Pirates (Skenes) vs Red Sox (Tolle): 8/29/25, 7:10pm

[Brandon Glick]

As far as pitching matchups go... oh boy. This is a blockbuster affair.

[moonslav59]

The bell Tolles for thee!

[mvp 78]

 

[mvp 78]

 

[Nick]

It's been a good season for me despite my complaints about Cora and Bres. (For life of me, just let Yoshida go)

Wil finally get to see Tolle, after the unveiling of Anthony, Mayer, Campbell, Narvaez.

There's a special feeling watching the 'rookies'. Well done, Bres. Now go get Ryan this winter.

[mvp 78]

 

[notin]

A battle of two pitchers whose combined age is equal to Rich Hill’s

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, notin said:

A battle of two pitchers whose combined age is equal to Rich Hill’s

And whose combined moustaches equal Rollie Fingers's. 

[mvp 78]

 

[Maxbialystock]

Agree completely this is a great game to watch.  Skenes and Tolle were both born in 2002, but Skenes has 2 exceptional MLB seasons under his belt. 

Who will win tonight?  As great as Skenes is, I like the Sox chances. 

The Pirates stink on the road, 20-46, and the Sox are good at Fenway, 41-25.   Skenes' ERA in August is 3.21, largely because in his 2 road starts he gave up 4 runs to the Brewers and 4 to the Rockies.  

What worries me is that, even though on paper the Sox have much better hitting/scoring, tonight they will be missing two of their best lefty bats, Abreu and Lowe.  Plus lately Sox scoring has been suspect.  In their last homestand, 5 games, they scored 2, 7, 3, 3, and 3 runs against Miami and Baltimore.  Bregman's OPS in August is .800 and he is 2/21 in his last 6 games.  After OPS's over .800 in both June and July, Rafaela's August OPS is 580.  Gonzalez August OPS is .653 and Narvaez is .513.

I do think the Sox have the better defense, especially if Hamilton is at 2b, which is likely because Gonzalez will be at 1b.   So a solid outfield defense with Duran, Rafaela, and Anthony, same for the infield with Bregman Story, Hamilton, Narvaez/Wong, and despite Gonzalez.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bellhorn04]

53 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

 

So who's out first behind him?  Talksox place your bets.   

[Bellhorn04]

10 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

And whose combined moustaches equal Rollie Fingers's. 

Mustaches usually look stupid on baseball players IMHO.  Fingers's was an exception.  

[moonslav59]

Have the Sox announced who gets demoted?

[mvp 78]

16 minutes ago, Bellhorn04 said:

So who's out first behind him?  Talksox place your bets.   

Depends on how long he goes. If he's done early, it'll be Buehler. 

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

2 hours ago, notin said:

A battle of two pitchers whose combined age is equal to Rich Hill’s

You just made Rich's Little League son, Benny, feel old.

[mvp 78]

8 minutes ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

You just made Rich's Little League son, Benny, feel old.

Hill will always be a real one for being arrested at a Patriot's game with his wife. 🫡

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, mvp 78 said:

Depends on how long he goes. If he's done early, it'll be Buehler. 

Buehler released!

[Larry Cook]

After Tolle, my bet is bearnadino !!!!!

[mvp 78]

13 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Buehler released!

He wasn't done early enough! 

[mvp 78]

 

[mvp 78]

 

[Maxbialystock]

47 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

 

Pirates are going with 8 righty bats and a switch hitter.  Against Skenes Sox are going with three lefty bats and a switch hitter. 

[moonslav59]

I think going with the more experienced Wong with Tolle, is a good idea.

[Maxbialystock]

4 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

I think going with the more experienced Wong with Tolle, is a good idea.

Alternates catchers which also makes sense.

[moonslav59]

10 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Alternates catchers which also makes sense.

For a rookie, I think it makes more sense for continuity to start off.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Sogard's a better infielder than Hamilton, and Ceddanne's a better centerfielder than second baseman. 

The Sox D tonight is as tight as they could make it, behind the rookie and any weak contact he causes. 

[Beaneater]

2 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Buehler released!

Wow! I thought this was a joke at first. I'm honestly surprised. Not necessarily disappointed, but surprised. The Sox are being super-aggressive about putting the most possible talent in their dugout this year, and Buehler didn't fit that mold this year. Still.... surprised.

[king koji]

https://x.com/tylermilliken_/status/1961526921709461526?t=8GlrM7eNY0OQ1q_4ehvAaw&s=19

[Maxbialystock]

2 hours ago, 5GoldGlovesOF,75 said:

Sogard's a better infielder than Hamilton, and Ceddanne's a better centerfielder than second baseman. 

The Sox D tonight is as tight as they could make it, behind the rookie and any weak contact he causes. 

Says who?  I have decreed Hamilton is better and am known as great expert on baseball.  

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

It'll be interesting watching Tolle tonight. However, I'd feel a lot better if one of the big 3 was following him tomorrow instead of May.