Wilyer Abreu and the Red Sox build momentum before the All-Star Game

After just a few weeks off, the MMBB—much like Oasis—is again. I’m glad to have you ever with me as soon as extra, people.

Even after a chronic time frame between Brushbacks, I really feel like I’m about to jot down an intro that I’ve dozens of instances over the previous few years: after an up-and-down stretch of video games, the Boston Red Sox stand proper across the .500 mark and simply on the surface of the playoff image wanting in. If I had a greenback for each time I wrote one thing to that impact on Over The Monster, I’d be capable of purchase the area identify myself.

However I can’t simply come right here and inform ya any completely different: we’re nonetheless the identical mediocre membership we’ve been for the previous few seasons now. One night time the offense can solely string collectively three or 4 hits, the subsequent they drive in a baker’s dozen to attain. One night time the starter will get chased and the bullpen will get extra added to their workload, the subsequent you get a top quality begin from whoever toes the rubber first.

With that in thoughts, perhaps this subsequent bit is silly for me to say. Possibly I shouldn’t count on something greater than the .500 baseline going ahead in 2025. However no matter: let’s give it a whirl:

Is that this upcoming week a very powerful of the season, by way of possibilities to get again into the playoff hunt correct?

We’ve acquired seven video games—all at Fenway Park—till the All-Star break. We stand one sport above .500, simply on the surface of a wild card spot wanting in. The Colorado Rockies—a group that’s presently on tempo to be worse than the 2024 White Sox, the worst group I’ve seen in my whole life—come into city for a trio of video games earlier than the Sox begin a four-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays, a group we’re straight competing with for a playoff spot.

You’ve gotta go, like, 5-2 this week, proper? In order for you an opportunity to get again into competition with enforcement from the likes of Alex Bregman (hopefully) coming quickly, and if you wish to realistically be a purchaser on the deadline, this must be the stretch the place you lastly construct some momentum.

As a result of if that momentum just isn’t established, you allow your self in a single hell of a pickle following the ASG: the Sox have the Cubs (over 50 wins), the Phillies (additionally over 50 wins), and the Daaaaahdjurz (you in all probability don’t want me to inform you this one, however they’ve over 50 wins as nicely) as your subsequent three serieseseses.

Lengthy story brief: do the injury now. Till then, let’s look again on the week that was.

It’s Monday Morning Brushback time, y’all.

Wil’s Thrills

Any time you hit an inside-the-park homer and a grand slam in the identical sport, you get to leadoff the MMBB. These are the foundations, easy as. Wilyer Abreu matches the invoice.

Not all of Wilyer’s injury this week got here on Monday, although, as he additionally drove in runs throughout the closing pair of matchups towards Cincy and he was additionally one in all many gamers to pitch in on the demolition of the Washington Nationals on our nation’s birthday.

After a sizzling begin, Abreu slowed down a bit earlier than being shelved for just a few days in June on account of an indirect damage. Since making his return off the IL on June 20, although, he has a .311 common with 4 dwelling runs, 17 RBIs, and 9 runs scored.

Abreu’s potential to tug the ball with authority has been actually pronounced in 2025, as his anticipated slugging metric of .517 getting into Saturday (he didn’t begin Saturday, as I’m penning this, so that is what I’m going off of) is nice for the eighty fifth percentile in MLB per Savant, thanks partially to how nicely he’s putting the ball to the pull facet. Pull-side damage has been a hallmark of the hitting philosophy for this iteration of the organization; Wilyer has demonstrated that to a T.

One factor I’ve appreciated in Abreu’s growth: he’s minimize the swing-and-misses down significantly. Whereas he was whiffing at a roughly 30% clip all through his profession previous to 2025, leading to a strikeout charge of about 28% in that point (learn as: not good), he’s slashed the whiff charge down to simply over 23% and the strikeout charge to simply underneath 24%. The swing-and-miss stuff isn’t solely absent from his profile—his whiff charge is near the sixtieth percentile (so, not extremely by any stretch) and he’s nonetheless near the underside third within the league in terms of Okay%—however he’s demonstrating a capability to place up much more aggressive ABs than he has previously, when he was already slugging north of .450 and drawing his fair proportion of walks.

Combine these strides on the plate along with his expertise within the outfield—elite vary in proper at Fenway and a cannon of an arm should not issues to sneeze at—and also you’ve acquired your self an excellent participant, even when he’s not going to play a ton towards lefties. I don’t have many notes for Mr. Abreu; stick with it, dude.

Roman’s Revenge

Picture by Alyssa Howell/MLB Images through Getty Pictures

Oh yeah, it’s all coming collectively for Roman Anthony.

The outfield prospect extraordinaire’s floor degree stats throughout his first few video games within the bigs have been nothing to jot down dwelling about. After getting the decision up from AAA in early June, Anthony notches only a pair of hits throughout 27 at-bats in his first 9 video games (a batting common of .074, for these holding observe at dwelling).

However those that have been truly watching his plate appearances knew that the breakthrough was coming. He was constantly hitting balls on the screws, very similar to he did within the minors. You’ll be able to’t hold a great man down like that for lengthy. In some unspecified time in the future, the cream will rise to the highest—and I believe we’re within the midst of that rise as we reside and breathe.

To maintain it in step with the Abreu evaluation: within the 15 video games because the begin of the sequence in San Francisco on June 20, Anthony has been good for 16 hits (together with six doubles). He doesn’t have sufficient of a pattern measurement to qualify for Statcast’s leaderboards, however in the event you have been to extrapolate his manufacturing he’d be in the direction of the highest of a variety of classes: his xwOBA, barrel charge, arduous hit charge, bat velocity, and squared-up charge are all spectacular, whereas his common exit velocity of 94.3 MPH getting into Sunday would path simply Oneil Cruz, Aaron Choose, Shohei Ohtani, Pete Alonso, and Juan Soto. So, fairly good firm!

On prime of his batted ball profile, Anthony’s plate method has made him appear like much less of a 21-year-old and extra of a 31-year-old. He’s not swinging at rubbish; his chase charge getting into Sunday hovered simply over 20%. You get some swing-and-miss from him, however these whiffs are one thing I’m keen to reside with when you think about the injury he can deal out when he does join. Very long time readers of the Brushback know that I like me a man who can work a depend, although, and Anthony’s already demonstrating a capability to take action; he ain’t chasing, and that’s resulted in a stroll charge of 13% previous to Sunday’s finale in DC. I don’t care how a lot pedigree he has as a prospect; a 21-year-old placing up aggressive ABs like that after only a month on the highest degree of the sport is spectacular. It’s simply one other device in Anthony’s belt when he steps into the field.

Roman Anthony is particular. We’re fortunate sufficient to look at him bloom proper earlier than our eyes. Get pleasure from it.

Hey Now, You’re An All-Star

Bob DeChiara-Imagn Pictures

A fast phrase concerning the Crimson Sox’s All-Star picks, as lefties Garrett Crochet and Aroldis Chapman have been given the nod to take the journey right down to Hotlanta subsequent week, whereas Alex Bregman goes to have to say no the invitation to proceed rehab.

With Crohcet, what else can I say? He’s been every part I had hoped for after we traded for him within the winter, after which some, with a 2.39 ERA and a league-leading 151 strikeouts. He’s, legitimately, probably the greatest pitchers within the sport. It’s good to have the ability to say that after extra.

As for Chapman, who’s solely allowed six earned runs in 36 innings and who’s registered a WHIP approach beneath 1.00, he presents a extra fascinating level that Sean McAdam of MassLive revamped the weekend:

“As deadline attracts nearer, Crimson Sox ought to deal Aroldis Chapman,” the headline read.

To carry it again to the intro part of this version of the MMBB: if the Sox can’t construct some momentum previous to the Midsummer Basic, after which rapidly we’re whacked by the likes of the Cubbies and the Phightin’ Phils earlier than heading again dwelling to tackle LA…yeah it will make whole sense to flip Chapman. The identical man was simply traded to the Rangers just a few years in the past for Cole Ragans; contemplating how nicely he’s been pitching, and contemplating he’s on a one-year deal, a contender would pay pretty handsomely for his companies.

Possibly we wouldn’t get a Cole Ragans of our personal in return, however it will behoove us to get some worth for Chapman if we simply shit the mattress in July anyhow. Him being dealt would in all probability be the fallout of our wild card goals evaporating post-ASG, however at the least I wouldn’t must really feel like I have to take a bathe after watching him pitch if he have been to be traded.

Music of the Week: “Honky Tonk Girls” by The Rolling Stones

Been caught in my head all week. Rattling good tune.

I’ll be in Nashville subsequent week for a marriage (pray for my liver), so no MMBB—however we’ve acquired one thing else cookin’ within the meantime. Till then, go Sox.