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Red Sox Drop Another to Blue Jays

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TORONTO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Toronto’s Whit Merrifield hit a walk-off infield single with two outs in the 13th inning to lift the host Blue Jays to a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. Merrifield’s chopper to third baseman Rafael Devers against Mauricio Llovera (1-3) scored the designated extra innings runner, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., from third base.

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Boston had taken the lead on an RBI single by Pablo Reyes in the top of the 12th, but Toronto’s Bo Bichette tied the game in the bottom half of the inning with a sacrifice fly.

Toronto’s Chad Green (3-0) earned the win, only issuing an intentional walk in the top half of the 13th.

The Blue Jays tied the game with two outs in the ninth thanks to Daulton Varsho’s two-out RBI triple. Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela initially came in on the ball, and it ended up going over his head.

The Blue Jays (82-67) have won the first two games of the three-game series. Boston (74-75) has lost three straight games overall.

Devers hit a two-run home run for the Red Sox, while Guerrero hit a solo shot for the Blue Jays.

Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt allowed two runs, four hits and three walks with five strikeouts in seven innings.

Boston left-hander Chris Sale allowed one run, two hits and two walks in six-plus innings. He struck out 10.

Wilyer Abreu led off the sixth with a walk and stole second. Devers then hit his 32nd homer of the season.

Guerrero led off the bottom of the seventh with his 24th homer of the season, recording his third consecutive game with a home run.

Josh Winckowski replaced Sale following Guerrero’s long ball and walked three batters to load the bases with two outs. Brennan Bernardino came on in relief to retire pinch hitter Ernie Clement.

Boston’s John Schreiber allowed a one-out single to pinch hitter Cavan Biggio in the ninth, and Biggio took second on a wild pitch. One out later, Varsho ripped his game-tying triple to center.

Plate umpire Jordan Baker left the game following the eighth inning after being hit by two foul balls in the contest.

–Field Level Media

Toronto’s Vlad Hammers Red Sox

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TORONTO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Meet a new boss, same as the old boss?

That could be the Boston Red Sox mantra as they plod towards the end of the 2023 season.

Toronto slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a three-run home run, Jose Berrios pitched seven strong innings and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Boston Red Sox 3-0 Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.

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The Blue Jays (81-67) ended a four-game losing streak and are 4-4 on a 10-game homestand. They were coming off a four-game sweep by the Texas Rangers.

The Red Sox (74-74) were coming off a split of a doubleheader against the visiting New York Yankees on Thursday. Justin Turner hit two doubles to lead the Boston offense.

Berrios (11-10) allowed five hits and no walks while striking out eight.

Boston right-hander Brayan Bello (12-9) gave up the three-run homer to Guerrero, along with three other hits and one walk in six innings, He had a career-best 10 strikeouts.

Toronto took a 3-0 lead in the third. Alejandro Kirk led off the inning with a check-swing double down the right field line. Kirk was out at third on Daulton Varsho’s grounder to shortstop. Bo Bichette walked with two outs and Guerrero hit his 23rd home run of the season on a blast to left-center field.

Berrios retired 10 straight before Turner doubled for the second time with two outs in the sixth. Alex Verdugo struck out to end the inning.

Masataka Yoshida led off the top of the seventh with a single. He was out at second on Wilyer Abreu’s grounder to first. Berrios ended the inning with a strikeout and a flyout.

Jordan Hicks replaced Berrios and pitched a perfect eighth with one strikeout.

Jordan Romano pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning with two strikeouts to record his 35th save of the season.

Notes: Berrios wore No. 21 in honor of Roberto Clemente, who was celebrated across baseball Friday.

Boston first baseman Triston Casas (sore shoulder) was a late scratch but could play Saturday.

Red Sox reliever Chris Murphy, recalled from Triple-A Worcester, struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh and added a perfect eighth.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Stagger Into SkyDome

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TORONTO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – A day after their chief baseball officer was fired, the Boston Red Sox will pay a visit to the Toronto Blue Jays tonight, who are reeling after being swept in a four-game series.

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The Red Sox (74-73) enter the three-game series against the Blue Jays (80-67) with a 7-3 advantage in the season series.

Before splitting a doubleheader with the visiting New York Yankees on Thursday, the Red Sox let Chaim Bloom go after he spent nearly four years as the head of their front office.

The Red Sox won the opener 5-0 and lost the second game 8-5.

“Obviously it’s a decision that ownership made,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “They decided to go this route. We worked together all these years and it’s never easy to hear that. It’s never easy.”

The Red Sox went 267-262 during Bloom’s tenure, finishing last in the American League East in 2020 and 2022 and sitting tied for last this year.

The Blue Jays, meanwhile, lost 9-2 to the visiting Texas Rangers on Thursday to drop all four games of a crucial series.

The Toronto fans were booing for the second game in a row as the Blue Jays were held to four hits. A two-run home run by struggling Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the first inning was all the offense they could muster.

In the race for the final two American League wild-card spots, the Blue Jays fell to 2 1/2 games behind the Rangers (82-64) and 1 1/2 games behind the Seattle Mariners (81-65).

Toronto is 3-4 on a 10-game homestand that ends with the series against Boston.

The Blue Jays are scheduled to start right-hander Jose Berrios (10-10, 3.63 ERA) on Friday. He is 2-6 with a 4.34 ERA in 13 career starts against the Red Sox, including a 1-1 mark with a 6.35 ERA in three starts this year.

Boston is scheduled to start right-hander Brayan Bello (12-8, 3.68) in the opener. He is 1-2 with a 6.50 ERA in four career starts against the Blue Jays. In his lone start against Toronto this year, he allowed four runs (two earned) in five innings during a home win on May 4.

The Blue Jays will hope to bounce back after getting outscored 35-9 by the Rangers in the four-game set.

“This series we played terrible, really, in all facets,” Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman said. “Our pitching staff gave up a lot of runs, and we didn’t score many runs.”

Gausman allowed four runs on six hits and matched his career high by issuing six walks in 4 2/3 innings on Thursday.

“We’re as pissed as anybody. We’re mad,” Gausman said. “We’re all competitors, we don’t like what happened in this series. We’ve got a bad taste in our mouth. But we can’t do anything right now but keep going.”

Blue Jays manager John Schneider added, “We need to hit, we need to pitch better, limit walks. You take the lead in the first inning and you’ve got to continue to find a way to score runs.

“Not a great series, that’s not our best game by any stretch of the imagination.”

The Blue Jays reinstated third baseman Matt Chapman from the injured list on Thursday and optioned outfielder Nathan Lukes to Triple-A Buffalo. Chapman, who had been out since Aug. 28 due to a sprained right middle finger, went 0-for-3 with a walk.

–Field Level Media

Sox Shutout Yankees in Game 1

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BOSTON – (Staff Report) –  In the first game of their doubleheader against the New York Yankees, the Sox snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 9-3 against New York this season. The 5-0 win marked Boston’s fourth shutout this season and was their first shutout over the Yankees since August 14, 2022, a win which also came at Fenway Park (3-0).

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Boston starting pitcher Tanner Houck (5-9) recorded the win, his first scoreless start since April 16, 2022. Houck went 6.0 innings, allowing only four hits and three walks while striking out seven.

The Red Sox have held the Yankees to three or fewer earned runs in 11 of their 12 games and have outscored the Yankees 62-31 over their 12 meetings this year.

Boston centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela went 2-for-4 with a double and solo home run. He became the first Red Sox batter in club history to record a 2B and HR in back-to-back games within their first 14 career MLB games.

Rookie outfielder Wilyer Abreau went 3-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base. He is batting .362 in 16 games (10 starts) sincfe making his debut in the Majors on August 22.

The Yankees have lost eight of their last 13 games at Fenway and are 3-9 vs Boston this season. The game marked New York being the victim of nine shut-outs this season. Michael King took the loss (4-6).

Red Sox Fire Bloom

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BOSTON – (Staff Report with Official Club News Release) – The Boston Red Sox fired the club’s Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom. The move was made abruptly, and announced to the public about one hour before the Red Sox were to take the field against the New York Yankees in a day/night doubleheader.

Bloom was notified of the club’s decision by Red Sox Principal Owner John Henry, Chairman Tom Werner, and President & CEO Sam Kennedy, according to the club statement.

“While parting ways is not taken lightly, today signals a new direction for our club,” said the club’s principal owner John Henry. “Our organization has significant expectations on the field and while Chaim’s efforts in revitalizing our baseball infrastructure have helped set the stage for the future, we will today begin a search for new leadership. Everyone who knows Chaim has a deep appreciation and respect for the kind of person he is. His time with us will always be marked by his professionalism, integrity, and an unwavering respect for our club and its legacy.”

Bloom was named Chief Baseball Officer on October 28, 2019. He has worked in baseball for 19 years, starting as an intern for the Tampa Bay Rays, where he spent 15 years of his career preceding his time with the Red Sox.

Boston went 92-70 and advanced to the American League Championship Series in 2021 but finished last in the division in 2020 and 2022. The Red Sox went 267-262 during Bloom’s tenure.

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In addition to this change, General Manager Brian O’Halloran has been offered a new senior leadership position within the baseball operations department, seemingly on an interim basis once again. O’Halloran was placed in a similar position when the Red Sox abruptly fired their previous head of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, on September 8, 2019.

The search for new baseball operations leadership will begin immediately, said the Red Sox in their statement.

In the interim, the day-to-day operations will continue under the direction of O’Halloran, and Assistant General Managers Eddie Romero, Raquel Ferreira, and Michael Groopman.

Red Sox, Yankees: Tied for the Cellar

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Unmasked: NY Yankees Take Two in Day/Night Twin Bill

BOSTON: (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The four-game series between the Boston Red Sox and the visiting New York Yankees this week is a battle between the bottom two teams in the American League East — not the normal spot for two perennial contenders.

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After being swept in a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday to begin the set, Boston will look to grab a win Wednesday to avoid falling into last place in the division. Both teams are currently 73-72.

“Tough season for both of us, let’s be honest,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “They’ve had their things, and with us, I know before the season not too many people thought we were going to be in the playoff hunt, but we believed. Things haven’t gone our way.”

Things sure didn’t go Boston’s way on Tuesday, as the Red Sox went 0-for-19 with runners in scoring position and were held to three runs on 13 hits over the two games.

The Yankees won the first game 3-2 and the nightcap 4-1.

Among the few highlights of the twin bill for Boston was the continued emergence of rookie Ceddanne Rafaela, who hit his first career homer in the second game.

Rafaela, 22, started at shortstop in Game 1 and in center field in Game 2. According to Elias Sports Bureau, only one player in Red Sox history (Felix Mantilla in 1964) did that previously in a doubleheader.

In addition to improved plate discipline, “the fact that he can be versatile (opens up multiple possibilities),” Cora said of Rafaela. “Versatility is a big part of this game. It helps your roster. He’s a good defender at short, at center field and other positions.”

Boston right-hander Tanner Houck (4-9, 5.28 ERA) is scheduled to start on Wednesday. He allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles while marking his fourth appearance since returning from a facial fracture that kept him off the field for more than two months.

Houck has enjoyed success against the Yankees in his career, going 2-2 with a 2.39 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings over 11 games (six starts). This year, he has no decisions and a 2.70 ERA two starts vs. New York.

After its first doubleheader sweep at Fenway Park in 17 years, New York is 11-4 over its past 15 games. The Yankees broke a seven-game head-to-head skid against Boston.

The Game 2 win was Aaron Boone’s 500th as Yankees manager.

New York was successful in key situations on Tuesday. Gleyber Torres’ go-ahead, two-run single in the sixth inning was one of only five Yankees hits in the opener.

In the nightcap, the Yankees scored two runs in the ninth to clinch the win.

“The end of the season is about having the discipline to go out there and still be at your sharpest and put your best foot forward,” said catcher Kyle Higashioka, who went 3-for-4 in Game 1. “At this point, we’ve got to show some character and finish strong, no matter what the circumstances are.”

Clarke Schmidt (9-8, 4.54 ERA) will start for the Yankees on Wednesday. He was originally set to pitch Monday before the start of the series was delayed due to rain.

Schmidt earned a victory on Sept. 6 against the Detroit Tigers, striking out six over 6 1/3 innings of three-run ball. The 27-year-old right-hander has allowed three or fewer runs in all but one of his past 19 starts while working at least five innings 16 times during that span.

“On the whole, he’s just gotten to be a much better pitcher, more polished pitcher,” Boone said last week. “I think he’s proven that he can be a starter in this league. I think he’s really got a grasp of his arsenal and how to use it and where to use it.”

Schmidt is 0-1 with a 4.03 ERA in seven appearances (three starts) against the Red Sox in his career. In three starts vs. Boston this year, he has no decisions and a 2.87 ERA.

–Field Level Media

First Game Story:

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – A three-run sixth inning lifted the visiting New York Yankees to a 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox in Tuesday afternoon’s opener of a day-night doubleheader.

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Kyle Higashioka had three hits and Gleyber Torres hit a two-run single to lead the Yankees (72-72), who won their second straight following a three-game skid. DJ LeMahieu doubled and scored a run for New York.

Right-hander Jhony Brito (7-7) earned the win after working around three hits in 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief as the last-place Yankees moved within a game of the fourth-place Red Sox.

Rafael Devers hit his 30th home run of the season for the Red Sox (73-71), while Triston Casas had three hits with a double and a run.

New York closer Clay Holmes walked three straight Boston batters with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but Alex Verdugo grounded into a game-ending double play for Holmes’ 19th save.

Right-hander Nick Pivetta (9-9) took the loss despite striking out seven of the first 10 batters he faced and finishing with 10 strikeouts across 5 1/3 innings. Higashioka’s two-out single in the third was the first Yankees hit.

New York starter Randy Vasquez allowed only one hit — a Casas leadoff single in the second — before Devers began the fourth with a first-pitch solo homer to right-center.

Casas wound up scoring the second Boston run after his one-out double in the fourth, moving to third on a ground ball and crossing the plate after a wild pitch.

The Yankees batted around and forced Pivetta out of the game in the midst of a three-run sixth that began when Everson Pereira was hit by a pitch.

Higashioka followed with his second hit before LeMahieu lined an RBI double to left, making it a 2-1 game. Two batters later, New York took a 3-2 lead as Torres shot a two-run single inside the first base bag.

A walk ended Pivetta’s day and reliever Mauricio Llovera stranded the bases loaded to keep the hosts within a run.

The Boston bullpen held the game there, including John Schreiber striking out the side in the ninth to cap two scoreless innings.

Three New York relievers allowed just one combined hit after Vasquez and Brito worked the first six frames.

Vasquez allowed two runs on three hits and struck out three over 3 2/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

Sox, Yankees: Try to Avoid the “Cell-ah”

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BOSTON – The visiting New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, teams battling to avoid the cellar in the American League East, will meet tonight in the first game of a four-game series, weather permitting.

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The Yankees (71-72) are at the bottom of the division, two games behind the fourth-place Red Sox (73-70). Odds available HERE.

New York had lost three in a row until defeating the visiting Milwaukee 4-3 on Sunday. The Yankees prevailed when catcher Kyle Higashioka drove in Everson Pereira with a double in the 13th inning. New York had been no-hit through regulation.

“Really good at-bat,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Obviously (Higashioka has) lost some playing time here of late, but, you know, another guy who’s just a pro. Ready to go. … Excited for him and happy we could pull one out on our way to Boston.”

The Red Sox ended a four-game losing streak by beating Baltimore 7-3 Sunday. Rookie Triston Casas hit a three-run home run — his 24th homer of the season — in the victory.

“Just happy to get a pitch over the middle of the plate to hit,” Casas said. “There were a lot of positives to take out of (Sunday’s win) — and this whole series. It’s really satisfying to at least salvage (one victory in) the series. We know that they didn’t play their best game. They made a couple key errors in some big situations that really could have put the game away, but that’s baseball. We were able to capitalize on those mistakes and come out with a win.”

The Yankees will send right-hander Clarke Schmidt (9-8, 4.54 ERA) to the mound for Monday’s game. Righty Kutter Crawford (6-7, 4.36) is Boston’s probable starter.

Schmidt had gone four appearances without a victory until he earned the win for throwing 6 1/3 innings during Wednesday’s 4-3 victory over Detroit. Schmidt allowed three runs on five hits, struck out six and had no walks. He retired 16 consecutive batters at one point.

Schmidt’s season got off to a rough beginning, as he had a 6.30 ERA though his first nine starts.

“On the whole, he’s just gotten to be a much better pitcher, more polished pitcher,” Boone said. “I think he’s proven that he can be a starter in this league. I think he’s really got a grasp of his arsenal and how to use it and when to use it.

“I think he’s really learned a lot from his experiences from start to start. … Certainly took his lumps the first month or so of the season, but learned a lot from that.”

Schmidt is 0-1 with a 4.03 ERA in seven career appearances (three starts) against the Red Sox. He’s surrendered five home runs in 22 1/3 innings against them.

Crawford is 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA in his career against the Yankees. He’s made five appearances against the Yankees (three starts) and has 19 strikeouts in 19 innings.

Crawford struggled with his command in Tuesday’s 8-6 loss to Tampa Bay. He gave up five runs on three hits, walked four and struck out five in 3 2/3 innings. Crawford has allowed 11 runs in his last two outings (6 1/3 innings).

The Red Sox are 2-7 in their last nine home games.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Avoid the Sweep

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BOSTON – (Staff Report) – In a game delayed 42 minutes due to inclement weather at the start, and an additional 1 hour, 28 minutes in the bottom of the 8th inning –  a total of 2:10 delay – the Red Sox defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 7-3, on the strength of Tristan Casas’ three-run homer in the sixth inning.

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Casas’ game-winner was his 28th home run of the season and tied him for most among MLB rookies with Arizona’s Corbin Carroll and Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson.

Boston’s starting pitcher Brayan Bello earned the victory,  his team-leading 12th win, his fifth at home but first since a July 5th win over Texas. Bello allowed three runs in the second inning, but held the Orioles scoreless by retiring 10 of 13 batters aside from that frame.

Boston’s 3B Rafael Devers hit an RBI single in the fourth inning to give the Red Sox a 4-3 lead. Devers is 12-for-37 over his last eight games.

The Boston victory snapped a seven-game winning streak of the Orioles, with all victories coming on the road. The Orioles finished their nine-game road trip with a 7-2 record (2-1 at ARI, 3-0 at LAA, 2-1 at Fenway).

Orioles starter Grayson Rodriguez took the loss and is 5-4 on the year.

Orioles Overpower Red Sox, 13-12

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Baltimore catcher James McCann hit two home runs to help the visiting Orioles stretch their winning streak to seven games by beating the Boston Red Sox 13-12 on Saturday. McCann belted a two-run home run in the fourth inning and hit a solo shot in the sixth. The homers were his fifth and sixth of the season.

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Justin Turner

Aaron Hicks hit his eighth homer, Jordan Westburg added his third and Gunnar Henderson belted his 24th for the Orioles (90-51), who maintained a four-game lead over Tampa Bay at the top of the American League East standings. Tampa Bay defeated Seattle 7-5 on Saturday.

Baltimore’s seven consecutive victories have all come on the road.

The Red Sox scored three runs against Yennier Cano in the bottom of the ninth but stranded the tying run on third base.

Shintaro Fujinami (7-8) earned the win after pitching 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Boston (72-70) has lost four in a row overall and has dropped its last six home games. Wilyer Abreu collected five of Boston’s 23 hits in the loss.

It was 2-2 in the top of the third when Hicks hit a three-run home run against Boston starting pitcher Chris Sale (6-4), who allowed seven runs (six earned) in four innings. Earlier in the third, Jorge Mateo scored Baltimore’s second run on an Anthony Santander double.

McCann followed with the first of his two homers, which extended Baltimore’s lead to 7-2 in the fourth inning.

Justin Turner’s 23rd home run handed the Red Sox a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the Orioles sliced that deficit in half in the second when Hicks scored on Trevor Story’s throwing error.

Boston added four runs in the fourth. Connor Wong got things going with an RBI single before Alex Verdugo hit a sacrifice fly that drove in Enmanuel Valdez. Wong scored on Henderson’s fielding error, and Rafael Devers made it 7-6 when he scored on a Triston Casas groundout.

Westburg and McCann added solo home runs in the sixth to extend the lead to 9-6, and Henderson’s three-run homer in the seventh pushed the lead to 12-6.

Boston answered with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Abreu hit a two-run double and then scored on a Devers single.

Ramon Urias drove in Austin Hays with a single in the ninth to give Baltimore a 13-9 lead before Story’s two-run double and Abreu’s RBI single pulled Boston within a run in the bottom of the inning.

–Field Level Media

Orioles Pummel Red Sox

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Baltimore Orioles can stretch their winning streak to seven games on Saturday when they face the host Boston Red Sox in the second game of a three-game series.

All six of Baltimore’s previous wins in the burst have come on their current road trip. After a loss to Arizona to begin the trek, the Orioles (89-51) took the final two from the Diamondbacks and then swept three against the Los Angeles Angels. On Friday, they pummeled Boston 11-2.

Baltimore, which collected 14 hits on Friday, enters Saturday’s matchup with a four-game lead over second-place Tampa Bay in the American League East.

Boston (72-69) has lost three in a row overall five straight home games.

“We’re not here to teach them how to play ball. We’re here to win games,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We just have to keep playing hard, and we’ll be OK.”

Prior to the series against Boston, Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde announced that the Orioles are returning to a five-man pitching rotation. The Orioles have been using six starters since mid-August.

Hyde said Cole Irvin would shift from a starter into long relief, but added that the plan to go with five starters could change after the weekend.

“We’re looking ahead with our rotation,” Hyde said. “You try to give yourself the best opportunity (to win). When the season is coming to an end, for the last 20-plus games, you start looking ahead a little bit and try to line guys up the best you can.”

Starting pitcher John Means could factor into the team’s pitching plans. Means, who had Tommy John surgery in April 2022, made what is expected to be his final rehab assignment Wednesday, when he pitched five innings for Triple-A Norfolk.

Right-hander Jack Flaherty (8-8, 4.84 ERA) is Baltimore’s scheduled starter for Saturday. The Orioles acquired Flaherty, 27, from the St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline on Aug. 1. Flaherty was 7-6 with a 4.43 ERA in 20 starts this season with the Cardinals, and is 1-2 with a 6.66 ERA in five starts with the Orioles.

Flaherty, who will be a free agent after the season, allowed four runs on six hits, including two home runs, in Baltimore’s 8-5 victory over Arizona on Sunday. He struck out seven and walked one. This will be the first time Flaherty has faced the Red Sox.

Boston is expected to start lefty Chris Sale (6-3, 4.46). Sale’s velocity has been down since he returned from a stress reaction in his left shoulder blade that was diagnosed following his first start in June, but he tossed five scoreless innings in Boston’s 7-3 win against Kansas City on Sunday. Sale surrendered two hits, struck out five and walked two.

Sale is 10-4 with a 3.46 ERA in 25 career appearances (19 starts) against Baltimore.

The Orioles have won four of their seven meetings with the Red Sox this season.

–Field Level Media

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