The Red Sox salvaged a series split with the Detroit Tigers thanks to extra-inning heroics on Friday and a magical second half of the Patriots’ Day game. Sitting at 9-13, the Red Sox are in fourth place in the AL East, tied with the Toronto Blue Jays. Now the first place (sigh) Yankees come to town eager to kick the Sox back into the cellar.
First up is Luis Gil. There are no-must wins in April but when a good team comes into town you want to take whatever wins you can get. Righthander Luis Gil has made two starts the year with decidedly mixed results. A 4.0 inning, 3 runs start against the Rays and a 5.0 inning 4 run start against the Angels that his team split. So far he’s given up 4 home runs including 3 against the Angels. And it wasn’t just Mike Trout; Adam Frazier and Logan O’Hoppe each homered off him. Connelly Early, meanwhile, is coming off his best start of the year. After the Minnesota Twins demolished Garrett Crochet and Sonny Gray, Early shut them down for 6.0 innings allowing just 1 run. Early last faced the Yankees in the playoffs starting Wild Card Game 3 where he allowed 3 runs in 3.2 innings while striking out 6. That was at the end of his long year so maybe a fresher arm will help him, especially if Gil remains off his game.
Wednesday will be the (probable) pitching gem of the series. Max Fried started the year with back-to-back outings where he did not allow a run. In his next three outings he’s allowed 3, 3, and 5 runs to the Marlins, Rays, and Angels, respectively. The Yankees ended up losing each of these games. The Yankees lost two of his three starts against Boston last year, although he allowed 2 combined runs in those outings. Ranger Suárez is on the opposite path: his first two starts this year left something to be desired but his last two outings were superb. In his lone 2025 start against New York, Suárez went 5.1 innings, allowed 1 run, and stuck out 8. Hopefully given the bullpen hours against the Tigers he can go a little longer this year.
The series finale, starting extra early at 6:10 PM, has the potential to be the ugliest, based on current trends. Cam Schlittler enters with a 1.95 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 27.2 innings. He’s allowed just 6 runs on the season and 3 total walks. The seventh round draft pick has mowed down his competition this year. Last year he shut out the Red Sox for 8.0 innings in the Wild Card series while striking out 12 batters and walking none. Boston counters with the mostly lost Brayan Bello. In his 18.2 innings Bello has walked 12, struck out 13, and allowed 16 runs (14 earned). He’s been disappointing, there’s not much more to say. With the largest however possible though, in 11 career games against the Yankees he’s held the club to a collective .213/.283/.301 slash line and owns a 2.30 ERA. Is that going to continue? You’d want to answer “no” but also it’s not like he’s been a Cy Young caliber pitcher the rest of his career when he made those starts.
A few quick hits:
Aaron Judge is off to a another powerful start with 9 home runs and a .232/.330/.598 slash line.
Ben Rice is now apparently an MVP leading baseball in every triple slash category: .338/.476/.800
Jazz Chisholm, who predicted a 50/50 season for himself, is off to a 0-homer 8-steal start with almost a month of baseball played.
Giancarlo Stanton is…healthy. That crazy deal he signed with the Marlins still has one more season remaining, 2027. Remember when the Marlins were committing?
Probable Pitching Matchups
Tuesday, April 21 Luis Gil (7.00 ERA / 9.35 FIP) vs. Connelly Early (2.29 ERA / 3.59 FIP)
Wednesday, April 22: Max Fried (2.97 ERA / 3.04 FIP) vs. Ranger Suárez (3.22 ERA / 3.76 FIP)
Thursday, April 23: Cam Schlittler (1.95 ERA / 0.85 FIP) vs. Brayan Bello (6.75 ERA / 5.75 FIP)
When/Where to Watch
Tuesday, April 21: 6:45 PM on NESN
Wednesday, April 22: 6:45 PM ET on NESN
Thursday, April 23: 6:10 PM ET on NESN+
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