GAME #159 - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 - BOSTON RED SOX @ BALTIMORE ORIOLES

[markj]

7:05PM Eastern

Red Sox

Nick Pivetta (R)

1. Enrique Hernandez (R) CF
2. Kyle Schwarber (L) 1B
3. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
4. Rafael Devers (L) 3B
5. J.D. Martinez (R) DH
6. Hunter Renfroe (R) RF
7. Alex Verdugo (L) LF
8. Kevin Plawecki (R) C
9. Jose Iglesias (R) 2B

Orioles

Alexander Wells (L)

1. Cedric Mullins (L) CF
2. Ryan Mountcastle (R) 1B
3. Austin Hays (R) RF
4. Trey Mancini (R) DH
5. Pedro Severino (R) C
6. Kelvin Gutierrez (R) 3B
7. Tyler Nevin (R) LF
8. Pat Valaika (R) SS
9. Jahmai Jones (R) 2B

Gametime Temp: 66°F
Chance of Precip: 0%

[Sea Dog 23]

The Sox chances of making the playoffs increase exponentially IMO based on the quality of who toes the rubber for their opponents.  Zimmermann was pretty effective this year when he was healthy.  Lowther was at a 7.62 era, this guy Wells is at 7.66.  Likewise, who do the Nats throw against us this weekend, is it one of their mainstays, or do they want to showcase one of their top prospects to close out the year?  Their Friday guy has only pitched in 5 games this year with really good era.  We shall see how that plays out.

But advantage to Tampa.  They get to sit back and watch all these teams use up their best starters and burn up the bull pen just to get to a WC game, or for a 163rd game to get to the WC.

[longgame]

The Sox chances of making the playoffs increase exponentially IMO based on the quality of who toes the rubber for their opponents.  Zimmermann was pretty effective this year when he was healthy.  Lowther was at a 7.62 era, this guy Wells is at 7.66.  Likewise, who do the Nats throw against us this weekend, is it one of their mainstays, or do they want to showcase one of their top prospects to close out the year?  Their Friday guy has only pitched in 5 games this year with really good era.  We shall see how that plays out.

But advantage to Tampa.  They get to sit back and watch all these teams use up their best starters and burn up the bull pen just to get to a WC game, or for a 163rd game to get to the WC.

Hopefully they don't sit back too much and can beat up on the Yankees a little. 

[Sea Dog 23]

BTW, the geniuses(??) at ESPN this morning on  chances for the ALEast wild cards as Boston 74 percent, NYY 92 percent,  Toronto and Seattle both 15% +/-.

On Monday Fansided placed the chances of getting one of the two wild cards as follows:

Red Sox Win Wild Card: 86.3%
Yankees Win Wild Card: 81.2%
Blue Jays Win Wild Card: 27.1%
Mariners Win Wild Card: 5.4%
Athletics Win Wild Card: 0.1%

(In their explanation they claimed Boston the easiest schedule in the final 6 games. I assume Fansided said "win the wild card" meaning their final record got them into a wild card)

[longgame]

I wish I had their optimism.

[markj]

Pivetta is looking like crap already in the 3rd.

[markj]

Wow, Pivetta got a gift or two from the ump.

[markj]

And then gives up a 3 run dinger. Lovely.

[elktonnick]

Sox hitters hitting too many weak grounders!

[Sea Dog 23]

If there’s no comeback from this,  it will make the math really hard on the Sox and losing to the O’s again, geez.  Seattle may just sweep Angels the way they’re playing.

[elktonnick]

I am disgusted.  Weak hitting coupled with stupid pitching.

[BoSoxFanNY]

Cannot believe how the Red Sox are playing against the Orioles -
who have over 100 losses.
WTF?

Many early opportunities - too many GIDP

And the Orioles are about to score again.

Currently 3 - 1 Orioles . . .

The way this team is playing they are not going
to secure the second Wild Card spot.

[elktonnick]

Richards is a disaster.  I hope he is not back next year.  This team does not want to win.

[BoSoxFanNY]

Make that Orioles 6 - Sox 1
CRAP!

[markj]

Sox will be lucky to take one game from the Nats. It'll save the fans the embarrassment of watching the Sox get their butts kicked in a WC playoff. Root for TOR so maybe the Yanks will also be sent golfing this weekend.