I'm more worried about the Angels. They're the hot team right now scoring alot of runs and Krod and Percival are a tough to score on in the 8th and 9th.
ALDS
Tuesday and Wednesday on the road.
Friday and Saturday at Fenway.
Sunday on the road.
ALCS game 1 Oct 12 on the road, the wild card team cannot get home field for LCS.
The way the MLB tiebreakers line up, the Twins will have to sweep the Guardians this weekend in order to get home field and the Sox in the first round. It certainly doesn't seem likely since they've used up most of their staff against the MFY. So it seems we're looking at either the Angels or the A's on Tuesday.
Tony Massarotti in today's Herald.
Clearly Pedro has pitched more innings that in the past three years and the lack of any injury this year has not given him the rest he may have needed during the season.
But something else is going on. Beaten down by the MFY and now being named the number 2 starter seems to have Pedro down. No one wants to see him sitting in the dugout doing his Nomar impression, feeling like he's now longer appreciated or wanted. And if he is sulking it's clearly affecting his pitching.
This is not the way for him to make the Sox reward him with a new contract.
Before bringing in Kim he had Hyzdu in for Manny.
I also do not know why Pedro pitched the 5th as bad as he was going.
His fatigued is obvious. He hasn't pitched this many innings since 2000, and back then he was 18-6 with a 1.74 ERA.
The good news is he gets 6 days rest for Game 2. The bad news is Tito has to decide when to take him out of the game.
I don't think I'm capable of rooting for the MFY. The team that concerns me most right now is the Angels. As tough as Santana is, the Angels bullpen is very good. Minnesota gets to rest it's staff this weekend as the Angels and A's wear out their staffs against each other. Home field advantage needs to be pursued. Go Twinkies.
I think his head is in a bad place right now. As far as I'm concerned last night was his shot at proving himself and he failed. The best place for him now is the pen where he can maybe put together two or three good innings.
Something to consider. If the Sox keep winning and the MFY can't wrap up the division by the weekend, the playoff rotation could become a mess. Wake would pitch Friday in Baltimore, with Schilling and Arroyo for the Saturday doubleheader.
This is coming down to "what have you done lately?"
After Tuesday night in Tampa I have to think Lowe is now the guy being sent to the pen. At least Wake shows an ability to get to the 5th inning.