There’s a pair of ghastly statistics relevant to the Red Sox offense and this matchup that are so absurd, they almost sound fake.
- Tonight’s starter, Ranger Suarez, has allowed ZERO Earned Runs in five of his last six outings, and the Red Sox are just 3-3 in those games.
- The Red Sox have scored three runs or fewer in eight consecutive games overall (and only one of those was a Suarez start).
Ahead of this evening’s middle game in Kansas City, the baseball gods are trying to do everything in their power to give poor Ranger some runs. Specifically, they sent Kris Bubic, the original Royals starter to the IL, and replaced him with Bailey Falter, who has a 10.13 ERA. Falter’s appeared in only three major league games this season, all out of the bullpen, and (as you can see from his ERA) all have not gone well.
But this is the Red Sox offense, and since Falter throws left handed, the starting lineup won’t include either Masataka Yoshida or Marcelo Mayer. Instead, we’re getting an infield that includes Caleb Durbin at third, Nick Sogard at second (which I actually like), and Isiah Kiner-Falefa at short. (Andruw Monasterio is the DH.)
Jarren Duran and his .181 batting average still gets to bat left-handed from the lead off spot though.
⚾️ First Pitch: 7:40pm — Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
📺 TV: NESN
📻 Radio: WEEI