GAME #126, BOSTON RED SOX AT CLEVELAND INDIANS

[Bear]

RED SOX V INDIANS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2017, 7 PM AT PROGRESSIVE FIELD

TV:  NESN, MLBN, (OUT-OF-MARKET ONLY), SPORT TIME OHIO

BOSTON, (72-53)..................................................................................CLEVELAND, (69-55)

BOSTON:

DREW POMERANZ, LHP, 12-4, 3.13 ERA, 136K

Pomeranz left his last outing after 3 1/3 frames with back spasms, but did not miss a start.
The left-hander hasn't lost since June 11 and is 6-0 with a 2.30 ERA with 63 strikeouts in 70 1/3
innings since mid June.

CLEVELAND:

COREY KLUBER, RHP, 12-3, 2.67 era, 196K

In his last start, Kluber left the game in the sixth inning with a sprained ankle.  Despite the
injury, he picked up the win after allowing one run on six hits with four strikeouts against the
Royals.  He has gone 9-1 with a 1.84 ERA in his last 15 starts.

Facing Red Sox, Kluber looks to keep on rolling

Ben Weinrib

Both Indians ace Corey Kluber and Red Sox left-hander Drew Pomeranz exited their last starts on Friday early with injuries -- a sprained right ankle for Kluber and back tightness for Pomeranz. But with no restrictions for either, they will face off on Wednesday at Progressive Field.

Kluber was aiming to tie a Major League record of 15 straight starts with at least eight strikeouts in a single season, but he rolled his ankle covering first base in the sixth inning against the Royals and eventually exited with four whiffs. Kluber had a bullpen session on Sunday, and manager Terry Francona said Kluber looked "really good."

"[The bullpen session] felt pretty close to normal," Kluber said on Sunday, "so I think with a couple more days of treatment it will be fine."

Pomeranz exited his start against the Yankees after 3 1/3 scoreless innings with back tightness. He's dealt with some small back issues before, but after a slightly shorter bullpen session, he's ready to go. Pomeranz has been the team's second-best starter with a 3.31 ERA through 24 starts.

"It starts with his health," Red Sox manager John Farrell said of Pomeranz. "We know last year when he came to us, there were really tight restrictions on him. ... But we did find out last year he's got a tremendously high pain threshold."

The Red Sox have a 4 1/2-game lead over the Yankees in the American League East. The Indians are 4 1/2 games ahead of the Twins in the AL Central.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GAME

• With Pomeranz on the mound, Indians infielder Yandy Diaz is expected to see his first starting action since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, potentially at designated hitter. First baseman Carlos Santana exited Monday's game with lower back tightness.

• Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly has thrown 118 pitches of at least 100 mph this season, which trails only the Yankees' Aroldis Chapman across MLB. No other pitcher has reached the 100-mph mark at least 100 times.

• Kluber's 4.98 ERA in nine outings against the Red Sox is his highest mark against a team he's faced at least three times. However, he has had success against many of Boston's key hitters, such as Xander Bogaerts (1-for-11), Jackie Bradley Jr. (3-for-11), Mitch Moreland (1-for-7) and Eduardo Nunez (0-for-7).

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170822249925200/facing-red-sox-kluber-looks-to-keep-on-rolling/?game_pk=491982

[Bear]

Tonight IN Cleveland:

Nuñez 2B,
Betts RF,
Benintendi CF,
Ramirez DH,
Devers 3B,
Bogaerts SS,
Moreland 1B,
Vazquez C,
Holt LF,

Pomeranz LHP

[longgame]

Big game as another win by the Sox clinches home field tiebreaker between Sox and Indians.

[Rob from Mass]

Let's hope Drew has no effects from last games early injury exit.

[Schloicka]

Any word on JBJ's hand or thumb? No news is good news?

[Bill-806]

Any word on JBJ's hand or thumb? No news is good news?

  Have not heard... Just hope it is not as bad as BOGEY's wrist ????? iono

[Schloicka]

JBJ headed to the 10 day DL.

The Red Sox have placed outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. on the 10-day DL, per a club announcement (via Tim Britton of the Providence Journal; Twitter links). He has been diagnosed with a left thumb sprain, per the team.

Bradley was injured on a play at the plate last night, leading to fears that he may have suffered a significant injury. With MRI results still yet to be revealed, at least publicly, the severity of the damage is not yet known. Boston will obviously hope that Bradley can bounce back relatively quickly, with a division lead to protect and less than six weeks until the start of the postseason.

The Sox have recalled infielder Deven Marrero to take the open roster spot. He will likely function as a utility option, perhaps freeing Brock Holt to share time in left field with Chris Young. It seems reasonable to anticipate that Andrew Benintendi will shift over to center while Bradley is down. While right fielder Mookie Betts is also capable of playing up the middle, Benintendi has seen more time there in recent years.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/08/red-sox-place-jackie-bradley-jr-on-10-day-dl.html

[Bill-806]

JBJ headed to the 10 day DL.

The Red Sox have placed outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. on the 10-day DL, per a club announcement (via Tim Britton of the Providence Journal; Twitter links). He has been diagnosed with a left thumb sprain, per the team.

Bradley was injured on a play at the plate last night, leading to fears that he may have suffered a significant injury. With MRI results still yet to be revealed, at least publicly, the severity of the damage is not yet known. Boston will obviously hope that Bradley can bounce back relatively quickly, with a division lead to protect and less than six weeks until the start of the postseason.

The Sox have recalled infielder Deven Marrero to take the open roster spot. He will likely function as a utility option, perhaps freeing Brock Holt to share time in left field with Chris Young. It seems reasonable to anticipate that Andrew Benintendi will shift over to center while Bradley is down. While right fielder Mookie Betts is also capable of playing up the middle, Benintendi has seen more time there in recent years.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/08/red-sox-place-jackie-bradley-jr-on-10-day-dl.html

WOW, sprained thumb is just as bad as a sprained wrist and/or broken toe.... It effects the ability to swing a bat with full strength and no pain !!!  Thought they might have called up Bryce Bence ??? iono rofl

[Sea Dog 23]

Sorry to hear that about JBJ.  He was really in a groove of late.

[SeaBeachFred]

Tough game on tap tonight guys and gals, and no use trying to handicap it because it is obvious that the last two games proved conclusively that we're not up to it.  Suffice to say we hope it is our side that gets the advantage and rides home with the victory this evening.  And don't expect any help from Detroit in their set-to with the New York.  They are fading badly and most likely will go like meek lambs to Sanchez, Judge and Company.  If it were just not so.

[ipot]

Kluber is barely even a 1/2 step behind Sale as far as AL starters go.  Will be a tough one. Hoping for the unpredictable like yesterday.

And unwelcome news about JBJ who was starting to heat up.

[Schloicka]

JBJ headed to the 10 day DL.

The Red Sox have placed outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. on the 10-day DL, per a club announcement (via Tim Britton of the Providence Journal; Twitter links). He has been diagnosed with a left thumb sprain, per the team.

Bradley was injured on a play at the plate last night, leading to fears that he may have suffered a significant injury. With MRI results still yet to be revealed, at least publicly, the severity of the damage is not yet known. Boston will obviously hope that Bradley can bounce back relatively quickly, with a division lead to protect and less than six weeks until the start of the postseason.

The Sox have recalled infielder Deven Marrero to take the open roster spot. He will likely function as a utility option, perhaps freeing Brock Holt to share time in left field with Chris Young. It seems reasonable to anticipate that Andrew Benintendi will shift over to center while Bradley is down. While right fielder Mookie Betts is also capable of playing up the middle, Benintendi has seen more time there in recent years.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/08/red-sox-place-jackie-bradley-jr-on-10-day-dl.html

WOW, sprained thumb is just as bad as a sprained wrist and/or broken toe.... It effects the ability to swing a bat with full strength and no pain !!!  Thought they might have called up Bryce Bence ??? iono rofl

The Red Sox have struck a deal to acquire fleet-footed outfielder Rajai Davis from the Athletics, reports CSN New England’s Evan Drellich (on Twitter). Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports had both previously reported that the Red Sox were nearing a trade or waiver claim. It’s not clear yet whether Davis was claimed off trade waivers or had already cleared.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/08/red-sox-to-acquire-rajai-davis.html

[longgame]

Lots of Ks tonight on both sides.

[Schloicka]

EE strikes again. Would of been the perfect Ortiz replacement.

[MongoLikeSox]

Kluber is a wuss-bag. Nails Nunez because he over-swung? Spare me that "that's baseball" crap.

EE sure did hit the tar out of that one.