The MVP is back
The Texas Rangers won the World Series last year. You almost wouldn’t know it. Not quite Boston Red Sox 2014. But, uh, things have been a bit of a thing down in Texas. And the Sox are looking to mess with Texas in a big way.
Boston is featuring a new face at second base: Nick Sogard. Our own Dean Roussel wrote about him this week. The tl;dr? Yes, he’s a cousin of Erik Sogard. He’s a middle infielder playing second and short. So another option for Alex Cora when Ceddanne Rafaela needs to go to center field in a game. He’s hitting .278/.328/.439 this year for the Triple A WooSox and has the 10th best walk rate in the International League. Good luck out there in the big leagues!
Kutter Crawford has kept giving the Sox innings – at least 5 in 9 of his last 10 starts – but the home run bug has bit him. If he can keep the ball in the yard the Sox can get to work.
Starting for the Rangers is José Ureña, a veteran with nearly 10 years in the big leagues and a career ERA of 4.74. This year he’s seen time in the rotation and the bullpen. His 3.07 ERA looks a lot better than the 4.41 FIP he’s sporting. He does have a bit of a reverse split going on this year with same-sided righties (.261/326/410) faring better than southpaw batter (.203/.270/.325).
Boston didn’t do a ton at the deadline but Triston Casas is nearing a return. James Paxton showed there is something left in the tank, and maybe Andrew Bailey can work just a little more pitching magic over the final two months of the season.
First pitch is at 8:05 PM ET on WEEI and NESN.