Game of the Week: May 23: BOS @ TOR

[Commissioner Erick]

Boston Red Sox (26-21) @ Toronto Blue Jays (22-24)


BOS: Luis Espinoza (5-3, 4.27)
TOR: Devin Ortiz (1-5, 5.60)


Two AL East teams won over 100 games last year: The Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. The two AL East contenders will do battle in late May in the Game of the Week.

The Toronto Blue Jays offense has really struggled this year, ranking 14th in runs. The team has just a .675 OPS against righties, second worst in the AL. The team, at least, has a .745 OPS against lefties, which is a good thing with Boston rolling out Luis Esparza. Toronto could use a win as they’re almost two months in and have a losing record.

Boston, for their part, is playing well. After a tough start to the month, they’ve split four in Chicago against a good White Sox team, took a series in Baltimore against a good Orioles team, won a pair of one-run games to take a series against the Mariners, split two at home against a strong Rockies club, and took care of business against a plucky Astros club. A good series against Toronto could really give the Red Sox a strong lead in a tough AL East.


Questions for the GMs:


For Mike Ball, Sergio Murillo and Dale Messina have been on rehab for a week. Will they be coming off the IL today?

Your bullpen was the best in the league last year. The unit is a less dominant third this year, but the short relievers in the late innings remain strong. Are you happy with the pen’s performance this year?

Kevin Harmon’s mostly kept the position players standing, and your team has less depth than years past. Has that simplified the managerial process for you?

For Aaron Dunham, Toronto has been at or near the top of the home run leaderboards since 2025 essentially, but is only 12th in homers so far. Are you concerned with the power outage?

Seth Beer isn’t showing the power he showed with the Phillies and is playing like a league-average hitter. How concerned are you that this is his new normal?

Devin Ortiz has a 5.60 ERA, but also didn’t have a Spring Training. Do you expect him to turn things around?


TRIVIA: Who is the only player to have pitched more than 1 inning for Toronto’s 2024 Championship team who has pitched in a game in 2033?

[Mike RedSox]

Sergio Murillo and Dale Messina have been on rehab for a week. Will they be coming off the IL today?

Nope, I will let them get plenty of time.

Your bullpen was the best in the league last year. The unit is a less dominant third this year, but the short relievers in the late innings remain strong. Are you happy with the pen’s performance this year?

I'm fairly happy, there's some tweaking that can be done.

Kevin Harmon’s mostly kept the position players standing, and your team has less depth than years past. Has that simplified the managerial process for you?

Yeah, money is so tight, I have this org on life support, just gonna let the best guys play, nobody gets rest.

[torontogm]

Toronto has been at or near the top of the home run leaderboards since 2025 essentially, but is only 12th in homers so far. Are you concerned with the power outage?
No, I don't build my team focused on home runs. It's most of the same team that was dominant last year, so I think we just have small sample size so far.

Seth Beer isn’t showing the power he showed with the Phillies and is playing like a league-average hitter. How concerned are you that this is his new normal?
Even if 25 HR power is his new normal, I am not concerned. I hope the batting average improves, but I think it will. He has been pretty unlucky and has great K and BB numbers.

Devin Ortiz has a 5.60 ERA, but also didn’t have a Spring Training. Do you expect him to turn things around?
He already has.

[Commissioner Erick]

Red Sox 12 - Blue Jays 2


WP: L. Espinoza (6-3)
LP: D. Ortiz (1-6)


Boston took on Toronto in front of a lively crowd.

Luis Morales was a vital contributor to the 12-2 Boston victory over Toronto. The Red Sox center fielder was 3 for 6 with a home run and 2 singles, while scoring 2 times and driving in 5. Luis Espinoza, the winner, is now 6-3. He struck out 6 and walked 2 over 8 innings, while allowing 1 run on 2 hits.

Boston relied on the hitting of Doug Rothenberg to pick up the win. The second baseman ripped a 2-run triple in the top of the second inning to put the Red Sox on top, 3-0. For the game, Rothenberg had 1 triple and 1 single in 6 at-bats.

"Our goal is to improve each and every day," Morales told the Boston Gazette.

With the win, Boston raised its record to 27-21.


Questions for the GMs:


For Mike Ball, Luis Espinoza had a few rough patches this year, but his last three starts have been excellent, going 8 innings and allowing three runs to a great Orioles lineup, shutting down Colorado's potent attack with a single run over 7, and then dominating Toronto, allowing an inherited run to score in the ninth after 8 shutout frames. He's been great in the past for you as well. Do you plan on resigning him to a long term deal?

The heart of your lineup has been producing, how big was it for you to get production from the bottom of the lineup as well?

Toronto's been your main competition for the division the last half decade, how important was it to destroy them in your first game in their home stadium this year?

For Aaron Dunham, today was about as bad a game as you could have played. How disappointing is was to be so non-competitive against your main AL East rivals?

Your offense has been struggling all year and did nothing until the ninth. Do you need to make any changes?

I know you mentioned that Devin Ortiz was turning things around, but he had nothing for Boston. How much longer can you go with him getting rocked by the good offenses in the league?


TRIVIA: Devasarasa Lalitesh was once traded for a future All-Star. Who was that All Star?

[Mike RedSox]

Luis Espinoza had a few rough patches this year, but his last three starts have been excellent, going 8 innings and allowing three runs to a great Orioles lineup, shutting down Colorado's potent attack with a single run over 7, and then dominating Toronto, allowing an inherited run to score in the ninth after 8 shutout frames. He's been great in the past for you as well. Do you plan on resigning him to a long term deal?

Doubtful, I'm financially strapped.

The heart of your lineup has been producing, how big was it for you to get production from the bottom of the lineup as well?

For sure, it's a tough lineup to manage, there's a big drop off, so we'll want to have those guy sget ample playing time and really step up.

Toronto's been your main competition for the division the last half decade, how important was it to destroy them in your first game in their home stadium this year?

Nothing more fun than kicking their ass at home, but we need to take the show on the road and really get some space between us and them.

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 1: Luke correctly guessed Tristan Casas

[Commissioner Erick]

TRIVIA 2: Nobody guessed Luis Castaneda