7/9 A's at Boston, 7:10 pm

[Maxbialystock]

Estes vs. Bello

Both righties, both young. Estes, 22, pitched a 9 inning shutout vs. the Angels 6 days ago. Same day, Bello went 6.2 IP vs the Marlins, giving up 1 run.

Lately Cora has loaded up with lefty bats against righties. Here are the Sox OPS's vs righties: Devers 1.104, Duran .892, Abreu .819, Ref .816, Hamilton .771, Valdez .761, Wong .753, O'Neill .744, Yoshida .744, Rafaela .673, Gonzalez .639, Smith .623, McGuire .575.

In his 10 games, lefty bats have an .864 OPS against Estes and righty bats .621.

So I'm guessing 3 righty bats tonight: O'Neill in LF, Rafaela @ SS, and Wong catching. Valdez might get the nod over Hamilton @ 2b because of a hotter bat. Smith over Gonzalez @ 1b.

Sox are 17-7 since losing 6-1 on June 8 to the White Sox just a month ago. That includes taking 4/6 from the Yankees and 2/3 from the Phillies. If the season ended last Sunday, the Sox would have the 3d wild card slot.

With the next 6 games before the ASG break against the 34-58 A's and the 49-43 Royals (who are 18-25 on the road), the Sox have a chance to win 4/6 and stay in the wild card hunt. And that just might convince the Sox leadership to acquire an arm or a bat or both for the stretch run. As Cora has already said, other teams are going to.

[Maxbialystock]

Temp is supposed to get to 92 today in Boston, 86 by game time--and should be like that for all six games.

[mvp 78]

Duran CF,
Hamilton 2B,
O’Neill LF,
Devers 3B,
Wong C,
Yoshida DH,
Abreu RF,
Smith 1B,
Rafaela SS

[Maxbialystock]

Looks like I got everyone right although Hamilton did get the nod @ 2b. I also looked at OPS's at Fenway, and there too Valdez has the edge: .878 vs .609. On the other hand, Hamilton's DWAR is 0.0 to Valdez's -0.5.

[mvp 78]

Looks like I got everyone right although Hamilton did get the nod @ 2b. I also looked at OPS's at Fenway, and there too Valdez has the edge: .878 vs .609. On the other hand, Hamilton's DWAR is 0.0 to Valdez's -0.5.

-6 DRS and -7 OAA for Valdez so far at 2B. It's been ugly. He's not getting any better at 2b that's for sure.

[notin]

-6 DRS and -7 OAA for Valdez so far at 2B. It's been ugly. He's not getting any better at 2b that's for sure.

I do wonder why Westbrook over Meidroth…

[d-money]

Can’t have a letdown here. Need to win this series.

[illinoisredsox]

Valdez was sent down today, Westbrook recalled.

Aldo, Booser was sent to Worcester; newly acquired Trey Wingenter takes his place. Uwasawa DFAd to make room on the 40 man.

[illinoisredsox]

I do wonder why Westbrook over Meidroth…

The latter isn’t on the 40 man.

[d-money]

What a crappy start. This is a Jekyll and Hyde team.

[d-money]

Yankees and orioles losing early.

[d-money]

Bello needs to settle down now.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Need shut down inning from Bello.

[wyo-sox]

I heard everyone wanting Bello sent down.... here's his chance to shine against a AAA team.

[d-money]

Such a struggle for his guy to get outs.