our favorite active ex-Red Sox players:

Ex-Red Sox #1 – Jon Lester

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Jon Lester is definitely a fan favorite when it comes to ex-Red Sox players. Since Jon Lester signed a six-year, $155 million contract with the Chicago Cubs in the 2014, he has achieved many things. We all know about his addition to his World Series ring collection, but he has also put up great numbers. In 2016, Lester went 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA in 202 ⅔ innings, finishing in the top three in Cy Young voting that year. So far this season, he has gone 2-1 with a 2.82 ERA in 38.1 innings. Jon Lester has made three Opening Day starts for the Cubbies.

On top of his sustained excellence on the field, he has also done some humanitarian work off the field. Most recently, he donated $10,000 to ALS research after the mother of fellow MLB player Stephen Piscotty passed away for that reason. Lester has also continued doing work for his own charity, NVRQT (Never Quit). Lester established the charity in 2011 to fight against pediatric cancer.

Ex-Red Sox #2 – Josh Reddick

Here is another player who has gone on to win a ring after leaving the Red Sox. Josh Reddick played for the Red Sox from 2009-2011, which definitely wasn’t our best years. After he was traded to the Oakland A’s, he had a breakout season in 2012. He hit 32 home runs and drove in 85 runs with a .242 batting average. In 2016, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline. In the 2016-2017 offseason, he signed a four-year, $52 million contract with the Houston Astros. He provided outfield depth for the team, hitting at a .314 clip in 134 games, en route to a World Series championship.

Ex-Red Sox #3 – Jed Lowrie

Jed Lowrie was a Boston Red Sock from 2008-2011. He was traded to the Houston Astros in 2011 for reliever Mark Melancon. While he has not had as much team success as the first two, he has put up good numbers since leaving the Sox. After the Astros traded Lowrie to the A’s in 2013, he hit 15 homers and drove in 75 runs with a .290 batting average in 154 games. So far this season, Jed Lowrie has exceeded expectations exponentially. In 35 games, he has hit eight home runs and driven in 31 runs (which currently leads the league), with a .340 batting average.

Ex-Red Sox #4 – Jacoby Ellsbury

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Before you dispute the title of “one of our favorite Ex-Red Sox” for Mr. Ellsbury, hear me out. In 2013, Jacoby Ellsbury signed a seven-year, $153 million contract with the New York Yankees. At this point, many Red Sox fans marked him as a traitor, for they expected great things from him for the division rival. The only difference is that he has been ineffective for the Yankees as of late.

Sure, in his first year with the Evil Empire he put up solid numbers, hitting at a .271 clip in 149 games. But since then he has had a couple stays on the DL. Currently, he is on the 60-day DL, thus he has played in zero games for the Yankees. In 2015 and 2017, he missed 51 games and 50 games respectively for various types of injuries. These injuries include concussions, knee sprains, and hip tightness. Jacoby Ellsbury is now one of my favorite players because the Yankees wasted $155 million on him.

What If the Red Sox Didn’t Sign David Price?

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NOTE: There is no way anyone can tell what would actually happen to the Red Sox and David Price, so these educated guesses are based on rumors from MLBTradeRumors.com

On December 4, 2015, the Boston Red Sox signed left-hander David Price to a seven-year, $214 million contract. This was supposed to be a sign to the league that the Red Sox wanted to compete, but it didn’t work out right away. Here’s what would happen if the signing didn’t happen at all.

Where Does David Price Go?

David Price was one of the top free agents of the 2015-2016 offseason. He was seeking a large contract (which he ended up getting). This means that only the big market teams would be able to compete for his services. The Cubs, Dodgers, and Giants had interest in Price, but I have him going somewhere else.

The rumor was that the St. Louis Cardinals were about to sign Price, but the Sox simply outbid them. David Price is a St. Louis Cardinal.

Who do the Red Sox Sign Instead?

(Jim Gensheimer/Bay Area News Group)

The free agent class of 2015-2016 was full of talent. Since the Red Sox were obviously willing to spend the money, they get someone else.

Originally, Johnny Cueto, after winning a World Series with the Royals in 2015, signed a six-year, $130 million deal with the Giants. In this reality, the Red Sox outbid the Giants and they sign him to a six-year, $180 million deal. There is no way that Brian Sabean, GM of the Giants, matches that offer.

The Red Sox still trade for Craig Kimbrel and Carson Smith.

2016 Red Sox – First Half

The Red Sox, rolling out a rotation of Johnny Cueto, Rick Porcello, Eduardo Rodriguez, Clay Buchholz, and Steven Wright, look to compete this year. They have a great start to the year, since the pitching perfoms well.

Johnny Cueto, in real life, goes 13-1 with a 2.47 ERA in the first half with the Giants, but to be fair, we’ll say the ERA goes up a bit due to the change in leagues. Steven Wright pitches well too, going 10-5 with a 2.68 ERA.

It’s not just the pitching that does well. The Red Sox, as a team, average 5.63 runs in the first half of the season (87 games). There are many Red Sox players in the annual All-Star game too, with Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr., David Ortiz, Craig Kimbrel, and Johnny Cueto making appearances.

2016 Trade Deadline

The Red Sox originally only made one important trade at the deadline, trading for 2016 All-Star Drew Pomeranz, and they still do. Lackluster performances from Clay Buchholz and Eduardo Rodriguez force the Red Sox to add starting pitching depth.

2016 Season – Second Half & Postseason

The Red Sox cruise along the second half, sailing to an AL East Division title, and win 95 games instead of 93.

Around the league, the Giants miss the playoffs because of the loss of Johnny Cueto. Since they added David Price, the St. Louis Cardinals take that last Wild Card spot and play the Mets in the one-game playoff.

As for the Red Sox, instead of winning zero games, we win one game. Johnny Cueto is a proven postseason performer, and he guides the Red Sox to their only playoff win of 2016.

The Cubs still win the World Series against the Indians in seven games.

2016-2017 Offseason

The Red Sox this offseason have the daunting task of finding someone to fill in the shoes of David Ortiz. In real life, all they did was sign Mitch Moreland, and that stays the same. The Chris Sale and Tyler Thornburg trades still happen because of the lack of pitching success in the postseason.

Around the league, things stay mostly the same, except the Giants sign Jeremy Hellickson to add pitching depth. Dexter Fowler still signs with the Cardinals, and all the free agents who stayed (Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Turner, Kenley Jansen, etc.) still stay with their respective teams.

2017 Boston Red Sox

Johnny Cueto deals with injuries and just plain ineffectiveness during the season (sounds familiar?). And yes, David Price also still deals with injuries. This season plays out the same way in this reality, with the Red Sox winning the division in the second-to-last game of the season.

Around the league, the Giants still struggle, and the Cardinals miss the playoffs (as they did in real life) because of injuries. Playoffs teams all stay the same.

Only one difference: the Red Sox win zero games in the postseason. The one game they won (Game 3) relied heavily on David Price’s relief performance, and without that, they don’t win that game. Sure, Cueto is healthy in time for the playoffs, but it’s hard to see him performing well in the playoffs with his struggles in the regular season.

Everything else stays the same.

The Point

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Nothing really changes if the Red Sox don’t sign David Price in 2015. It was inevitable that the Sox were going to spend big money on a starter. Of course, both Cueto and Price are still under the contracts they signed in 2015, and they still can prove their worth.

Before you judge the David Price signing, remind yourself that there is still time for him to prove himself. Yes, you could argue that all of the off-the-field issues would disappear, but how would you really know that? How can anyone tell how Johnny Cueto would react to the Boston media?

The Red Sox still have David Price on their payroll. If you are a true Red Sox fan, you will support him. Please give him a chance to prove his worth.

Red Sox – April in Review

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It was a fun month to be a Red Sox fan. It’s only April, but our 2018 Boston Red Sox are already in the record books. In the month, the Sox went 19-6, which is a new franchise record. The public criticized the Red Sox for their lack of changes in the offseason, but one would like to believe that they silenced those critics. Let’s go in-depth on the 2018 Red Sox’s performance.

Alex Cora

Photo via Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports Images

Alex Cora went into this season as a rookie manager, and no one knew what to expect of him. Many of his decisions heading into the beginning of the season were controversial, but these decisions have paid off so far. Cora has done a tremendous job of making his mistakes public, and admitting when the team is not meeting his standards. On April 8, after a game they came back to win after being down 7-2 in the eighth inning against they Rays, he admitted to forgetting to bring in Jackie Bradley Jr. as a defensive replacement. It is not just criticisms from Cora, for he also gives his players their due. After a four hit game on April 29, Alex Cora said about J.D. Martinez, “We didn’t only get a slugger, but we got one of the best hitters in the big leagues”.

Offense

The Red Sox played extremely well this month, scoring 151 runs in April, which leads the majors. The Sox also lead the majors in batting average as a team (.278), team hits (248), team slugging percentage (.457), and team OPS (.802) in April. They are also second in the majors in slugging percentage (.451) and OPS (.790) as a team. They averaged 6.04 runs per game in April, which is remarkable. From April 7 to April 14, The Red Sox didn’t score under six runs in any game. This offense also hit the long ball. The Red Sox hit six grand slams as a team before May 1, tying a record set by the 1996 Montreal Expos. The Sox were not able to hit one grand slam in all of 2017, so that is a big improvement.

Pitching

Our pitching also excelled in the first full month of the season. The Red Sox are second in the American League in team ERA (3.40) and are fourth in the league in team batting average against (1.16). The starting pitching has gone deep in to games, and has been able to give the bullpen leads late in the game. This has paid dividends. The rotation should be getting back 2016 All Star knuckle-baller Steven Wright, and the bullpen should be getting back Tyler Thornburg this month. This should mean that our pitching is only going to get better in the coming weeks.

Best Players in April

Mookie Betts – lead the majors in batting average (.367), runs (29), slugging percentage (.797), and OPS (1.255) in April.
Xander Bogaerts – although he missed time in April, he still hit .333/.357/.564/.921 in 39 at-bats, all while hitting 2 grand slams.
JD Martinez & Hanley Ramirez – they have made for a great middle of the lineup, driving in 39 runs combined of the team’s 151 runs in April.
Hector Velazquez – this is a surprise, but he was under-the-radar good in April. He posted a 2.05 ERA in 22.0 innings pitching in 2 starts and 5 relief appearances.
Rick Porcello – he was excellent in April, going 3-0 with a 2.31 ERA in 35.0 innings pitched.
Joe Kelly – he did not give up a run in 11.1 innings pitched in 10 relief appearances in April.

What If the Red Sox Didn’t Trade for Chris Sale?

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NOTE: There is no way anyone can tell what would actually happen, so these educated guesses are based on rumors from MLBTradeRumors.com

On December 6, 2016, the Red Sox acquired starting pitcher Chris Sale for four prospects. These prospects were infielder Yoan Moncada, starting pitcher Michael Kopech, outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe, and relief pitcher Victor Diaz. In this alternate universe, this groundbreaking trade never happened.

Where Does Chris Sale Go?

It was inevitable that White Sox GM Rick Hahn was going to trade Chris Sale, but who would be Chicago’s trade partner? Well, according to Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post, the Nationals had the next highest bid, so Chris Sale would be a Washington National. The package going to Chicago would’ve consisted of outfielder prospect Victor Robles, as well as starting pitcher prospects Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez. This also means that the Nationals have to alter the package going to Chicago for outfielder Adam Eaton. So instead of Lucas Giolito, the Nats trade starting pitcher prospect Dylan Cease.

What Happens to the Red Sox’s 2017 Season?

The Red Sox no longer have Chris Sale, so in the offseason they do not trade starting pitcher Clay Buchholz to the Phillies. They need the pitching depth, and the Sox think they can get 2015 Clay Buchholz rather than the 2016 version. Also, since the Red Sox don’t completely trust the starting pitching depth they have, they sign Doug Fister in the offseason instead of in the middle of the season.

Clay Buchholz still tears a flexor tendon in his right arm in early April, so the Doug Fister signing makes even more sense. Also, David Price starts the season on the DL. So this means the Red Sox rotation after the Buchholz injury is Rick Porcello, Drew Pomeranz, Steven Wright, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Doug Fister. Injuries also hinder Steven Wright in early April, so Brian Johnson and Hector Velazquez both get many spot starts to fill the voids.

Yoan Moncada starts the season as the everyday third baseman with Pablo Sandoval on the bench, occasionally DHing.

Trade Deadline

The Red Sox, headlined by an injury-prone starting rotation and a stagnant offense, still find themselves in the AL East race. They believe one trade can get them over the top. They decide to go after a starting pitcher, because there are a lot of quality starters on the trade market. Since the trade value is the lowest and they have the cap space, the Red Sox trade for starter Justin Verlander. The Tigers receive left-hander Jay Groome, outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe, and catcher Roldani Baldwin in the deal. The Red Sox agree to pay the rest of Verlander’s contract.

Since Justin Verlander is a Red Sock now, the Astros don’t pull off a trade. They were too late for the Yu Darvish and Jose Quintana deals, so they settle with what they have.

The Sox send down Yoan Moncada to AAA because of offensive struggles, so they still bring up Rafael Devers. Also, Boston still releases Pablo Sandoval.

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Playoffs

The Red Sox make the playoffs as the first wild card team instead of winning the division. They defeat the Twins in the Wild Card game with Justin Verlander on the mound in Fenway Park. The success stops there, though. The Red Sox lose to the Indians in four games in the ALDS.

The Indians lose to the Yankees in the ALCS, who beat the Verlander-less Astros in six games in the ALDS. The Yankees face the powerhouse Washington Nationals in the World Series. Led by a rotation of Max Scherzer, Chris Sale, and Stephen Strasburg, the Nationals sweep the Yankees in the World Series.

2017-2018 Offseason

The Red Sox feel that they need to do something to boost the offense, so they make a huge trade. The rumors say that the Red Sox had interest in trading for Manny Machado, so that’s just what they do. The Orioles receive shortstop Xander Bogaerts, prospect Yoan Moncada, and starting pitcher prospect Michael Kopech. Yes, the Orioles were hesitant towards trading Machado, but that is an offer that no one can refuse. Then, the Orioles probably trade Zach Britton. I will say he goes to the Astros,

The Red Sox have to pay the remainder of Justin Verlander’s deal. They also feel that they have to opportunity to extend Manny Machado’s expiring contract. Because of this, the Red Sox do not sign J.D. Martinez. Instead, Martinez signs a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Conclusion

There is no telling what happens afterwards. Even so, it is interesting to think of what could happen if the Red Sox didn’t trade for Chris Sale.

Sources:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/12/nationals-offered-victor-robles-lucas-giolito-reynaldo-lopez-in-chris-sale-bid.html

Reds’ Firing of Bryan Price Impact on the Red Sox

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(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

On Wednesday, April 18, the Cincinnati Reds announced the firing of manager Bryan Price. He was fired after only 18 games in the 2018 season. This is a sign for Reds fans that they are in for a long season. The Reds were a dreadful 3-15 at the time of the firing, which puts them at a meager 0.167 winning percentage. This is the worst start in franchise history since 1931, when the Reds started 2-16. Now, how would this impact the Red Sox? Aren’t the Reds in a different league and division?

This firing sends a message to the rest of league. The message reads, “We are giving up. We are throwing in the towel, and we are ready to start tanking”. Well, this strategy of roster management is becoming popular in the MLB. This strategy is also proven to work. There is no need to look back too far, for the 2017 Astros and 2016 Cubs are prime examples.

The Astros sold off many of their assets at the 2010 trade deadline, therefore starting the tanking. Because of their poor records, they were able to get high draft picks, which they used to draft George Springer in 2011, Carlos Correa in 2012, and Lance McCullers Jr. in 2012. The Cubs also were sellers at the 2012 deadline, and again, because of bad performance, they were able to draft Kris Bryant in 2013 and Kyle Schwarber in 2014.

We could see the Cincinnati Reds as major sellers at the trade deadline this year.

Trade Targets

One of the main criticisms of the offseason for the Red Sox was the inability to acquire another quality reliever. Well, look no further than 28-year old right-hander Raisel Iglesias. Iglesias is a bit of a late bloomer, but he is becoming an elite closer for the Reds.

(USA Today Sports Images)

In 2017, Raisel Iglesias had a 2.49 ERA in 76 innings pitched, while recording 28 saves in 30 save opportunities. We wouldn’t be looking for him to close games, since we already have Craig Kimbrel, but he would be a quality 8th inning man. Iglesias is already off to a great start in 2018, posting a 1.08 ERA in 8.1 innings pitched. The Red Sox would probably have to give up close to what they gave up for Addison Reed in 2018, so we’re looking at 3 or 4 mid-level prospects.

A minor transaction the Sox could look at possibly doing is a trade for 26-year old left-hander Wandy Peralta. One of the main criticisms of the offseason was not acquiring a left-handed reliever, and this deal would correct that.

While the Red Sox are already getting acceptable performances out of Bobby Poyner, it would be great to have two left handers in the bullpen. Peralta recorded a 3.75 ERA in 81.2 innings for the Reds last season. So far this year, has not given up a run in 9.2 innings pitched. The value for Wandy Peralta would be very low, for the Red Sox would only have to give up no more than one low-level prospect or just cash.

One Other Firing to Think About

One thing that has been talked about endlessly on MLB Network is who would replace Bryan Price. Well, since he’s already a scout in their organization, it would not be surprising if the Reds hired former Red Sox manager, John Farrell. We may have bad memories of Farrell, but he was not a bad manager record-wise. John Farrell had a record of 432-378 in 5 years as the skipper for the Red Sox, and won a World Series in 2013 with the team. To other teams, that resume doesn’t look too bad.

Series Review – Red Sox @ Angels

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Game 1 – Shohei Ohtani vs. David Price

This game had a lot of hype going into it. MLB Network was broadcasting this game, and many in Japan were watching, for baseball’s new phenom was pitching for the Halos. Shohei Ohtani, before this game had pitched two games, both being against the Athletics. He had a 2.08 ERA in 13 innings pitched in those two starts. The latter of the two starts, Ohtani had a perfect game through 6 ⅓ innings. Furthermore, if you add in the three home runs and the .367 batting average, that is a recipe for national attention.

Courtesy: USA Today

This game didn’t go so well…. for Ohtani. The Japanese Babe Ruth pitched two innings, while giving up three earned runs on four hits. Apparently, Ohtani had a blister, and in addition to the terrible pitch count after two innings (66 pitches), that is why he didn’t pitch long.

It was a different story for David Price. After pitching one inning and giving up four earned runs on three hits, Price looked for redemption in the better weather. He was typical David Price, as he pitched five innings, giving up only one earned run on three hits. He could’ve gone longer, but with Alex Cora’s approach to keeping starters fresh, he pulled Price after 78 pitches. Also, the bullpen looked great, with Brian Johnson going three strong innings and Marcus Walden pitching the 9th.

Certainly, the story of this game was offense. The Red Sox scored ten runs in the game on six home runs. These home runs came from Brock Holt, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Rafael Devers. But the star of this game was Mookie Betts. Betts hit three home runs in this game, one of them coming off Shohei Ohtani in the first at-bat of the game, further lengthening his record of 12 leadoff home runs (at the time). Mookie also tied Ted Williams’ franchise record of three career 3-home run games.

Final Score – Red Sox 10 Angels 1

Game 2 – Tyler Skaggs vs. Rick Porcello

This game had nowhere near the hype that game one did, but this was an important game nevertheless. If the Red Sox won the game, they would remain among the few teams to not lose a series yet this season. The Angels wanted to win this game in order to give them a chance to win the series the next day. Tyler Skaggs had gotten off to a good start this season before this series, having three starts, with a 1.69 ERA through 16 innings of work. Rick Porcello was having the best start of his career through three starts. He was 3-0 with a 1.83 ERA in 19 ⅔ innings.

Porcello continued his amazing start of the year, pitching six innings, and gave up zero earned runs. Tyler Skaggs couldn’t say the same, as he pitched 4 ⅓ innings, giving up six earned runs on eight hits. The Red Sox bullpen continued their great work, with Carson Smith, Marcus Walden, and Craig Kimbrel all pitching scoreless innings. The Red Sox continued their hot offensive streak, scoring nine runs total. Two hitters accounted for eight of the runs, as Rafael Devers hit his first career grand slam, and Mitch Moreland, my player of the game, also had RBIs. Two of the RBIs were on base hits in the first and third innings, and the other two were on a 2-run homer in the ninth inning. JD Martinez also hit a homer in the seventh inning.

Final Score – Red Sox 9 Angels 0

Game 3 – Nick Tropeano vs. Eduardo Rodriguez

This pitching matchup had no excitement around it, as Nick Tropeano isn’t quite a household name, and Eduardo Rodriguez is at most the fourth-best starter in the Red Sox rotation. Rodriguez had come off a great start against his former team, the Orioles, where he pitched six innings, giving up one earned run on five hits. Tropeano’s first start of the year was against the Royals, where he pitched 6 ⅔ innings of shutout ball.

Eduardo Rodriguez had a good start in this one, working six innings, giving up only two earned runs. On the other side of things, Nick Tropeano was probably the best starter for the Angels this series, but this doesn’t mean much. Tropeano pitched 5 ⅓ innings, and gave up four earned runs on seven hits.

The Red Sox offense continued their hot streak in this one. Remember that leadoff home run record Mookie Betts added to in Game 1 off of Shohei Ohtani? Well, he did it AGAIN. Make that 13 career leadoff home runs. Mookie Betts is off to a ridiculous start, and should be a serious MVP candidate this season. Then, Andrew Benintendi finally got his first home run of the year. On top of that, he had a two-RBI knock in the ninth inning. JD Martinez had a RBI, Mitch Moreland had a RBI flyout, and Rafael Devers had two RBIs.

Final Score – Red Sox 8 Angels 2

Cover image courtesy of Jae C. Hong, AP