Editor’s Note: All my graphics going forward will come directly from my new website, Stat Soldier. Go check it out by clicking here.
Overall Takeaway
Back-to-back series wins where Boston dropped the first game and took the next two. This was the most exciting series to watch this season as the team put it together across the board. Over the last five games, Red Sox starters have carried a 1.52 ERA, and while the offense continued to be mediocre, they woke up this weekend. 16 runs in the last two games. Still some big concerns at the top of the order, so it will be interesting to see what Cora does in Minnesota.
Bullpen has also been very good, and if you take Jordan Walker out of this series, the Cardinals are nothing.
Game 1: Cardinals 3-2
Game 2: Red Sox 7-1
Game 3: Red Sox 9-3
What I Loved
Ranger Suarez
Was never going to sound the alarm on Suarez after the first two starts. He was getting hit unusually hard, which was concerning, but he pitched great on Saturday.
OFFENSE FINALLY
Let’s pretend that Friday didn’t happen and focus on Saturday/Sunday. Before this series, Boston was the only team not to score seven runs this season. Proceeded to score 7 in two games in a row and had season highs in hits and runs on Sunday. The team is batting .409 with runners in scoring position in the last five games.
Trevor Story
Four hits on Sunday, still great defense despite calls for him to get moved to 2B, and great baserunning.
Jordan Walker
I almost never comment on other players in my reviews, but I have become one of the biggest Walker STANS on X over the last week. Yes, I have him as a keeper in all of my leagues, so I am biased.
Brayan Bello QS
Bello was getting a lot of swings and misses in his previous starts, but was getting rocked. Today, he got back to producing ground balls and was able to go into the 7th inning. Today was clearly the best start of his season.
Willson Contreras
Contreras continues to be the heart of the lineup (with Abreu). He had a great homecoming in St. Louis, culminating with his home run on Sunday. The question I have is, if Alex Bregman was the replacement for Rafael Devers, and Willson Contreras was the replacement for Alex Bregman, did the Red Sox win the Devers trade?
What I Was ‘Mid’ About
Connely Early
He has pitched to a 2.63 ERA so far this season, but carries a 1.54 WHIP with that. I feel like if the goal was to stretch him out, that should have been done in the minors with Tolle. Feels like an implosion could be incoming.
What I Didn’t Love
Roman Anthony
Slugging .276 over the last seven games, and it was clear in this series that the pressure is getting to him. A lot has been put on his back this offseason, and while I do think he will be the face of the franchise, shout out to Willson Contreras for taking on a leadership role thus far.
Losing to Dustin May
No issue with Dustin as a player or person. However, watching him pitch well for another team just brings up dark thoughts about the Rafael Devers trade.
Who Got Screwed
Fans Watching The Game on NESN Sunday
The NESN broadcast was a mess on Sunday, and while Jordan Walker’s home run got screwed, I got screwed also. Cameras were a mess, audio was a mess, so much so that they had to pivot to the Cardinals broadcast.