SEATTLE -- The Red Sox are in Seattle early this week for what could be a pivotal series against the Mariners. Entering play Monday, Seattle is three games back of Boston (and Toronto) for the first wild-card spot in the American League.
Here’s a series preview:
Boston Red Sox (81-64) vs. Seattle Mariners (77-66) · T-Mobile Park · Seattle, WA
SERIES SCHEDULE (and TV information):
Mon. September 13, 10:10 p.m. ET -- NESN
Tue. September 14, 10:10 p.m. ET -- NESN/MLB Network
Wed. September 15, 4:10 p.m. ET -- NESN/MLB Network
HOW TO WATCH:
Mon. September 13, 10:10 p.m. ET -- NESN (Channel finder: Comcast Xfinity, Verizon Fios, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish, AT&T U verse, fuboTV and Sling) · Live stream: Watch NESN Live, fuboTV, MLB.tv (out of market)
Tue. September 14, 10:10 p.m. ET -- NESN / MLB Network (Channel finder: Comcast Xfinity, Verizon Fios, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish, AT&T U verse, fuboTV and Sling) · Live stream: Watch NESN Live, fuboTV, MLB.tv (out of market)
Wed. September 15, 4:10 p.m. ET -- NESN / MLB Network (Channel finder: Comcast Xfinity, Verizon Fios, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV, Dish, AT&T U verse, fuboTV and Sling) · Live stream: Watch NESN Live, fuboTV, MLB.tv (out of market)
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT:
The Mariners have been one of the most surprising teams in the American League this season and have remained in contention the whole way. Entering Monday, they are three games back of the Red Sox and Blue Jays in the wild-card race.
Seattle has hung around despite a brutal offense, that ranks 27th in the majors in OPS (.684) and last in average (.223), though the club is 12th in the majors in home runs (180). The Mariners’ pitching has been league-average, ranking 15th in baseball in ERA (4.31), tied for 18th in opponent average (.250) and 23rd in strikeouts (1,163).
The M’s had an unusual trade deadline under general manager Jerry Dipoto, playing a hybrid buyer/seller role in late July. The club -- somewhat controversially -- shipped closer Kendall Graveman to the Astros in a deal that brought back infielder Abraham Toro, then acquired starter Tyler Anderson from the Pirates and reliever Diego Castillo from Tampa Bay. Entering the series, Seattle is without first baseman Evan White (strained hip flexor), outfielder Jake Fraley (shoulder inflammation) and pitcher Justin Dunn (strained shoulder). 2021 AL Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis was shut down a few days ago due to issues with his knee; the outfielder only appeared in 36 games this season.
PITCHING PROBABLES:
Monday, 10:10 p.m. ET -- LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (11-8, 5.15 ERA) vs. RHP Logan Gilbert (5-5, 5.10 ERA)
Tuesday, 10:10 p.m. ET -- RHP Nathan Eovaldi (10-8, 3.57 ERA) vs. LHP Tyler Anderson (6-9, 4.20 ERA)
Wednesday, 4:10 p.m. ET -- RHP Tanner Houck (0-4, 3.54 ERA) vs. LHP Marco Gonzales (8-5, 4.03 ERA)
THREE SOX TO WATCH:
Bobby Dalbec
Dalbec, who grew up in Seattle, will play in his hometown for the first time as a major-leaguer. His return home coincides with the best stretch of his career. Since July 31 (min. 100 PA), Dalbec leads the AL in slugging percentage (.728), OPS (1.116), and wRC+ (190), trailing Bryce Harper for the MLB lead in each category (.770 SLG, 1.217 OPS, 208 wRC+).
Nathan Eovaldi
Eovaldi, who ranks second among AL starters in FanGraphs WAR this season (4.9), will pitch Tuesday night. In his last six starts, the righty is 1-1 with a 1.91 ERA and 0.93 WHIP, beginning Aug. 11 (37.2 IP, 29 H, 8 ER, 6 BB, 47 SO).
Tanner Houck
Houck will start Wednesday’s series finale. The rookie righty has struck out 29.2% of his career batters faced (84 of 288), the 2nd-highest mark of any Red Sox over the last 2 seasons (min. 50.0 IP; Barnes, 36.3%).
SERIES NOTES:
- The Red Sox are 6-5 in September... They are 2-5 in their last 7 games, following a 4-game winning streak...They are 11-10 in their last 21 games.
- In 7 of their last 8 wins (including each of their last 4), the Red Sox were tied or trailing when they came to bat in the 7th inning.
- The Red Sox have homered in 18 of their last 20 games...They rank 4th in the AL and 8th in the majors with 191 HR.
- The Sox have 17 games remaining in the regular season (9 road, 8 home)...Their best 17-game stretch of the season is 13-4 (6/14-7/2). 8 of the Sox’ remaining games are vs. teams with at least a .500 record (SEA-3, NYY-3, NYM-2) and 9 are vs. teams with a losing record (BAL-6, WSH-3).
- The Red Sox and Mariners split their 4-game series at Fenway Park in April...Since the start of 2016, the Sox are 17-14 against the Mariners, but just 6-9 in Seattle
- The Red Sox are 7-16 in their last 23 road games, but 5-5 in their last 10...They are 0-3-3 in their last 6 series at T-Mobile Park...The Sox’ last series win in Seattle was in 2013, winning 3 of 4 games from 7/8-11.
- Boston leads the majors in doubles (296) and XBH (507) and rank 4th in runs per game (5.04), 3rd in AVG (.260), 2nd in SLG (.445), and 3rd in OPS (.772).
- The Red Sox feature 6 players who have hit 20+ HR this season: Devers (33), Schwarber (29), Renfroe (27), Martinez (25), Dalbec (21), and Bogaerts (20).
UP NEXT:
The Red Sox will fly home Wednesday night, and after a day off Thursday, begin their final homestand of the season Friday night. Here’s what’s next:
Thu. Sept. 16 -- OFF DAY
Fri. Sept. 17 - Sun. Sept. 19: vs. Orioles (3)
Mon. Sept. 20 -- OFF DAY
Tue. Sept. 21 - Wed. Sept. 22: vs. Mets (2)
Thu. Sept. 23 -- OFF DAY
Fri. Sept. 24 - Sun. Sept. 26 -- vs. Yankees (3)
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