Sox hope to ace tough test tonight
Mets’ star deGrom off to historic start
The Red Sox have already gone against some of baseball’s top aces this season, facing the likes of Tyler Glasnow, Lucas Giolito and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
But they pale in comparison to the matchup that awaits them tonight in New York.
With the Mets’ Jacob deGrom on the mound, the Red Sox face a pitcher who’s on a historic run to start the season. In four starts this season, he’s given up just one earned run and allowed only three walks while striking out 50 batters over 29 innings, and he’s coming off one of the best starts of his career last Friday, when he tossed a complete-game two-hitter with 15 strikeouts.
As far as April matchups go, this is as good as it gets: deGrom, arguably the best pitcher in the sport and at the top of his game, against the Red Sox and their league-leading offense.
“You want to believe that every night your group is ready to go and they prepare the same, but honestly when you have a guy like him on the opposing side, it’s going to be an extra vibe, an extra jolt of energy for our guys to be ready to meet the challenge,” Red Sox hitting coach Tim Hyers said. “Because if you don’t bring your A-game, he’s got a chance to embarrass you and put you away
really quick.
“I think that’s the thing I’m looking forward to is the excitement and the challenge and watching our guys go toe to toe and put their best foot forward and go battle. … I know that our guys will be ready.”
Hyers hadn’t started to prepare yet for deGrom as the Red Sox focused on their game Tuesday, but watching from afar, the coach was impressed with deGrom’s aggressiveness. He said that deGrom’s slider is nearly equal to or as fast as the average fastball in the majors, and when
you combine his elite location and how Hyers described him as a “fierce competitor,” it’s a recipe for dominance.
The Red Sox have faced deGrom twice in the last three years — once last season, and once in 2018 — and Hyers said that should be beneficial, but to an extent. deGrom is just on another level right now.
“I think it helps to have the experience in the box with him and to see movement, patterns and how the ball comes out of his hand,” Hyers said. “I think that is a plus. But he’s in a groove
right now from what I’ve seen from afar and feeling really good with his stuff, so that does add another element to it. I do think it helps to have guys that have seen the ball come out of his hand, but that’s only limited to being helpful for tomorrow night.”
Either way, the Red Sox will be ready for easily their toughest test of the season.
“He’s one of the best pitchers in the game, arguably the best pitcher in the game and so it’s always a challenge,” Hyers said. “But one thing about our group is they love challenges and
they love competing and so I think the competitor in all of our guys, it’s what brings out the best in both sides. I know he’s going to be ready, he’s going to be coming at us.
“It will be a challenge for us to have our A-game and to battle on each pitch. … We’ve got to be focused for every pitch and hunt those mistakes and be ready to capitalize when he does make a mistake.”
Fenway set for more fans
Fenway Park is inching closer back to normalcy.
In an announcement made by Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday, the next phase of the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan includes the further increased capacity of sports venues from 12% to 25%, effective May 10. That means Fenway Park’s capacity will increase from about 4,500 fans to more than 9,000.
The Red Sox will play three more games at Fenway at 12% capacity — May 4-6 against the Tigers — before the ballpark’s capacity increases beginning with their game on May 11 against the Athletics, which starts a six-game homestand.
“It’s awesome,” Red Sox closer Matt Barnes said. “Just think of the first time you stepped out there, I think we had about 4,500 fans, 5,000 fans to this point in the season. I’ve been out there with 4,500, even two days ago, that place was rocking with 5,000 people. So, I think we have such an advantage at home with our fans because of how great they are and how hard they make it to play there for the visiting team.
“I’m super excited to get to 25%. That doubles capacity to, what, 10,000 people maybe? That’s incredible. Especially coming from nothing last year, I mean, 10,000’s going to feel like a packed stadium. I can’t even imagine when we get to full capacity. I don’t know when it’s going to be, but definitely super excited.”
The capacity increase also means that the Worcester Red Sox will open at 25% capacity for their first-ever game at Polar Park in their home opener on May 11.