While the Red Sox aren’t quite where they had hoped, currently in third place and six games back in the AL East race, they have an opportunity to make up some ground during the next four games. After all, if you want to surpass the Yankees and the Rays, you have to beat the Yankees and the Rays.
The Red Sox faltered a bit in their series with the struggling Cleveland Indians, but were able to walk away with a victory on Thursday behind a strong performance from Daisuke Matsuzaka. Now, it’s time for a much bigger series. Here are a few keys for the Red Sox as they try to gain some ground in the Bronx this weekend.
The Big Four
While Matsuzaka’s strong performance on Thursday is an indication that he could finally be regaining his 2008 form, the Red Sox are still a team that is going to be dependent upon the other four starters in the rotation, all of whom are scheduled to pitch in this series. Clay Buchholz, John Lackey, Josh Beckett and Jon Lester are expected to pitch, in that order, and they are the guys who you want going as you get set for a series of this magnitude. Essentially, these are the guys who are going to start if the Red Sox can find a way into the postseason, and this series should provide a preview of what that atmosphere will be like.
It will be particularly interesting, though, to see how Buchholz performs in the series opener against Javier Vazquez. He is 0-2 with a 6.53 ERA in his career against the Yankees and needs to perform better. The 25-year-old may be an ace in the hole and in the midst of a stellar season, but if you can’t beat your most hated rival, the other numbers suddenly don’t look so good.
Lester is the other pitcher to really keep an eye on, as he is scheduled to pitch the series finale. Lester has been tremendous this season, and has posted decent numbers against the Yankees in the past (4-1, 4.01 ERA), but he is in the middle of a four-game losing streak and has a 5.06 ERA since the All-Star break.
‘CC’ The Ball, Hit the Ball
Few will dispute that CC Sabathia is one the American League’s best pitchers. With four All-Star selections, a Cy Young Award and $152 million contract to his credit, he is certainly the most decorated. But he has come down to earth a bit the last few starts — even if that means he’s been above-average by other starters’ standards. It could be attributed to fatigue, and the Sox should look to capitalize on it.
Entering his July 22 start against the Kansas City Royals, Sabathia had gone 8-0 in his last nine starts. Although he would pick up the win that night against Kansas City, Sabathia was forced to labor through 6 1/3 innings, throwing 120 pitches and giving up four runs (three earned) on 11 hits. Despite it being the most pitches he had thrown all season at the time, the start also marked the first time he had failed to go seven innings since May 29, a no-decision to the Orioles prior to the start of his impressive winning streak.
The next two starts, Sabathia was forced to throw 123 and 112 pitches, respectively, losing to the Indians and Rays.
The Red Sox have to capitalize on whatever fatigue Sabathia may be suffering from, and also his previous struggles against the team. Sabathia has recorded three no-decisions against the Red Sox this season, with only one quality start and a 4.76 ERA. In his career against the Sox, Sabathia is a mediocre 5-5 with a 3.56 ERA.
One Game at a Time
Sure, it sounds cliche. In fact, it is cliche. But at the same time, the logic is true and no predicament like that of a major gap in the standings is more indicative of why teams approach the game of baseball this way. As mentioned, the Red Sox are six games back in the AL East race and trail both the Yankees and the Rays. That’s right, six games, which is impossible to make up in one game. So, the Red Sox have to make sure that they stay on an even keel throughout the duration of the series, whether they perform well or perform poorly at times.
These are professional baseball players, and it should go without saying, but sometimes teams need to be reminded that they aren’t going to make up for every previous wrong with one game, or even one series. But if the Red Sox can win one game at a time, three or four times, they will leave the Bronx in better shape than when they came in. That should be the ultimate goal of the series.
