One means or the opposite, this ongoing stretch was at all times going to set the tone for the remainder of the season.
Coming out of their final off day on April 27 the Red Sox have been 13-13 and a frightening 12-game stretch, with sequence in opposition to the Cleveland Guardians (reigning AL Central champs), Toronto Blue Jays (who owned Boston final yr), Philadelphia Phillies (final fall’s World Series runner-ups) and Atlanta Braves (perennial title contenders). It wasn’t exhausting to think about the Red Sox shedding all 4 sequence and searching up on the finish 5 or 6 video games below .500 and properly behind the pack within the playoff hunt.
Instead the Red Sox received the primary three sequence, ripped off an eight-game profitable streak and now head to Atlanta as top-of-the-line groups in baseball.
Even the largest optimist couldn’t have predicted issues could be going this properly. After going 8-2 over their previous three sequence the Red Sox at the moment are 21-15 and entered Monday with a 1.5-game lead for the third American League Wild Card spot. They are solely a half-game behind Toronto and two video games behind Baltimore within the standings, and total they’ve received eight of their first 11 sequence regardless of dealing with the hardest schedule within the sport to date by a cushty margin.
Now they’ve an opportunity to actually make a press release.
Atlanta, solely two years faraway from a World Series title, is among the many favorites to win all of it once more. The Braves boast the most effective report within the National League at 24-11 and rank close to the highest of the league in each runs scored (5.37, sixth) and runs allowed (3.77, fourth) per recreation. They boast a gifted roster loaded with homegrown superstars, and this yr’s membership has closely benefited from the offseason addition of catcher Sean Murphy, who was acquired from the Oakland Athletics and is wanting like an early MVP candidate.
The Braves are, in some ways, precisely the kind of membership the Red Sox have spent the previous 5 years attempting to grow to be. Even if it’s solely a two-game set, this sequence is a first-rate alternative for the Red Sox to silence the doubters who’re nonetheless satisfied this workforce is destined for failure.
However the following few days go, the schedule opens up considerably from right here.
After returning dwelling from Atlanta the Red Sox enter what’s shaping as much as be softest portion of their schedule to this point. Boston is predicted to be favored in every of its subsequent six sequence, beginning with this weekend’s tilt in opposition to the surprisingly terrible St. Louis Cardinals (11-24 coming into Monday).
After that Boston welcomes the Seattle Mariners (17-17) to Fenway Park earlier than embarking on its first and longest West Coast journey of the yr, with sequence in opposition to the San Diego Padres (18-17), Los Angeles Angels (19-16) and Arizona Diamondbacks (19-15). The membership wraps up May at dwelling in opposition to the Cincinnati Reds (14-20) earlier than welcoming the crimson scorching Tampa Bay Rays (28-7) for a four-game set in Boston June 2-4, which figures to be the following huge measuring stick alternative after Atlanta.
The Red Sox nonetheless have a protracted option to go, however they’ve put themselves in place to make this an thrilling summer season.
Paxton to affix rotation
After a number of setbacks and delays, James Paxton is lastly set to affix the Red Sox rotation greater than a yr after initially signing with the membership.
Paxton was returned from his harm rehab task on Monday and Red Sox supervisor Alex Cora informed reporters in Philadelphia over the weekend that the membership plans to activate the veteran left-hander from the injured checklist in the course of the Atlanta sequence and so they’ll determine on when he’ll pitch after that. With Nick Pivetta and Brayan Bello scheduled to begin in opposition to the Braves, Paxton will most definitely debut at Fenway Park both throughout this weekend’s sequence in opposition to St. Louis or throughout the next four-game set in opposition to Seattle.
Paxton final appeared in an enormous league recreation on April 6, 2021, when he left his season debut with the Mariners after 1.1 innings and subsequently underwent Tommy John surgical procedure. He signed with Boston forward of the 2022 season with the expectation he could be prepared in the course of the second half however didn’t pitch after struggling a torn lat in August throughout his first rehab outing.
The 34-year-old skilled one other setback throughout spring coaching when he suffered a hamstring pressure and struggled to get going throughout his prolonged rehab task in Worcester, going 2-3 with a 6.23 ERA and 16 walks over 21.2 innings in his six begins at Triple-A. Paxton has appeared higher these days although, posting a 1.74 ERA in his final two begins whereas demonstrating spectacular velocity.
Whether the Red Sox go for a six-man rotation or relegate an current starter to the bullpen stays to be seen, however Paxton’s return is an intriguing growth and will probably be fascinating to see how he takes care of barely pitching for greater than three years.
Mayer tearing up Greenville
Top Red Sox prospect Marcelo Mayer obtained off to a tricky begin, however these days the 20-year-old shortstop has been tearing the quilt off the ball for the Greenville Drive.
So far within the month of May the previous first-round choose has gone 16 for 31 (.516) with three dwelling runs, six doubles, 12 RBI and solely 4 strikeouts in simply six video games, a stretch that earned him South Atlantic League Player of the Week honors. He’s raised his common for the season from .179 on April 16 to .337 coming into the week, and courting again to final season he’s now batting .301 with a blistering .912 OPS in 48 video games on the High-A degree.
Could a promotion to Double-A be within the playing cards? Last summer season Mayer was referred to as up from Low-A after posting comparable numbers in 66 video games with the Salem Red Sox, so if he retains hitting at this fee by means of the remainder of the month it’s cheap to think about we may see him suiting up with the Portland Sea Dogs someday in June.
Source: www.bostonherald.com