This afternoon saw the Sox lose a fake, seven-inning baseball game. They’re coming back with another seven-inning baseball game this evening on NESN and MLB Network (5:10 PM ET). Fakeness of the upcoming game is pending on a Red Sox win.
This will be a homecoming of sorts for former Red Sox prospect Michael Kopech. Shipped to Chicago in the Chris Sale trade in 2016, Kopech has never pitched in Fenway Park. It might’ve happened sooner if not for a late-2018 UCL tear that required Tommy John surgery and sidelined Kopech for a full season. He opted out of last season, but with scheduling the way it was Fenway Park wouldn’t have been in play for Kopech anyway. This will be his first start of the year. Every appearance of his so far has stretched past one inning, so I’m not sure if he’s stretched out, but a shortened game is optimal for an opener should they opt to throw him for only two to three innings.
After winning nine in a row, the Sox have dropped two of their last three, but both have one-run losses. This doesn’t include this afternoon’s ballgame, but per PECOTA no team other than Oakland (who’s on a seven game winning streak) have done more to bolster their playoff percentage over the last week than the Red Sox, bumping themselves up 13.7%. Their odds sit at 27.5% odds to make the playoffs which is fourth in the division. But progress is progress and these wins are banked.
Opposing Kopech will be Martín Pérez. After looking good in his season debut against Tampa Bay, Pérez struggled against his former team in Minnesota. He’ll look to right the ship against a White Sox team stacked with strong, right handed hitting.
Game 16 vs. White Sox
Lineup spot | White Sox | Red Sox |
---|---|---|
Lineup spot | White Sox | Red Sox |
1 | Nick Madrigal, 2B (R) | Enrique Hernández, 2B (R) |
2 | Luis Robert, CF (R) | Alex Verdugo, CF (L) |
3 | Yoán Moncada. 3B (S) | J.D. Martinez, DH (R) |
4 | José Abreu, 1B (R) | Xander Bogaerts, SS (R) |
5 | Yermín Mercedes, DH (R) | Rafael Devers, 3B (L) |
6 | Leury García, RF (S) | Marwin González, 1B (S) |
7 | Andrew Vaughn, LF (R) | Christian Vázquez, C (R) |
8 | Zack Collins, C (L) | Hunter Renfroe, RF (R) |
9 | Danny Mendick, SS (R) | Franchy Cordero, LF (L) |
SP | Michael Kopech, RHP | Martín Pérez, LHP |