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
After the win on Friday, I was excited to see that Skubal and Crochet would not be pitching the same day. I started penciling in a series win and forming my thoughts around that. Everything was going according to plan. Skubal dominated the Red Sox, and Crochet was into the 5th inning, giving up only one run…. and then he imploded.
Crochet had his second game in a row, giving up more than five runs. None of the last five Cy Young winners ever gave up more than five runs, so it is safe to assume that Crochet’s award prospects are gone.
Couple Crochet’s slow start with Sonny Gray’s hamstring injury today, and you have to imagine Craig Breslow is sweating. They are going to need some reinforcements, and fast.
Outside of that, happy to split the series!
Game 1: Red Sox 1-0
Game 2: Tigers 4-1
Game 3: Tigers 6-2
Game 4: Red Sox 8-6
What I Loved
Willson Contreras
Contreras hit another home run this series and continues to get on base almost every game. His strikeout % is concerning, but it is right around his career average, so the team knew what they were getting.
Ranger Suarez
Ranger Suárez turned in a pitching masterclass on Friday night, tossing 8.0 scoreless innings with 7 strikeouts and zero walks to lead the Red Sox to a 1-0 victory.
Ceddanne Rafaela
Rafaela came in on Monday and knocked in two runs after replacing Mayer. Rafaela, along with Contreras and Abreu, has been one of the only consistent players for Boston this year.
Bullpen (Before Monday)
The Red Sox bullpen was a massive bright spot during the series against the Tigers, allowing only one earned run over 10.0 innings of work for a stellar 0.90 ERA and 0.90 WHIP entering Monday. Monday, well, wasn’t as good. Thankfully, the offense woke up on Monday as well.
Masataka Yoshida
Yoshida came in and had a pinch-hit walk-off on Friday, and promptly got benched the next two days. Monday, Cora blessed us with some more Masataka. Yoshida responded, going 2-4 with two runs scored. I will talk more about Yoshida in my who got screwed at the bottom.
What I Was ‘Mid’ About
Roman Anthony
Anthony had a “great” throw on Sunday, but it came when the game was already over. He showed patience on Monday and drew three walks. Still a lot of work to do.
What I Didn’t Love
Garrett Crochet
I referenced it in my takeaway, but Crochet’s shot at a Cy Young disappeared the last week. No one has come back from giving up 10 earned runs and won the Cy Young that season. I had a lot of concerns about how he would rebound after last year, where he pitched more than all his previous MLB seasons combined. Right now, that concern is manifesting.
Brayan Bello
Here are Bello’s walks per game. 3BB/4BB/2BB/3BB. He has 12 BB and 13 Ks this year with a 1.93 WHIP. Yeah, I’m concerned.
Offense
Sure, the offense came alive on Monday, scoring 8 runs, but before that, they were doing nothing. Four runs over the first three games with only one home run. Boston now has the fewest HRs of any team as well.
Who Got Screwed
Masataka Yoshida
When Masataka Yoshida’s career with Boston is over, I am going to look back on it and really question whether Alex Cora ever gave him a fair shot. I understand Cora wanting to get Story and Contreras off the field, but there should never be a world where I turn on the television and have to watch Andruw Monasterio. I understand that the roster is complicated right now, but when Yoshida is hot, just roll with it and stop tinkering.
We need to dump Flaherty. Doesn’t have it anymore.