Yoshida back in, but glove staying out
After five games coming off the bench, Masataka Yoshida returned to the lineup on Saturday as the designated hitter. He went 4-for-5, his second four-hit game in the US, with a double and three runs scored.
“It’s a relief that I was able to deliver good results,” Yoshida said via translator.
While the duration of his stint on the bench raised eyebrows, it wasn’t an abandonment of faith in him as a hitter. Instead, it underscored the extent of the team’s efforts to keep Yoshida’s glove in bubble wrap.
The Sox wanted Tyler O’Neill and Rafael Devers to each return from injuries last week in the DH role. Yoshida wasn’t a consideration for the lineup as an outfielder.
A year ago, the Sox featured one of baseball’s worst defenses in years — partly a reflection of Yoshida’s severe struggles in left. According to Statcast, the Sox outfield converted 12 fewer outs than an average team, fifth worst in the majors. Yoshida was eight outs below average in left, also fifth worst among left fielders.
“This decision [to keep Yoshida at DH] was made in the offseason,” said Sox manager Alex Cora. “There’s a reason [Justin Turner] is in Toronto. We were not playing [Yoshida] much in the outfield. If we have to, we have to, but we prefer not.”
This year, with the mix of Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran, O’Neill, Wilyer Abreu, and Rob Refsnyder, the Sox have played roughly average outfield defense. Cora said the Sox talked to Yoshida coming into the season about the plan to narrow his role primarily to that of a DH. He’s played just one inning in the field this year.
“At this level, if the ball stays in the ballpark, you’ve got to catch it. You have to,” said Cora. “And I think we’ve done a good job in the outfield.”
That said, Cora made clear his relief that Devers was, in his words, “full-go” at third base on Saturday, thus opening the DH spot for Yoshida (.269/.345/.385), who batted sixth against Cubs righthander Ben Brown.
“We like to have [Devers] at third base because then we can use the DH spot to have one of our better hitters,” said Cora. “I’m glad that we are where we are, where we’re at today, and hopefully we can score a lot of runs.” Garrett Cooper acquired
Though the Red Sox initially resisted offering a timetable for the return of Triston Casas from a cartilage tear in his ribcage, there was also little doubt that their middle-of-the-order first baseman would be sidelined for some time. On Saturday, the Sox made that official, and tried to shore up the team in Casas’s absence.
The Sox swung a trade for first baseman Garrett Cooper, who was recently designated for assignment by the Cubs, in exchange for cash considerations. To clear a 40-man roster spot for Cooper — a 33-year-old who hit .270/.341/.432 in 12 games at the start of the season — the Sox placed Casas on the 60-day injured list.
Cooper was off to a solid start for the Cubs, albeit with a 32 percent strikeout rate, but he became expendable when the Cubs needed a roster spot for the return of first baseman
Matt Mervis from the injured list. In parts of eight big-league seasons, Cooper is a .268/.337/.435 hitter with a .285/.337/.485 line against lefties.
“He can hit lefties and righties.
He’s a good defender,” Cora said. “We do believe he’s going to help us out.”
The months-long absence of Casas comes with Trevor Story already lost for the season. The Sox are trying not to get caught in the enormity of those lineup voids.
“Trevor is not gonna be here. Casas is gonna be out for a while. We’ve got to be ready for tomorrow,” said Cora. “I understand that [Casas is] gonna be missed, but my mindset is whoever is playing is going to contribute.”
Cooper won’t join the Sox until Tuesday. His addition seems likely to come at the expense of Bobby Dalbec — who is hitting .128/.180/.170 after going 2-for-4 with a double and sacrifice on Saturday.
The deal was hammered out in old-school fashion on Friday night, when Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer visited the Red Sox baseball operations suite during the series opener. Somewhat disappointingly, the Sox did not hand Hoyer a pile of cash to consummate the deal.
Pivetta’s positive step
Nick Pivetta, who landed on the injured list on April 9 with a flexor strain in his right elbow, faced Dalbec,
Enmanuel Valdez, Pablo Reyes, and
David Hamilton while throwing the equivalent of three innings prior to Saturday’s game. He approached the undertaking with characteristic intensity, shouting after a pair of strikeouts. “I just wanted to try to simulate as much as the game as I possibly could, for them and for me,” said Pivetta. “Sharpness perspective, velo[city] perspective, everything was really good. Body-wise, really, really good, so I’m happy.” Pivetta’s next step is likely to be a minor league rehab start on Thursday, after which the Sox will decide if he’s ready to return to their rotation . . . Zack Kelly has thrown four scoreless innings while striking out four and walking none since his call-up. “His role is gonna grow,” said Cora . . . Scheduled Sunday night Cubs starter Jordan Wicks was scratched due to left forearm tightness. Righty Hayden Wesneski will start the series finale in his place . . . The Hall of Fame announced the availability of tickets for July 20, when Red Sox radio legend Joe Castiglione is presented with the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcasters. At the same event, the 2004 Red Sox will be recognized for the 20th anniversary of their historic championship, with appearances by Pedro Martínez and David Ortiz.