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Red Sox Acquire Adley Rutschman

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Red Sox acquired catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles, along with catcher Jake Rogers and cash considerations, in exchange for catcher Carlos Narváez, minor league right-handed pitchers Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon, minor league outfielder Enddy Azocar, and a player to be named later or cash considerations.

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Rutschman, 28, has been selected as an American League All-Star in three of the last four seasons (2023-24, 2026), while winning a Silver Slugger Award and being selected to the All-MLB First Team in 2023. The switch-hitter has played in 67 games for Baltimore this season, batting .251 (62-for-247) with a .331 on-base percentage, .764 OPS, 30 runs scored, 19 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, and 47 RBI while making 49 starts as the catcher and 16 as the designated hitter. He has thrown out 14 of 34 runners attempting to steal (41%), tied for the most in the Majors this season, while ranking fifth among catchers in FanGraphs’ WAR (2.3) and strikeout rate (14.1%, minimum 200 plate appearances). He was placed on the 10-Day Injured List with left wrist inflammation on July 20.

Selected by the Orioles with the first overall pick in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, the Oregon native has hit .254 (540-for-2,126) with 289 runs scored, 122 doubles, six triples, 69 home runs, and 277 RBI in 572 career Major League games, all with Baltimore (2022-26). Since his Major League debut on May 21, 2022, he ranks second among catchers in doubles, third in hits and FanGraphs’ WAR (17.3), fourth in runs scored, and seventh in RBI.

Rogers, 31, was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Orioles on July 30. The right-handed hitter has played in 39 games this season for Detroit (36 games) and Baltimore (three games), making 33 starts as the catcher and batting .163 (16-for-98) with 11 runs scored, two doubles, one triple, three home runs, and nine RBI. Against left-handed pitchers, he has batted .273 (6-for-22) with an .815 OPS. Selected by the Houston Astros in the third round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft, the Texas native has played in 370 career Major League games with the Tigers (2019-26) and Orioles (2026).

Narváez, 27, has played in 62 games this season, making 56 starts as the catcher while batting .187 (32-for-171) with six doubles and three home runs. Originally signed as an international free agent by the New York Yankees in July 2015, the Venezuela native has hit .225 (132-for-587) in 186 career Major League games with the Yankees (2024) and Red Sox (2025-26).

Eyanson, 21, is ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox’ No. 2 prospect and top pitching prospect, as well as baseball’s No. 33 overall prospect. The right-hander has pitched in 16 games (15 starts) for High-A Greenville (five starts) and Double-A Portland (11 games, 10 starts) in his first professional season, going 4-0 with a 1.32 ERA (10 ER/68.1 IP) and 94 strikeouts. Selected by Boston in the third round of the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, the California native represented the American League at the 2026 All-Star Futures Game on July 12.

Witherspoon, 21, is ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 3 prospect, as well as baseball’s No. 97 overall prospect. The right-hander has made 17 starts for High-A Greenville in his first professional season, going 3-5 with a 4.78 ERA (40 ER/75.1 IP) and 78 strikeouts. The Missouri native was selected by Boston in the first round (No. 15 overall) of the 2025 First-Year Player Draft.

Azocar, 19, is ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox’ No. 5 prospect. In 85 games this season between Single-A Salem (39 games) and High-A Greenville (46 games), the right-handed hitter has batted .286 (105-for-367) with a .341 on-base percentage, .881 OPS, 76 runs scored, 27 doubles, six triples, 18 home runs, and 63 RBI while making 70 starts in center field, 13 as the designated hitter, one in left field, and one in right field. Signed by Boston as an international free agent in January 2024, the Venezuela native has hit .262 (202-for-771) with 133 runs scored and 105 RBI in 201 career minor league games, all in the Red Sox organization.

Sox Acquire Reliever But Part With Marcelo Mayer

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Red Sox acquired left-handed pitcher Erik Miller and minor league outfielder Carlos Gutierrez from the San Francisco Giants, in exchange for infielder Marcelo Mayer.

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Miller, 28, has made 38 appearances for the Giants this season, going 2-0 with 10 holds, four saves, a 2.76 ERA (10 ER/32.2 IP), and 45 strikeouts. The left-hander ranks in MLB’s 90th percentile or higher in average exit velocity (99th, 83.1 MPH), expected batting average (98th, .181), hard-hit rate (98th, 27.4%), whiff rate (97th, 34.8%), strikeout rate (95th, 31.7%), and groundball rate (92nd, 53.4%). He has made 14 consecutive scoreless appearances, beginning on June 19, tossing 13.0 innings over that span while recording a 0.85 WHIP and .143 opponent batting average (6-for-42).

Originally selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the fourth round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, the Missouri native owns a 3.05 ERA (44 ER/130.0 IP), a .210 opponent batting average (97-for-461), and 154 strikeouts in 147 career games (10 starts) with the Giants (2024-26). In his career, he has held left-handed hitters to a .189 batting average (35-for-185) and .550 OPS.

Gutierrez, 21, is ranked by Baseball America as the Giants’ No. 24 prospect. The left-handed hitter has played in 83 games for High-A Eugene this season, batting .271 (81-for-299) with an .826 OPS, 18 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 45 RBI, and 26 stolen bases while making 64 starts in left field, 18 as the designated hitter, and one in center field. Signed by San Francisco as an international free agent in January 2023, the Mexico native has hit .314 (200-for-637) with 33 doubles, nine triples, 12 home runs, 85 RBI, 64 stolen bases, and an .866 OPS in 168 career minor league games, all in the Giants’ organization.

Mayer, 23, has played in 70 games for Boston this season, hitting .220 (45-for-205) with 19 runs scored, 10 doubles, three home runs, and 22 RBI while making 39 starts at second base and 20 at shortstop. The left-handed hitter was placed on the 10-Day Injured List on June 26 with a bone stress reaction to the left ulna. Selected by the Red Sox in the first round (No. 4 overall) of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, the California native has hit .223 (74-for-332) in 114 career Major League games, all with Boston (2025-26).

Sox Stay Hot, Hot, Hot

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LOS ANGELES – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Ceddanne Rafaela hit two home runs, Andruw Monasterio doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the visiting Red Sox slipped past the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-2, on Saturday.

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Left-hander Payton Tolle gave up two runs on nine hits over six innings with seven strikeouts as the Red Sox opened August with a victory after they went 21-4 in July to set a franchise record for a full month with a .840 winning percentage.

Right-hander Justin Slaten (2-4) replaced Tolle and pitched the seventh inning before left-hander Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth inning for his 27th save as Boston played without first baseman Willson Contreras as a precaution after he was hit in the helmet by a pitch on Friday.

After winning the first two games in the series, the Red Sox are 5-1 on a seven-game California road trip that included a stop to face the Athletics.

Teoscar Hernandez hit a home run among his three hits for the Dodgers, who lost for the fourth time in their past six games. Freddie Freeman also had three hits and has seven multi-hit games over his last nine contests.

Los Angeles right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-7) continued a run of solid pitching since the All-Star break by allowing three runs on four hits over eight innings but still took the loss. The Dodgers had 10 hits to four for the Red Sox but were hitless in four at-bats with runners in scoring position and stranded seven.

Boston took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Rafaela hit his first home run of the game on a drive to left-center field against Yamamoto.

The Dodgers took a 2-1 lead in the second inning on Hernandez’s two-run home run to right field. It was his 10th of the season and second in three games.

Boston tied the score 2-2 in the third on another home run from Rafaela. It was his 14th of the season and his third in a span of four at-bats going back to the series opener on Friday.

Monasterio doubled to lead off the eighth, went to third on a Jarren Duran bunt single and scored on a double-play grounder by Connor Wong.

–Field Level Media

Sox Win vs. LA Caps a 24-2 July

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LOS ANGELES – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Ceddanne Rafaela hit a two-run homer and Andruw Monasteiro added a two-run double in a five-run seventh inning as the visiting Boston Red Sox earned a 9-4 ​victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday in the opener of a ‌three-game series. Jarren Duran drove in two runs one day after he caused a stir when he gestured toward third base after Willson Contreras did not tag up from third base on his fly ball. Boston interim manager ​Chad Tracy continued to downplay the incident.

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The Red Sox saw Contreras depart for precautionary ​reasons in the third inning after he was hit in the side of ⁠the helmet on a 95.4 mph fastball from Dodgers right-hander Will Klein. Boston improved to 4-1 ​on a seven-game road trip, 12-3 since the All-Star break and 21-4 in July, their best ​winning percentage (.840) in any month in franchise history.
Shohei Ohtani hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers one game after he sat out with left knee discomfort. Freddie Freeman (3-for-4) and Eliezer Alfonzo each drove in a run, while ​Cole Irvin (0-1) was tagged for six runs on eight hits over six innings in his Dodgers ​debut.
The Red Sox took the early lead when Duran delivered an RBI single to center in the second ‌off ⁠Klein, who was replaced by Irvin after hitting Contreras to load the bases. Masataka Yoshida hit a ground ball to first base that Freeman misplayed for an error, allowing two runs to score for a 3-0 lead.
The Dodgers began to chip away in the fourth on an RBI single ​from Freeman. Los Angeles took ​a 4-3 lead in ⁠the fifth when Alfonzo had an RBI single and Ohtani followed with a two-run blast, his 24th, off reliever Jovani Moran.
The Red Sox moved ​back in front for good at 5-4 in the seventh on ​Rafaela’s two-run shot ⁠off Irvin. It was Rafaela’s 12th of the season. Five batters later, Monasterio ripped his two-run double to left and Duran followed with an RBI groundout for an 8-4 lead. Carlos Narvaez added a ⁠sacrifice fly ​in the ninth.
Boston left-hander Ranger Suarez was charged with ​three runs on four hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings in his second start since returning from a left ​groin strain and an illness. Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello (3-6) pitched four scoreless innings.
–Field Level Media

Sox vs. Shohei Ohtani

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LOS ANGELES – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – After Shohei Ohtani received an unexpected day off, the Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to have their star back at the top of the order to open a three-game series against the visiting Boston Red Sox tonight.

Ohtani has been dealing with a sore left knee and some right biceps tightness of late, which has forced him out of the rotation since the return from the All-Star break, but not from the designated hitter spot until Thursday.

After a recent run of five hits in seven at-bats, including three extra-base hits, Ohtani went in for treatment on his knee late Wednesday and was given some downtime.

“The last couple days he’s been on base a lot more, so I think that’s been a good thing in one sense whereas the last part of the (recent) road trip he wasn’t,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “So there might have been a little something to that.”

Ohtani received an injection in the knee during the All-Star break and had been making progress with the injury, according to Roberts.

With Tommy Edman in the leadoff spot Thursday, and Teoscar Hernandez serving as the designated hitter, the Dodgers earned a 6-2 victory over the Mariners to take two of the three games in the series. Hernandez hit his first home run since July 3, while Dalton Rushing added a three-run shot.

With Ohtani out of the mix in a six-man rotation, Roberts has resorted to bullpen games on occasion, with another one set for Friday. Right-hander Edgardo Henriquez (4-1, 2.79 ERA) is set to pitch the opening inning.

The Red Sox have a trio of left-handers lined up to face the Dodgers over the weekend, with Ranger Suarez (4-3, 3.02) set to take the ball in the series opener.

Suarez returned from the injured list Sunday, after recovering from a left groin strain and an illness, then delivered four scoreless innings in an eventual victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

“The first couple innings, I was kind of nervous, because I didn’t know how I was going to feel,” Suarez said. “After that, I felt pretty good.”

Suarez gave up four hits with six strikeouts and threw 64 pitches.

“(For) three weeks I never stopped throwing,” Suarez said. “I wasn’t surprised I had my command.”

In eight career appearances (five starts) against the Dodgers, Suarez is 3-2 with 3.64 ERA.

Boston arrived at Los Angeles after rallying for a 5-4 road victory over the Athletics on Thursday with back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning from Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras.

The Red Sox improved to 20-3 since July 3 and 25-5 since June 25 when they entered the day with a 32-46 record.

In the midst of his own rough season, Boston’s Jarren Duran appeared to question why Contreras did not tag up from third base on his fly ball in the sixth inning. He gestured back toward the infield as he returned to the dugout. After the game, Duran downplayed the incident.

“That’s nothing. It’s something that, within the team, that we have, that we work on, and it’s nothing,” Duran told reporters. “Like, you guys don’t need to know. Nobody needs to know. That’s something between us and the team that we know (what) it’s about. That doesn’t really matter.”

–Field Level Media

Eighth Inning Back-to-Backs Boost Sox

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WEST SACRAMENTO – (Wire Service Report) – Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras hit back-to-back homers in the eighth inning to help the Boston Red Sox notch a 5-4 victory over the Athletics on Thursday in California.

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Sonny Gray went seven innings and Aroldis Chapman worked out of a jam in the ninth as the Red Sox claimed their third win in the conclusion of a four-game series. Ceddanne Rafaela had two hits and two RBIs and Contreras also had two hits for Boston, which has won 20 of its past 23 games.

Lawrence Butler and Jacob Wilson each had two hits and one RBI for the Athletics, who have lost five of six games and 26 of their past 33.

A’s All-Star Nick Kurtz (bruised left forearm) went 0-for-4 with a walk one day after being hit by a pitch. His Thursday MRI exam came back clean.

Abreu led off the eighth with the tying blast against Luis Medina (2-3). He smacked a 2-1 changeup 422 feet, sending it over the fence in straightaway center.

Contreras blasted the next pitch well over the wall in left-center to put Boston ahead. He jumped on a curveball and swatted it 414 feet.

In the bottom of the ninth, Athletics pinch hitter Alika Williams doubled off the center field wall with one out. Chapman then struck out pinch hitter Colby Thomas and Kurtz to record his 26th save.

Gray (13-2) gave up four runs and seven hits. He struck out five and walked two.

Greg Weissert worked a scoreless eighth for Boston.

The Red Sox scored three times in the fifth to overcome a 3-0 deficit.

A’s starter Mason Barnett started the inning by plunking Caleb Durbin, who moved to second on a grounder by Jarren Duran. Andruw Monasterio singled to center to score Durbin.

One out later, Anthony Seigler reached on an infield hit. Rafaela then ripped a two-run double to left to tie the score.

The Athletics moved back ahead in the sixth when Butler doubled and came around to score thanks to two fly balls. Cortes hit the tiebreaking sacrifice fly to left as Butler narrowly beat Duran’s throw.

Barnett allowed three runs and four hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked one.

Carlos Cortes drew a walk to start the bottom of the third inning and moved to second on an infield out. He advanced to third when shortstop Monasterio booted Kurtz’s grounder. Wilson then drilled a single to center to score Cortes.

One inning later, Jonah Heim led off with a double and scored on Butler’s one-out two-bagger. Jeff McNeil followed with a single to put runners on the corners. After Cortes struck out, Donovan Walton singled to right, plating Butler.

–Field Level Media

Can the Red Sox Take the Series v. A’s

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WEST SACRAMENTO – (Wire Service Report) – When the Boston Red Sox were struggling and sitting 11 games below .500 on July 1, Sonny Gray appeared to be a for-sure departure ahead of Monday’s trade deadline.

But Boston has soared back into contention with 19 victories in 22 games. The right-handed Gray has been a season-long standout entering tonight’s start in the finale of a four-game series against the Athletics in California’s Capitol city.

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Suddenly, chatter is increasing that the Red Sox might be interested in working out an extension with the 36-year-old Gray (12-2, 2.78 ERA). This is his first season with Boston but he is finishing a three-year, $75 million deal.

Regardless, Gray will be looking to have a bounce-back start on Thursday. After winning 10 straight decisions, he allowed a season high-tying five runs on a season-worst 10 hits in five innings while losing 6-0 to the visiting Toronto Blue Jays last Saturday.

Gray had allowed just four runs in 32 1/3 innings for a 1.11 ERA over his previous five starts before the unconventional poor outing.

“I’m not happy about it,” Gray said afterward. “But sometimes, that’s part of it. I’ll be OK. … Games like this happen.”

Gray is 2-2 with a 4.58 ERA in seven career starts against the Athletics, the team with which he began his career from 2013-17.

The Red Sox have scored just 11 runs in the series but have won two of the first three games.

Andruw Monasterio was the hero on Wednesday as he smacked a two-run homer in the top of the 10th inning to lead Boston to a 4-2 victory. Monasterio had three hits.

“I just tried to get a good pitch,” Monasterio said of the winning blast against Jose Suarez. “It was a good pitch, 2-0, and I tried to get it in front and I hit a homer.”

Jahmai Jones also homered and Caleb Durbin had three hits for the Red Sox, who have won 11 of their past 12 road games. Nick Sogard had two hits and an RBI and Ceddanne Rafaela also had two hits for Boston.

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Athletics All-Star slugger Nick Kurtz (left forearm) is unlikely to be available for the finale and will undergo an MRI exam on Thursday. X-rays performed Wednesday were “unclear,” according to manager Mark Kotsay.

“We’re going to have an MRI done in the morning, so we’ll have a better idea of what exactly is going on,” Kotsay told reporters. “The X-rays were kind of unclear right now. So we’re hoping for the best”

Kurtz sustained a contusion when hit by left-hander Patrick Sandoval’s pitch in the first inning. Kurtz stayed in to run the bases but left after the inning.

Kurtz was playing in just his fifth game after serving a stint on the 10-day injured list due to a right thumb capsule sprain earlier this month. He was forced out of the All-Star Game due to the injury.

Jonah Heim homered among three hits and Lawrence Butler went deep and doubled for the Athletics, who have lost 25 of their last 32 contests.

Right-hander Mason Barnett (1-1, 4.74) will take the ball first for the Athletics in a contest that will include multiple relievers.

Barnett has made 14 relief appearances this season. His longest effort was a four-inning scoreless stint against the Houston Astros on June 5.

Barnett, 25, was the second pitcher used in last Saturday’s 2-0 setback against the Minnesota Twins. He took the loss and gave up two runs and four hits over 3 1/3 innings.

Barnett started twice against the Red Sox last season and had a 5.87 ERA in two no-decisions. Jarren Duran is 3-for-5 with a double off Barnett.

–Field Level Media

Sox Stall In Sacramento

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WEST SACRAMENTO – The Boston Red Sox’s bats have cooled despite the team playing in one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks in the majors the past two nights.

Boston will attempt to restart its offense on Wednesday night when it faces the Athletics in the third contest of a four-game set at Sutter Health Park in the Capitol city of California.

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The Red Sox scored five or more runs in eight of their first 10 games following the All-Star break. But they have just seven runs while splitting the first two games with the A’s. All of Boston’s runs in Monday’s 4-2 victory came courtesy of Ceddanne Rafaela’s grand slam that was nearly grabbed at the wall. In Tuesday’s 4-3 setback, Connor Wong’s two-run homer with two outs in the ninth brought the Red Sox within one run before Anthony Seigler flew out to deep center to end it.

Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said the Athletics deserve credit.

“They are pitching pretty good, I will tell you that,” he said. “… It took a series of really good at-bats in the eighth and ninth off the bullpen to get close there. It was a great finish. Seigler came up just short. You have to tip your hats sometimes.”

Tuesday’s loss was only the third in 21 games for the Red Sox. It also snapped a 10-game road winning streak. Boston’s 15-game winning streak was broken last Wednesday in a 5-1 loss against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Athletics won for just the seventh time in their past 31 games. Journeyman Brian Serven hit a two-run homer in his third big league game of the season. It was his first blast since 2022.

Serven is in the majors because of the loss of All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers (right knee), who underwent surgery to repair meniscus damage Tuesday but wasn’t ruled out for the season.

“It’s really exciting. It had been a while since I’d hit one in the majors,” Serven said. “What happened to Shea is awful. I’m just trying to do my part however I can.”

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said he isn’t sure whether Langeliers (23 homers) can make it back this season.

“It’s very unlikely, but I don’t put anything past Shea with the way he handles himself and how he’s going to attack his rehab,” Kotsay said. “A lot of it will depend on his progress, and if it’s a benefit for him to come back and (be the designated hitter).”

Boston placed infielder Curtis Mead (fractured left wrist) on the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday’s game. He’ll learn Wednesday whether he needs surgery.

Mead was hit on the wrist with a pitch Monday while playing in his first game with the Red Sox after being acquired from the Washington Nationals.

“I came here to play and be with the group down the stretch,” Mead said. “So yeah, it’s definitely disappointing. But I’m hopeful that I can be back soon.”

Left-hander Patrick Sandoval (0-0, 3.21 ERA) will start for Boston on Wednesday night. It will be his fourth start since returning from Tommy John surgery.

Sandoval worked 4 2/3 innings of five-hit scoreless ball against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. He exited after 84 pitches, and the Red Sox won 6-4.

Sandoval, 29, has made more starts (11) vs. the Athletics than against any other team due to formerly being with the Los Angeles Angels, another American League West team. He is 4-4 with a 2.56 ERA vs. the A’s.

Left-hander Jacob Lopez (5-4, 6.12 ERA) will take the mound for the Athletics on Wednesday. Lopez, 28, beat the Minnesota Twins 2-0 last Friday when he gave up one hit in five scoreless innings.

–Field Level Media

It’s On to The Athletics

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SACRAMENTO – (Wire Service Report) – The Athletics’ season has been in a free fall in recent weeks and there is likely no recovering from the latest blow.

The Athletics could learn Monday that All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers requires season-ending knee surgery before they later take the field against the Boston Red Sox at the A’s temporary home in West Sacramento, California. Langeliers reportedly sustained a torn meniscus in his right knee during Friday’s game against the Minnesota Twins and was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday.

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“We’re looking at the situation and making sure that he gets the best advice, the best care and, hopefully, the quickest recovery,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said after Sunday’s 11-8 road loss to the Twins.

Langeliers started for the American League in the recent All-Star Game and leads AL catchers in homers (23) and hits (99). This is the fourth straight season in which he has smacked more than 20 homers.

His loss comes at a time in which the A’s have lost 23 of their past 29 games. The Athletics were at .500 on June 19 but now sit 17 games below the mark entering the four-game set against the lava-hot Red Sox.

Boston has won 17 of its last 19 games after Sunday’s 6-1 victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.

The once-floundering team is now in the thick of the AL wild-card chase. The Red Sox are in second place in a race in which only one team below them — the third-place Cleveland Guardians — are above .500.

Jarren Duran helped fuel Sunday’s victory with three singles, two RBIs and one steal.

“I think we’re just settling into ourselves,” Duran told reporters. “Early on, we were still trying to find our identity. I feel like we’re just now coming into what we knew we could be. It’s showing and the boys have bought in since Day One.

“It’s just  baseball and we were going through that grind and we’re starting to roll and it’s awesome to see.”

Jahmai Jones contributed a pinch-hit, two-run double as Boston scored at least five runs for the eighth time during an 8-2 homestand.

“We had some really good performances across the board,” Jones said. “I felt like it was a really good team day.”

Boston sends left-hander Payton Tolle (5-6, 3.31 ERA) to the mound in the opener.

Tolle, 23, received a no-decision against the Baltimore Orioles on July 20 when he gave up four runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-5 A’s win.

Tolle went 0-0 with a 3.60 ERA in two appearances (one start) against the A’s last season.

He served up a homer to Nick Kurtz, who just returned to the A’s lineup on Saturday after a right thumb injury.

On Sunday, in his second game, All-Star first baseman Kurtz drilled a three-run homer against the Twins. He had been in a 0-for-25 funk before the blast, which was his 21st of the season.

Right-hander Jack Perkins (2-5, 6.75) will start for the Athletics for the eighth time this season.

He took a no-decision against the host Arizona Diamondbacks last Tuesday when he gave up three runs and five hits over five innings.

In his previous two turns, Perkins gave up a combined 10 runs and nine hits — including four homers — in just 6 2/3 innings. He lost both outings.

Perkins, 26, has never faced the Red Sox.

–Field Level Media

Streak Done; It’s All About Series Wins

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief, Digital Sports Desk

FENWAY – With the 15-game winning streak in the rearview mirror, and a flat, 6-0 no-show loss to Toronto on Saturday, today’s Sunday afternoon rubber game became the most important game of the 10-game homestand the Boston Red Sox have just concluded. Adding to the intrigue was the return of starting pitcher Ranger Suarez who was activated today after missing 15 games (two-starts) due to a strained groin.

The Red Sox performed well, as did Suarez. Yes, Boston took an impressive 6-1 victory to the airport as they depart the now-friendly confines of Fenway Park for a four-game set against the swingin’ and travelin’ A’s, then a three-game series against Los Angeles at famed Dodgers Stadium.

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Put it all together and it just might show how to measure this year, – measure a year?

In daytime, (20-23),

At nightime? (34-27)

In June (12-14),

And July (17-3).

36,795 people,

Four consecutive sell-outs to cheer.

Sam Adams? The waves? The Tartan Army so dear.

Kids running bases? Sweet Carolines? And, Tarps off. No fear.

Truth be told, after an incredible 15-game winning streak, the best way to measure this season is by measuring series wins, and the 6-1 Red Sox victory over the Blue Jays made it the sixth consecutive series won – the most for the Sox since June 3-26, 2022.

Boston swept five of those series (vs. NYY, at LAA, at CWS, at NYM and home vs. Tampa Bay).

Boston is 8-2 over their last 10 series, dating back to June 19, and 9-3 over the last 12 series, dating back to June 12.

The 17-3 record in July ties the best record through 20 games to begin ANY calendar month in franchise history (also August 1995, August 1949 and June 1901).

On the scoreboard during this now completed 10-game homestand, the Red Sox outscored their opponents 53-34.

Today, the Sox faithful witnessed a very impressive comeback by Suarez, going 4.0 innings, (64 pitches, 42 strikes). He allowed only four hits, walked none and struck-out six Blue Jay batters. It was the fifth time this season he pitched a scoreless outing and it was his first start since July 5 (missing two outings and benefitting from the MLB All-Star break).

These are all signs of progress for a team that was once 17-27 at Fenway Park, playing in a building so dull, it could make former Senator and Secretary of State John Kerry the most interesting person in the crowd. Now? Fenway is not only sold out, but it’s been alive, with a vibe of confidence and cheers of encouragement not jeers from frustration.

It makes a big difference.

There’s one other important fact to note: The Red Sox, while certainly turning their season into an intriguing chess game going forward, have accomplished nothing. Yes, they are now four games over the .500 mark (54-50), and yes, they are now 25-29 at home, but they head to Sacramento (the temp home for the A’s) with a winning percentage equal to the Arizona Diamondbacks, similar to the Chicago White Sox, and two games ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In the AL Wild Card race (far too early to do too much scoreboard watching), the Red Sox have made their way to the No. 2 Wild Card slot, a game and a half ahead of the Cleveland Guardians. The Minnesota Twins and the Houston Astros are only 1.5 games under those clubs, while Seattle and Baltimore are only two games back from Cleveland.

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If the Sox played in the National League, they’d be chasing the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and Diamondbacks for wild card positioning.

In other words, it’s July 26th and there’s a very long way to go.

A trade of injured SP Connelly Early for mediocre-hitting infielder Curtis Mead from the Washington Nationals came with a tariff, err, modicum of uncertainty. Mead is a .254 hitter with some power (17 HRs, 17 2Bs). His bat might take to the dimensions of Fenway Park. The return of injured pitching ace Garrett Crochet would be just what the team doctor would order, and the return of face-of-the-franchise power hitter, Roman Anthony, would be a major dose of rejuvenation to a batting order thus far pieced together by interim (should be hired for the duration) Manager Chad Tracy.

Another trade, maybe a major trade at the August 3 deadline (6:00pm EDT) would make a huge difference. Colorado heavy-hitting catcher Hunter Goodman is apparently on the market, but is not a candidate to entice the Red Sox and GM Craig Breslow to take a major plunge in terms of giving up much in prospects or current roster players.

August 3 is an off-day for the Red Sox. They’ll be flying back from Los Angles after the upcoming road trip, and will face the Chicago White Sox in a three game series to start the next Fenway Park homestand.

Winning the series against the A’s is realistic. Winning the series against the defending champion LA Dodgers is not.

But winning the series in a Sox vs Sox battle at Fenway will be the next major milestone on the Red Sox “Comeback From the Dead” rock n’ roll tour of 2026.

Get your tickets now. There are Tarps to be twirled, pitchers to return and series to be won.

Or lost.