Red Sox (Buehler) vs Padres (Pivetta): 8/8/25, 9:40pm

[Brandon Glick]

Whichever one of you had "Nick Pivetta leaves Red Sox after stunningly declining QO and becomes Cy Young contender instantly in San Diego" on your bingo card, please come claim your prize.

[Duran Is The Man]

we all know Brez and Henry have this weird obsession with signing guys just coming off TJS rather than a guy that shows up everyday. 

[Nick]

I'd give 25% odds for this one.....Ryan would still look in this spot even without Abreu, who apparently is just a platoon player for foreseeable future.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Having May and Buehler at the bottom of the rotation (#5A and #5B) doesn't inspire a lot of confidence. Btw, designating both as 5's may actually be too kind.

[king koji]

35 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Having May and Buehler at the bottom of the rotation (#5A and #5B) doesn't inspire a lot of confidence. Btw, designating both as 5's may actually be too kind.

Anyone else think May's stuff may play better as a late-inning reliever (Timlin type)?

[vegasbob]

1 hour ago, king koji said:

Anyone else think May's stuff may play better as a late-inning reliever (Timlin type)?

He needs to show some level of command/control , so he can get 2 or 3 outs when needed in the 6th/7th.

But that won't happen until FO/Cora think they can commit to Criswell, who in turn must pitch above his pay grade.

Right now , despite the  acquisition of May the Sox FO did little to bolster the f'up starting rotation.    That is also why Buehler will be run out there every 5 days to stress the BP a little further.   The return of an effective Slaten would help.

[vegasbob]

The Sox go 5-1 in the first half of this group of 12 games vs quality opponents, now ready to finish with 3 in SD and 3 in Houston as they try to avoid the West Coast bogeyman.    

Relying on Buehler to hold the Padres and get us on track for a win is whistling in the wind.   If Walker has a game left in him, this would be one place to apply it. 

[Maxbialystock]

Padres are great at home, 36-19, and the Sox are lousy on the road, 25-30,  Buehler vs Pivetta makes it even worse for the Sox.  Plus the West Coast thing.  

The one thing I disagree with Cora on is using Yoshida as the DH.  I'd use any one of Anthony, Duran, or Abreu instead, leave Rafaela in CF, and keep Gonzalez at 2b and Toro at 1b.  Yoshida's OPS vs righties is .533 (in 40 at bats).  

 

[Deja Doh]

2 hours ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Having May and Buehler at the bottom of the rotation (#5A and #5B) doesn't inspire a lot of confidence. Btw, designating both as 5's may actually be too kind.

When they are on the mound they are #1's.  

[vegasbob]

I don't see much mention about the potential impact of Narvaez's sore knee.     It is not likely to get better much less cured by catching 3 of 5 games over these last 46 games. Narvaez has been in a ongoing slump  for a month.   Since a lot of hitting, like pitching, is powered by the legs, Carlos's slump is more understandable to me.  The real point is that playing through it won't make him or the team better.

Wong can catch but has been awful with the bat this year.   Did  his broken finger initiate a compensatory move by Connor that has messed him up?   So what happens if Wong gets injured , even for a 10 day IL stint.

There is no ready made 3rd catcher .   Maybe Narvaez can get through it but the optics and the condition don't seem encouraging.    Wong can help by hitting even .650 OPS

Wait, Ali Sanchez, you say ?      Look at his lifetime stats . He has played in 46 games , 123 PA's over a 4 year period with a career OPS of .461.

[mvp 78]

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

2 hours ago, Deja Doh said:

When they are on the mound they are #1's.  

Some might say they're #2's.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I believe I've shamed Buehler enough to guarantee a quality start tonight. Unfortunately, my guarantees are usually useless.

[moonslav59]

22 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Some might say they're #2's.

Yes, #2 doo doos.

[moonslav59]

How about our top 3 SP'ers of late?

2.22 ERA Crochet in last 143 IP (22 GS, basically since his 2nd GS of '25)

2.03 ERA Giolito in last 62 IP (10 GS)

2.66 ERA Bello in 85 IP (14 GS)

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

8 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

How about our top 3 SP'ers of late?

2.22 ERA Crochet in last 143 IP (22 GS, basically since his 2nd GS of '25)

2.03 ERA Giolito in last 62 IP (10 GS)

2.66 ERA Bello in 85 IP (14 GS)

That is impressive. If only the Sox could finish the season with a 3-man rotation.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

I'm getting the game on the Padres' feed with old friend Don Orsillo.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Just now, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

I'm getting the game on the Padres' feed with old friend Don Orsillo.

Orsillo and Remy were a great dual for the Sox.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Pivetta went from an innings eater in Boston to an Ace in San Diego. Anyone here have an explanation for this immense improvement?

[FredLynn]

Someone should drill Machado….for old times sake

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Buehler pitching to contact again.

[FredLynn]

Well Boohler made it through the first. If he can make it through four I’d be satisfied 

[moonslav59]

30 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

That is impressive. If only the Sox could finish the season with a 3-man rotation.

That would be the playoffs!

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 minute ago, FredLynn said:

Someone should drill Machado….for old times sake

Well, Sale did embarrass Machado when he made the A-hole look bad on the final out of the 2018 WS.

[illinoisredsox]

3 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Pivetta went from an innings eater in Boston to an Ace in San Diego. Anyone here have an explanation for this immense improvement?

Yup.  It’s the ball park.  He’s 7-0 at Petco with a 1.99 ERA, a WHIP of .788 and a K/BB of 6.
 

He’s been a little more pedestrian on the road: 4-3, 3.67 ERA, 1.136 WHIP, K/BB of 3

[illinoisredsox]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

That would be the playoffs!

Still need a #4 in the playoffs unless you plan on guys going on 3 days rest.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

2 minutes ago, illinoisredsox said:

Yup.  It’s the ball park.  He’s 7-0 at Petco with a 1.99 ERA, a WHIP of .788 and a K/BB of 6.
 

He’s been a little more pedestrian on the road: 4-3, 3.67 ERA, 1.136 WHIP, K/BB of 3

In four full seasons with the Sox Pivetta never had an ERA under 4.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

5 minutes ago, illinoisredsox said:

Yup.  It’s the ball park.  He’s 7-0 at Petco with a 1.99 ERA, a WHIP of .788 and a K/BB of 6.
 

He’s been a little more pedestrian on the road: 4-3, 3.67 ERA, 1.136 WHIP, K/BB of 3

I do agree about the ballpark, but I'm also thinking there's less pressure where he is now compared to Boston.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

1 minute ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

I do agree about the ballpark, but I'm also thinking there's less pressure where he is now compared to Boston.

Except for NY, anywhere would be less pressure than Bean Town.

[vegasbob]

18 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Pivetta went from an innings eater in Boston to an Ace in San Diego. Anyone here have an explanation for this immense improvement?

Petco Park is a pitcher's ballfield