Article: Red Sox Week in Review: Let's Keep the Momentum Going

[Maddie Landis]

Weekly Snapshot

Record Last Week: 5-2

Runs Scored Last Week: 25

Runs Surrendered Last Week: 23

Standings

3rd in the AL East

3.5 GB 1st Place

2nd AL Wild Card Berth

Scores

Game 132 (8/25) | BOS 4, BAL 3

Game 133 (8/26) | BOS 5, BAL 0

Game 134 (8/27) | BOS 3, BAL 2

Game 135 (8/28) | BOS 3, BAL 2 

Game 136 (8/29) | PIT 4, BOS 2

Game 137 (8/30) | PIT 10, BOS 3

Game 138 (8/31) | PIT 2, BOS 5

Transactions

8/26/25: Recalled Jovani Morán from Triple-A Worcester

8/26/25: Placed Richard Fitts (right arm neuritis) on the 15-day IL

8/26/25: Sent Luis Guerrero on a rehab assignment to Single-A Greenville

8/28/25: Optioned Jovani Morán to Triple-A Worcester

8/28/25: Placed Nathaniel Lowe on the paternity list

8/28/25: Activated Rob Refsynder (strained left oblique) from the 10-day IL

8/28/25: Activated Justin Slaten (right shoulder inflammation) from the 60-day IL

8/29/25: Selected the contract of Payton Tolle from Triple-A Worcester

8/29/25: Recalled Nick Sogard from Triple-A Worcester

8/29/25: Optioned Jhostynxon Garcia to Triple-A Worcester

8/29/25: Released Walker Buehler

8/30/25: Optioned Nick Sogard to Triple-A Worcester

8/30/25: Activated Nathaniel Lowe from the paternity list

8/31/25: New York Mets traded Ali Sánchez to the Boston Red Sox

TL;DR/Highlights

Orioles series: As I wrote last week, it’s tough to execute sweeps in a four-game series. However, this past week, the Red Sox completed a 4-game series against the Orioles. In Game 1, Roman Anthony hit his first leadoff home run. Red Sox starter Richard Fitts was pulled early from the game, leaving the bullpen to finish the job. He was later diagnosed with right arm neuritis (a nerve inflammation). 

Game 2, Lucas Giolito tossed eight scoreless innings. David Hamilton and Trevor Story hit home runs, and the team’s offense generated five runs.

It looked like the Red Sox were about to lose Game 3, but Ceddanne Rafaela hit a go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth to secure the Red Sox’s lead.

In the final game of the series, Roman Anthony hit his second lead-off home run. It’s reassuring to see him finally start tapping into his power. Jhostynxon Garcia recorded his first major league hit, a double in the fifth inning. Red Sox starter Garrett Crochet recorded seven strikeouts and yielded two earned runs in six innings.

Pirates series: Game 1 featured a marquee pitching matchup. Pirates ace Paul Skenes took the mound, and Payton Tolle made his major league debut. Tolle looked sharp, racking eight strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. Meanwhile, the Red Sox knocked around Paul Skenes. He yielded seven hits, tied for a season high. (The Reds recorded seven hits against Skenes on August 7). Unfortunately, the team didn’t do much and went 1-7 with RISP. Roman Anthony hit a home run off Skenes in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Pirates won the game 4-2.

In Game 2, the team’s bats were dormant, and the Pirates teed the ball off the Red Sox’s pitchers. Dustin May yielded six earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. Brennan Bernardino gave up an additional two runs to solidify the Pirates' lead.

Much to the relief of Red Sox fans, the team avoided getting swept by the Pirates on Sunday. Lucas Giolito tossed another gem (three hits, one earned run, and six strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched). The team’s offense went on a tear in the fifth inning. Jarren Duran hit his first inside-the-park home run to drive in three runs.

Can you believe it’s already September? The Red Sox play the Guardians in a quick three-game series at the beginning of the week before traveling to Phoenix to play the Diamondbacks over the weekend.

Random Stats

• Sox Stats is active again on social media! I missed their presence, and they’re a great follow for in-depth Red Sox stats. See their post on Roman Anthony’s swing evolution over his first three months in the majors:

• The team’s starting pitching was solid out in August. Bello and Giolito’s strikeout rates could be higher, but everyone in the rotation can’t be a high-velocity, high strikeout type of pitcher.
  • Garrett Crochet: 3.19 ERA, 28.2% K-BB% across 31.0 IP
  • Brayan Bello: 2.27 ERA, 15.3% K-BB% across 31 2/3 IP
  • Lucas Giolito: 2.39 ERA, 7.1% K-BB% across 37 2/3 IP
• Payton Tolle looked amazing in his debut: 3.38 ERA, 38.2% K-BB% in 5 1/3 IP
• AL Rookie of the Year watch: Roman Anthony and Carlos Narváez are tied for the second most fWAR (2.7) among rookies this year.
• David Hamilton surprisingly recorded 149 wRC+ in August, the second-best on the team behind Rob Refsnyder (152 wRC+).
• Sometimes it only takes a change of scenery for a player to reach their full potential. Since joining the Red Sox, Nathaniel Lowe has posted a .323 BA, .873 OPS, and 138 wRC+. He previously posted a .216 BA and .665 OPS, and 85 wRC+ with the Nationals.

Website Highlights

• Aroldis Chapman's Extension is a Gamble, but It's One Worth Taking by Alex Mayes
• Pay Your Toll(e): Payton Tolle's Promotion Proves Red Sox Are Going All-In This Season by Nick John
• Lucas Giolito Has A Looming Mutual Option. Both Sides Should Be Interested In Exercising It by Alex Mayes
• Brayan Bello is Emerging as a True No. 2 Starter by Jordan Leandre
• Examining the Red Sox's Playoff Scenarios and Schedule by Maddie Landis

Looking Ahead

September 1st: Guardians (Messick) vs Red Sox (Bello) - 1:35 pm EDT

September 2nd: Guardians (TBD) vs Red Sox (Crochet) - 6:45 pm EDT

September 3rd: Guardians vs Red Sox - 6:45 pm EDT

September 5th: Red Sox vs Diamondbacks - 9:40 pm EDT

September 6th: Red Sox vs Diamondbacks - 8:10 pm EDT

September 7th: Red Sox vs Diamondbacks  - 4:10 pm EDT

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