Lefties galore
ERod, Pomeranz, Sale all to face Yanks
TORONTO — Three lefties in four days is exactly how the Red Sox wanted to line it up at Yankee Stadium.
With last night’s 7-1 win, the Sox have the potential to put 91⁄ games of
2 space between themselves and their archrivals after the four-game series that starts tonight. Or the Yanks could cut the lead to 11⁄ games. The Sox lead
2 the division by 51⁄ games
2 It’s the last series of the season between these teams, and given its importance, the Sox are happy to have Eduardo Rodriguez, Doug Fister, Drew Pomeranz and Chris Sale on the mound. Fister is the only one who throws right-handed, which can be tough since the Yankee Stadium wall is only 314 feet from home plate down the right field line.
In comparison, the Green Monster is 310 to left. The Monster, however, is 37 feet tall, and the Yankee Stadium fence is just 8 feet tall.
“I think anytime you’re going to match up a rotation, ideally you have left-handers (with) that porch in right field,” manager John Farrell said before last night’s rout of the Blue Jays.
Rodriguez has a career 1.38 ERA in four starts at Yankee Stadium.
“I think Eddie has not feared the big stage, and he kind of relishes it actually,” Farrell said. “And he’s had some very good ballgames against them.”
Rodriguez hasn’t looked himself since he slipped and fell in the bullpen during warmups against Baltimore on June 1. He gave up seven runs that game and has a 5.08 ERA since returning from the disabled list.
He said he feels fine physically but hasn’t been able to locate consistently.
“He’s come out in first innings and been powerful, been right at people, but that can’t be a big drop off from the intensity in which you execute from that point forward,” Farrell said.
Right stuff
The Sox will only see one lefty starter in the series, CC Sabathia tonight. The 37-year-old has a 3.82 ERA this year and a 4.28 ERA since the start of the 2014 season, but he’s been much better against the Red Sox, posting a 2.79 ERA against them since ’14.
“You’ve got to tip your hat to CC,” Farrell said. “He has evolved over time. He has adjusted based on what Father Time has done. He is a heck of an athlete. He repeats his delivery well. He changes speeds, he manages the lineup extremely well. He never gives in. And he’s always had a delivery that is difficult for hitters to time up.
“Regardless of the velocity he’s throwing at, he’s tough. You’re looking at a borderline Hall of Fame pitcher and he’s made pitches against us.”
Of course, the Red Sox aren’t hitting any lefties well of late, with just a .257 average against them from July 1 through Tuesday night.
Chris Young, who crushed lefties last year, entered last night hitting just .193 this year with a .571 OPS. Hanley Ramirez, also a lefty-masher during his career, was at .207 and .764, though he did homer off southpaw J.A. Happ in the fifth inning.
“When you plan for similar production and your roster reflects that type of production, it leaves you a little bit less . . . I don’t want to say equipped, but it leaves you less productive,” Farrell said.
Reinforcements
Right-hander Matt Barnes likely will be activated from the disabled list tomorrow. So, too, might Dustin Pedroia, who tested his sore left knee while running hard around the bases before last night’s game and came away feeling good.
Jackie Bradley Jr. is likely to return Saturday, and right-hander Carson Smith could finally be back in a Red Sox uniform sometime next week.
“(Smith has) physically responded well,” Farrell said. “So it’s still undecided whether he’ll continue on (in the minors), but if you’re pressing me right now, he’d probably return to us after Sept. 4.” . . .
The Sox were without their closer last night. Craig Kimbrel needed the night off after pitching in three straight games. Addison Reed was in the same boat. Fortunately, there was no save situation.
Baby step
David Price threw off a mound for the first time since July 22, but he threw only 20 pitches and didn’t throw any breaking balls.
“I think today was as much about incorporating the angle of the mound,” Farrell said. “We’re not talking about game speed by any means, but it’s a step.”
It is unlikely he’ll be able to ramp up in time to stretch out as a starter before the season ends. Pitching out of the bullpen might be his only shot.
“We have to do what’s right by him first physically and health-wise, and then we’ll see where we are,” Farrell said. “We recognize that days are ticking away here. What that means for the eventual role, it’s too early.”