SOX’ LOSS IN 9TH ADDS WEIGHT TO TODAY’S FINALE
Lots riding on last game of regular season
It would’ve been nice if the Red Sox could’ve strolled into Fenway Park around noon today, threw on their uniforms, shared a few laughs and memories with old pal David Ortiz and put their feet up while enjoying his final pregame ceremony.
Game 162, without any meaning or pressure other than to celebrate Ortiz in his final regular season game, would have been the perfect reward for a season well-played by the 2016 Red Sox. Keep dreaming. The 2016 Red Sox don’t have that luxury. They’ve never had it. This isn’t a team that’s been able to skate by on pure talent, although they’ve certainly got plenty of it. It took them until the 23rd week of a 26-week season to hit their stride. And while they looked like an unbeatable team and the clear favorite in the American League during an 11-game winning streak, all it took was one bad game in the Bronx for the Sox to be on edge again. They’re 1-4 since breaking the streak.
Now let’s be clear, even after the Red Sox dropped a 4-3 decision to the Toronto Blue Jays that would’ve been heartbreaking if they were playing for anything more than home-field advantage last night, this is still a very good baseball team. They should still be considered the AL favorites, with a 19-9 record in September and a 1-2 punch in Rick Porcello and David Price to go along with MLB’s best offense.
The Red Sox are in good shape.
But read the fine print and you might come to the conclusion that today’s season finale against Toronto is a must-win.
“At this point, we’re looking to win tomorrow,” manager John Farrell said late last night after Craig Kimbrel took the loss. “We want to keep the pressure on Cleveland and we’ve stated all along that home field is important to us, and we won’t back away from that at this point.”
If they lose and the Indians win, that’ll secure Cleveland home-field advantage when the five-game series starts on Thursday.
The Indians are 53-28 at home. Only the Chicago Cubs (57-24) have more wins on their home field this season. Cleveland is scoring 5.58 runs per game at home but just 4.05 runs per game on the road.
But if the Red Sox win today, that could force the Indians to play their 162nd game of the season, a makeup date with Detroit, tomorrow to decide homefield advantage.
There’s no reason to give them any advantage heading into a series that the Red Sox should win handily.
Just look at the starting pitcher matchups. Last night the Indians announced that right-hander Trevor Bauer, a league average pitcher throughout his career, will start in Game 1 on Thursday. That means right-hander Corey Kluber, the Indians ace who has dealt with hamstring issues of late, won’t start until Game 2.
Bauer has a 4.26 ERA. Against the Red Sox this season, he’s allowed six runs in six innings on 10 hits.
Kluber has a 3.14 ERA but the Red Sox always hit him well. He has a 4.78 ERA over five years of appearances against them, while current Sox players are hitting .273 with an .828 OPS off him.
Josh Tomlin (4.48 ERA in 2016) is slated for Game 3, while the Indians are planning to bring back Bauer on short rest for Game 4, if needed.
It’s all one big mess for Cleveland.
The Red Sox aren’t exactly surging right now. Kimbrel has looked out of sorts in his last four outings, having walked six batters and allowed six runs in his last three innings. Price, who pitches today, has allowed 14 runs in his last 191⁄ innings. And the offense, which is scoring 5.5 runs per game this year, has scored more than five in a game just once in their last 13 games.
Farrell said Price might be on a limited pitch count today. Ortiz was lifted in the fifth inning for a pinchrunner last night.
But this isn’t a time for taking it easy.
If the Red Sox win today, they either lock up homefield advantage with an Indians loss, or force the Indians to fly to Detroit for a game tomorrow.
Force them into extra travel. Cram them into a tiny visitors locker room at Fenway Park. And let them try to master the art of hitting balls off the Green Monster by taking a few rounds of batting practice this week.
But don’t take the foot off the gas pedal today.
The Red Sox are too good at Fenway. They’re scoring six runs per game at home but five per game on the road.
Playing at Fenway Park is something worth fighting for. Game 162 matters.