Red Sox news & rumors: There’s no beating those Astros; Chris Sale 2021 hype
If it wasn’t for the Houston Astros, the Boston Red Sox record of 37-25 would be even better. Furthermore, Alex Cora and his team would feel a lot better for themselves after sweeping the New York Yankees over the weekend.
After an 8-3 loss Wednesday night in the second game of a 3-game series with the Astros, the Red Sox have now been outscored 34-13 in the last 6 games played against Houston.
Not only has the pitching struggled against the Astros, the hitting as well. Is it just a case of bad luck or does Cora’s former team just have their number?
After watching one of his hottest pitchers in Nathan Eovaldi give up five earned runs over 5 2/3 innings, the Red Sox manager could only tip his hat to his former team.
"“They’re one of the best teams in the big leagues right now. Obviously, we have to find it offensively against them,” Cora said, via MLB.com. “Hopefully, we get a chance [to face them] later on in the year, but today, they put [on] a clinic. They did. They put on a clinic of controlling the strike zone, going the other way, taking their walks, not striking out. That’s why they are the best offense in baseball.”"
Besides the one game in which Martin Perez shut down the Astros’ offense, Red Sox pitching really has struggled, which showed Wednesday night when Eovaldi saw the consistency he has exhibited on the mound all season long take a step back.
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As the team looks for Eduardo Rodriguez to stop the bleeding, the Red Sox offense will have to solve Houston’s pitching as well. Besides the sole blast by Xander Bogaerts early in the game, the bats continue to be silent against the Astros. Now they have to face Zack Greinke in the series finale.
Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale aiming for a 2021 return
While the Boston Red Sox starting pitching has been exposed by the Houston Astros, a reinforcement may be on the horizon.
Chris Sale, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, injected some excitement about his return this week as the hurler told Alex Speier of the Boston Globe that he is very much on tract to pitch this season.
"“One hundred percent,” Sale said when asked if he expects to pitch this year, via CBS Sports. “I mean, unless something crazy happens. I’ll be there soon enough.”"
After missing nearly two years of actual baseball, the 32-year-old Sale is eager to get back out there on the mound. That is just a part of his competitive nature, but is his timeline realistic?
Per Jen McCaffrey of the Athletic, Red Sox pitching coach Dave Bush offered even more optimism.
"“Two months away, that’s a reasonable guess at this point, without putting a date on it. Where he is right now is about where guys would be right before they show up in Fort Myers, which is on the mound, building up their bullpen strength. The next step when they show up in spring training is a couple of bullpens, live BP then games, so that’s a reasonable assumption for where we are right now.”"
It sounds like Chris Sale could be back in the mix by late August, which would definitely give the entire team a jolt, especially if they are still in the mix for a playoff sport or even the American League East crown.
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Whether in the bullpen or as a starter, Sale would represent an addition the Boston Red Sox could have in their back pocket without even making a trade.
Of course, this all reliant on the Red Sox ace not suffering some kind of unforeseen setback.