Post by Commissioner Erick on Oct 4, 2023 12:08:10 GMT -5
Cleveland Indians (10-13) @ Boston Red Sox (11-12)
CLE: Ernesto Ortega (2-3, 3.96)
BOS: Joe Seale (1-3, 5.48)
Indians 3 Key Stats:
7: Losses in 10 Cleveland road games: Cleveland has been terrible on the road to start this season. They took a series in Minnesota, but dropped three of four in Detroit, and lost the first three in Boston. With Minnesota and Detroit looking frisky, and Kansas City reeling off six wins in a row, Cleveland could be facing a steep uphill climb for the division before the calendar turns to May. Salvaging the finale in Boston would be a step in the right direction.
107: 2030 At bat total of Cleveland’s normal, leadoff, second, and cleanup hitters: Cleveland has trotted out a new look lineup this year. Luis Retana is batting third, but Cleveland has rolled out rookie Bull Puzio leadoff, Jake Bauers, second, and young Marty Murphy batting cleanup. Bauers barely played last year, hitting .236 in 129 plate appearances for Oakland, while Puzio and Murphy combined for a single plate appearance for Cleveland. Early signs are mixed. Bauers has a .321 early average, Murphy is balancing four homers with a .295 on-base percentage, and Puzio is putting up a respectable .728 OPS. None of the gang is tearing it up though, making it unusual to see them so high in the order.
3.48: Cleveland’s starting pitching ERA: The Indians lead the AL in starting pitching ERA. Their starter tonight, Ernesto Ortega, has been their worst starter this year, and he has a respectable 3.96 mark and is a former Cy Young winner and three-time All Star. Ortega hasn’t been bad, but Detroit has hit him well twice in two home outings, with three homers and seven runs allowed in 4.2 innings his last start. Ortega has been merely respectable against a light slate thus far—the aforementioned Tigers three times, and a start against the Rays and White Sox. Boston will be a step up in competition and he’ll need to handle it.
Red Sox 3 Key Stats
11: Luis Villareal home runs: Villareal had such a great start to his Boston career, with 29 homers back in 2025, and a .312 average through an injury-plagued 2026. Since then, he’s sometimes been a starter, sometimes been a backup, sometimes been a platoon option, and the change in role has seen his success tail off. His OPS has declined every year since his 2026 peak, culminating in a dreary .680 mark last season. He’s no longer the DH, playing First Base this year, and the move has revitalized him. The slugger already has 11 homers, which leads the league, as he looks poised for the best year of his career.
5.91: Boston’s bullpen ERA: Boston’s pen had always been stocked with young talent, to the point where it appeared the group would be a special unit for years to come. However, with aging, trades, free agency, and inexplicable performances, the unit is the second worst in the AL in the early going. Steve Hartman has been fine, but a 4.61 ERA is a far cry from four straight years with an ERA beginning with a 1 or a 2. Starter Andy DeShaw has transitioned horribly to the pen, with an 8.56 ERA, while Luis Contreras has an 8.10 mark in the early going. If Cleveland is close late, Boston may be in trouble.
.847: Brock Paradiso’s OPS: Most people would agree that Paradiso’s 38 home runs last year were an aberration he wouldn’t reach again. Most people agreed that his .292 average was too good to repeat in a future year. Those people were absolutely right—and Paradiso is still proving he’s a damn good player. The Red Sox average has a .256 average, but his patient eye, and the fear he commands based on last season, has led to 15 walks, resulting in a .371 OBP. He has a solid four homers in the early going, plus six more doubles. He hasn’t been great tracking down balls in the field, but his arm has been strong in the early going. If this is the real Brock Paradiso, this is still one of the best outfielders in the American League.
Questions for the GMs:
For Chris Stephan, Danny Knoch and Larry Evans appear to be healed up. Will we see them today?
Julian Infante is still shaking off a sprained ankle. Will he see any time on the IL?
Is Bill Puzio good enough to bat leadoff and start in Right Field for an AL Central champion?
For Mike Ball, Juan Inzunza is eligible to come off the IL. Will he be activated today or go on rehab?
Sergio Murillo has 16 days left on rehab. Will you call him up and give him more time to get innings under his belt in Pawtucket?
Luis Villareal is off to a great start, but so is Mark Patterson, and Yeong-seon Khang is on the roster as well. How will you divide your First Base innings?
TRIVIA: Who is the only Boston Red Sox pitcher to start more than 136 games with the team?
CLE: Ernesto Ortega (2-3, 3.96)
BOS: Joe Seale (1-3, 5.48)
Indians 3 Key Stats:
7: Losses in 10 Cleveland road games: Cleveland has been terrible on the road to start this season. They took a series in Minnesota, but dropped three of four in Detroit, and lost the first three in Boston. With Minnesota and Detroit looking frisky, and Kansas City reeling off six wins in a row, Cleveland could be facing a steep uphill climb for the division before the calendar turns to May. Salvaging the finale in Boston would be a step in the right direction.
107: 2030 At bat total of Cleveland’s normal, leadoff, second, and cleanup hitters: Cleveland has trotted out a new look lineup this year. Luis Retana is batting third, but Cleveland has rolled out rookie Bull Puzio leadoff, Jake Bauers, second, and young Marty Murphy batting cleanup. Bauers barely played last year, hitting .236 in 129 plate appearances for Oakland, while Puzio and Murphy combined for a single plate appearance for Cleveland. Early signs are mixed. Bauers has a .321 early average, Murphy is balancing four homers with a .295 on-base percentage, and Puzio is putting up a respectable .728 OPS. None of the gang is tearing it up though, making it unusual to see them so high in the order.
3.48: Cleveland’s starting pitching ERA: The Indians lead the AL in starting pitching ERA. Their starter tonight, Ernesto Ortega, has been their worst starter this year, and he has a respectable 3.96 mark and is a former Cy Young winner and three-time All Star. Ortega hasn’t been bad, but Detroit has hit him well twice in two home outings, with three homers and seven runs allowed in 4.2 innings his last start. Ortega has been merely respectable against a light slate thus far—the aforementioned Tigers three times, and a start against the Rays and White Sox. Boston will be a step up in competition and he’ll need to handle it.
Red Sox 3 Key Stats
11: Luis Villareal home runs: Villareal had such a great start to his Boston career, with 29 homers back in 2025, and a .312 average through an injury-plagued 2026. Since then, he’s sometimes been a starter, sometimes been a backup, sometimes been a platoon option, and the change in role has seen his success tail off. His OPS has declined every year since his 2026 peak, culminating in a dreary .680 mark last season. He’s no longer the DH, playing First Base this year, and the move has revitalized him. The slugger already has 11 homers, which leads the league, as he looks poised for the best year of his career.
5.91: Boston’s bullpen ERA: Boston’s pen had always been stocked with young talent, to the point where it appeared the group would be a special unit for years to come. However, with aging, trades, free agency, and inexplicable performances, the unit is the second worst in the AL in the early going. Steve Hartman has been fine, but a 4.61 ERA is a far cry from four straight years with an ERA beginning with a 1 or a 2. Starter Andy DeShaw has transitioned horribly to the pen, with an 8.56 ERA, while Luis Contreras has an 8.10 mark in the early going. If Cleveland is close late, Boston may be in trouble.
.847: Brock Paradiso’s OPS: Most people would agree that Paradiso’s 38 home runs last year were an aberration he wouldn’t reach again. Most people agreed that his .292 average was too good to repeat in a future year. Those people were absolutely right—and Paradiso is still proving he’s a damn good player. The Red Sox average has a .256 average, but his patient eye, and the fear he commands based on last season, has led to 15 walks, resulting in a .371 OBP. He has a solid four homers in the early going, plus six more doubles. He hasn’t been great tracking down balls in the field, but his arm has been strong in the early going. If this is the real Brock Paradiso, this is still one of the best outfielders in the American League.
Questions for the GMs:
For Chris Stephan, Danny Knoch and Larry Evans appear to be healed up. Will we see them today?
Julian Infante is still shaking off a sprained ankle. Will he see any time on the IL?
Is Bill Puzio good enough to bat leadoff and start in Right Field for an AL Central champion?
For Mike Ball, Juan Inzunza is eligible to come off the IL. Will he be activated today or go on rehab?
Sergio Murillo has 16 days left on rehab. Will you call him up and give him more time to get innings under his belt in Pawtucket?
Luis Villareal is off to a great start, but so is Mark Patterson, and Yeong-seon Khang is on the roster as well. How will you divide your First Base innings?
TRIVIA: Who is the only Boston Red Sox pitcher to start more than 136 games with the team?
