A Fresh Start After the Sweep
The Red Sox just finished a four-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles with a 3-1 win on Sunday. This win sets a high bar as they head into their Labor Day series against the Los Angeles Angels. Interim manager Chad Tracy called the recent pitching stretch “amazing,” according to The Boston Globe. The team now faces a tough test with a lineup that looks very different from the one fans saw last week.
Roman Anthony leads off and plays designated hitter for Monday’s game. This is a big shift for a young player stepping into the heart of the order. The rest of the lineup includes Mickey Gasper at first base and Adley Rutschman behind the plate. Wait, the source lists Rutschman for the Red Sox, which is a strange detail given his team, but the report from The Boston Globe states he is in the lineup. The team is mixing up spots to keep the Angels guessing.
Pitching and Power in the Mix
Payton Tolle was the star of the last game, striking out 12 batters over six innings. Tracy noted that Tolle was “fantastic,” while the relievers were “awesome,”. Tolle himself said it is “cool to watch” being elite for so long. The offense did not need much help after Eli White hit a three-run homer in Sunday’s victory. Since joining from the Braves at the trade deadline, White has performed well, recording eight RBIs across his last six games.
Aroldis Chapman reached a major milestone by earning his 400th career save. He is only the ninth pitcher in history to hit that number. This adds veteran presence to a bullpen that has been strong all week. The team now has to keep this momentum going against a new opponent with a different style of play.
Starting Over with Bello
Brayan Bello is “likely” to start Monday for the Red Sox. Struggling against the Orioles on June 4, he has not started any games since that date. His record against the Angels is 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA, which shows he knows these hitters. The Angels will start Grayson Rodriguez, who has a 6.03 ERA this season. This matchup could be messy for both sides.
Ceddanne Rafaela is out with a right quadriceps strain and was placed on the injured list. Tracy explained that Eli White is a great fill-in because he is fast and plays good defense. But he also “has hit as well,” according to reports. The team needs every bit of offense they can get to beat the Angels. The Red Sox have a deep roster, but they must avoid complacency now.
