Pirates (Keller) vs Red Sox (Giolito): 8/31/25, 1:35pm

[Brandon Glick]

Hi. Uh, don't get swept by the Pirates, please. I hear it's not good for your playoff odds.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Gio needs to be at the top of his game today. Sox offense has shown no reason to expect a lot of runs in support of Gio.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Just now, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Gio needs to be at the top of his game today. Sox offense has shown no reason to expect a lot of runs in support of Gio.

Hopefully, Keller is not at the top of his game.

[Maxbialystock]

Since Gonzalez hit well in the last 2 games vs the Pirates, I guess I'm OK with him playing today--

Anthony, Bregman, Duran, Story, Lowe, Yoshida, Gonzalez, Rafaela, and Narvaez

NESN just said the Sox have lost their last 5 home games.  Nevertheless, in all 5 games attendance was over 36,000.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

g

[moonslav59]

Keller has been a consistently decent pitcher for several years. Gio has looked better and worse over the last several years.

Since Keller joined MLB in 2019, they both have similar IP numbers.

fWAR: Gio 14.5> Keller 12.1

ERA-: Gio 94>Keller 106

xFIP: Gio 3.91>4.12

But if you take away 2019-2021 and go with 2022-2025, the positions flip: Keller is 11th in IP at 680, while Gio is 65th at 465.

fWAR: Keller 10.0 (26th)> Giolito 4.2 (66th)

ERA-: Keller 98> Giolito 109

xFIP: Keller 3.97> Giolito 4.15

2025

Keller 2.5 fWAR, 101 ERA-, 4.16 xFIP (0.9 bWAR)

Giolito 1.6fWAR, 81 ERA- , 4.36 xFIP (1.6 bWAR)

 

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Since Gonzalez hit well in the last 2 games vs the Pirates, I guess I'm OK with him playing today--

Anthony, Bregman, Duran, Story, Lowe, Yoshida, Gonzalez, Rafaela, and Narvaez

NESN just said the Sox have lost their last 5 home games.  Nevertheless, in all 5 games attendance was over 36,000.  

DHam has been hitting well, recently as well. He hits LHPs better than RHPs, and Romy is the opposite.

I'm okay with the choice, as Cora knows more than we do.

I'm hoping Lowe can keep it up. We need a boost from our rightside infield.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

10 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Since Gonzalez hit well in the last 2 games vs the Pirates, I guess I'm OK with him playing today--

Anthony, Bregman, Duran, Story, Lowe, Yoshida, Gonzalez, Rafaela, and Narvaez

NESN just said the Sox have lost their last 5 home games.  Nevertheless, in all 5 games attendance was over 36,000.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

g

Which makes JH's day.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Just now, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Which makes JH's day.

Maybe these large attendance figures will motivate the owner group to go big during the off-season.

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

DHam has been hitting well, recently as well. He hits LHPs better than RHPs, and Romy is the opposite.

I'm okay with the choice, as Cora knows more than we do.

I'm hoping Lowe can keep it up. We need a boost from our rightside infield.

I'll take an offensive boost from anybody. I'm not particular.

[Jasonbay44]

About as perfect as you can start a game 6 pitches, 3 outs, 1 strikeout and all weak contact

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Time for a timely hit.

[Nick]

The (relatively) easy schedule the Red Sox have the rest of the way — with six games against the Athletics, three against Tampa Bay and three against Arizona — looks like an advantage. But it won’t mean much if the Red Sox can’t do a better job than they’re doing this weekend against the Pirates.

I just wished all the TV guys would quit talking about our schedule. Every game is a tough game.

[Maxbialystock]

One timely double by Duran followed by a timely line drive out by Story.  

Anthony struck out on a curve well below the zone, his weak spot. Bregman pops up to maintain his slump.  

[Jasonbay44]

Great catch by Rafaela 

[Maxbialystock]

Let's all hope Rafaela never goes back to 2b.  

[illinoisredsox]

Just now, Nick said:

The (relatively) easy schedule the Red Sox have the rest of the way — with six games against the Athletics, three against Tampa Bay and three against Arizona — looks like an advantage. But it won’t mean much if the Red Sox can’t do a better job than they’re doing this weekend against the Pirates.

I just wished all the TV guys would quit talking about our schedule. Every game is a tough game.

As I posted yesterday, when you play a team is almost as important as who you play.  Bad teams, even White Sox/Rockies level bad, have good weeks here and there over the season. Good teams have bad weeks.  Catch any team when they are in one of these extremes …

The Pirates have won 9 out of 12; they are in a good stretch right now.  It’ll end soon, but that doesn’t matter today.

[Jasonbay44]

3 minutes ago, Maxbialystock said:

Let's all hope Rafaela never goes back to 2b.  

I agree. I applaud him for helping the team and be willing to switch positions but he helps the team so much more in CF

[Jasonbay44]

Just now, illinoisredsox said:

As I posted yesterday, when you play a team is almost as important as who you play.  Bad teams, even White Sox/Rockies level bad, have good weeks here and there over the season. Good teams have bad weeks.  Catch any team when they are in one of these extremes …

The Pirates have won 9 out of 12; they are in a good stretch right now.  It’ll end soon, but that doesn’t matter today.

It also sucks that while the Pirates are bad, they have one of most dominant players in pro sports right now and Sox had to face him this series. 

[Maxbialystock]

1 minute ago, illinoisredsox said:

As I posted yesterday, when you play a team is almost as important as who you play.  Bad teams, even White Sox/Rockies level bad, have good weeks here and there over the season. Good teams have bad weeks.  Catch any team when they are in one of these extremes …

The Pirates have won 9 out of 12; they are in a good stretch right now.  It’ll end soon, but that doesn’t matter today.

Well said. 

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

2 minutes ago, Jasonbay44 said:

Great catch by Rafaela 

Sox defense has not been a problem. Hard to guess how many runs have been saved among Rafaela, Story and Bregman. Also, Narvaez has been excellent throwing out base runners.

[Maxbialystock]

Lowe K's on a 4 seamer right down the middle.  

[Jasonbay44]

I feel like Yoshida hits a grounder to 2B majority of his AB

[moonslav59]

21 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

I'll take an offensive boost from anybody. I'm not particular.

Indeed, but one good thing about the Sox is that anyone of the 13 everyday players can do it.

We have 8 players with an OPS+ over 100 with Abreu due back, soon.

142 Anthony (WOW!)

139 Bregman (sliding over last 8 games)

137 Lowe (mostly platoon)

135 Ref (near strict platoon)

128 Romy (mostly platoon)

122 Abreu (Team HR leader)

113 Duran (baserunning adds O value)

102 Story (RBI leader)

101 Narvaez (very good for a Catcher)

97 Rafaela (better as a CF'er)

[Maxbialystock]

2 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Sox defense has not been a problem. Hard to guess how many runs have been saved among Rafaela, Story and Bregman. Also, Narvaez has been excellent throwing out base runners.

finally, it's OK to say something nice about the defense.  It's taken a long time.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

conse

[Nick]

6 minutes ago, Jasonbay44 said:

I feel like Yoshida hits a grounder to 2B majority of his AB

Bur Cora has confidence in him. Ugh.

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, SPLENDIDSPLINTER said:

Sox defense has not been a problem. Hard to guess how many runs have been saved among Rafaela, Story and Bregman. Also, Narvaez has been excellent throwing out base runners.

While I agree on the vast improvement, I'm not sure if it's luck or what, but we still lead the league in unearned runs allowed. Maybe, our pitchers have let downs after an error.

Unearned runs allowed and other AL contenders:

70 BOS (That more than 1 every 2 games!)

58 SEA (almost 1 every 2 gms)

55 NYY (less than 1 per 2 games)

50 DET (about 1 almost every 3 gms)

38 HOU (almost 1 every 4 gms)

37 KCR

34 TEX

[Maxbialystock]

5 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Indeed, but one good thing about the Sox is that anyone of the 13 everyday players can do it.

We have 8 players with an OPS+ over 100 with Abreu due back, soon.

142 Anthony (WOW!)

139 Bregman (sliding over last 8 games)

137 Lowe (mostly platoon)

135 Ref (near strict platoon)

128 Romy (mostly platoon)

122 Abreu (Team HR leader)

113 Duran (baserunning adds O value)

102 Story (RBI leader)

101 Narvaez (very good for a Catcher)

97 Rafaela (better as a CF'er)

All true, but not lately.  Abreu's recovery has been slow.  Now 5 September at the earliest.  

[Maxbialystock]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

While I agree on the vast improvement, I'm not sure if it's luck or what, but we still lead the league in unearned runs allowed. Maybe, our pitchers have let downs after an error.

Unearned runs allowed and other AL contenders:

70 BOS (That more than 1 every 2 games!)

58 SEA (almost 1 every 2 gms)

55 NYY (less than 1 per 2 games)

50 DET (about 1 almost every 3 gms)

38 HOU (almost 1 every 4 gms)

37 KCR

34 TEX

How about lately?

[Maxbialystock]

Anthony K's again on breaking ball low.  

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Keller making Sox batters appear blind.