After six video games on the street and three video games at house, the Red Sox discover themselves touring once more. Fortunately the flight to Minneapolis is a fast one! For 3 video games Boston will play the Minnesota Twins earlier than heading again East for his or her regular Thursday off-day, which additionally occurs to be commerce deadline day.
The Twins are presently in fourth place within the AL Central at 50-55. Nonetheless, after the primary place Detroit Tigers, the following three groups are clumped collectively. The Cleveland Guardians sit at 52-53 and the Kansas City Royals at 52-53. There are simply two video games separating second and fourth within the Central proper now. Will the Guardians, Royals, or Twins be patrons of sellers? Whoever is a purchaser may simply leap into second place. The issue is: what are you shopping for for? Cleveland is the closest to a Wild Card at 3.5 video games behind. The 51-55 Los Angeles Angels are nonetheless “in it.” The Rangers are again in it for the time being. The Tampa Bay Rays are even nearer than Cleveland at 3.0 video games. It’s a crowded area.
Recent off going through the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs, Boston is going through their weakest opponent because the All Star break. Simeon Woods-Richardson has made 16 begins and simply three went for greater than 5.0 innings. Chris Paddack hasn’t ever actually been the identical since his rookie yr again in 2019 with the Padres. The strikeouts have plummeted. It’s attainable that even with Fitts, Giolito, and Bello the Sox have the beginning pitching benefit in every recreation.
The unhealthy information right here is the Twins bullpen is stacked. In the event that they don’t hit the starters on this sequence there will not be many innings the place a late-game comeback is feasible. Nearer Jhoan Durán and prime setup males Griffin Jax, Louis Varland, Danny Coulombe have shut down groups within the late innings.
On the place participant facet, Byron Buxton is doing every thing he ever promised. 23 homers, 17 steals, 4 triples, 14 doubles. A Home Run Derby look.
Royce Lewis has damaged his cycle of “wonderful when wholesome. This yr he’s been comparatively wholesome, besides that he’s not performing on the excessive bar he set for himself.
Harrison Bader has been the best non-Buxton bat, slashing .250/.332/.435 whereas attracting commerce rumors. However once more the Twins aren’t out of this.
Of their different prime starters (Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, and Bailey Ober) solely Ryan isn’t presently on the IL. He pitched on Saturday so he most likely isn’t making the Wednesday begin. Ober may make his subsequent begin within the majors — he had a minor league rehab begin on Friday so he’d be in line. He’s had a tough 2025 although with a 5.28/5.29 ERA/FIP in 92 innings earlier than hitting the IL.
For these saying “oh the Purple Sox beat the Nationals massive deal,” observe that the Twins misplaced two out of three to Washington. So beat up the unhealthy groups, don’t get swept, and win sequence.
Possible Pitching Matchups
Monday July 28: Richard Fitts (4.86 ERA / 5.49 FIP) vs. Simeon Woods-Richardson (4.14 ERA / 4.38 FIP)
Tuesday July 29: Lucas Giolito (3.97 ERA / 5.20 FIP) vs. Chris Paddack (4.95 ERA / 4.39 FIP)
Wednesday July 30: Brayan Bello (3.32 ERA / 3.69 FIP) vs. TBD (— ERA / — FIP)
When/The place to Watch
Monday July 28: 7:40 PM ET on NESN
Tuesday July 29: 7:40 PM ET on NESN
Wednesday July 30: 1:10 PM ET on ESPN
