The Boston Red Sox picked up a win over the Tampa Bay Rays today 7-4. The Red Sox trotted out a lineup that looks similar to something they will have on Opening Day when they face the Seattle Mariners. Tomorrow they will take on the Minnesota Twins and they will have Cooper Criswell making his third appearance of the spring, it’s also his first start.
Red Sox News & Notes
Lucas Giolito
Today it was reported that Giolito has a partially torn UCL and he is being checked out by a doctor to see the severity of the injury but it sounds like he will need surgery and his season will be over. This spring he has made two starts and he is 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP, and two strikeouts in 4.1 innings. He looked good in his first start but the second one he struggled which you’d have to picture is when he started to feel something not right with his elbow. It’s a tough loss for a Red Sox team that all offseason has needed a starter and got Giolito but traded Chris Sale. It’ll be interesting to see what the Red Sox do going forward.
Jarren Duran
Duran today left the game against the Rays after it appeared like his foot was bothering him and of course, it was the same foot he had surgery on last season. Duran this spring was hitting .167 with a .453 OPS and stolen base. Alex Cora after the game said Duran is ok and his ankle was a little tight but he will be back in the lineup on Thursday.
Ceddanne Rafaela
Rafaela is forcing the Red Sox hand to put him on the roster for Opening Day and have him be the starting center fielder. Besides flashing the leather in center field he’s also producing at the plate. He is hitting .278 with a .909 OPS; he has one double, one home run, two RBI, two runs scored, four walks, and two stolen bases.
Tyler O’Neill
O’Neill if healthy could be a solid bat for the Red Sox this season, the issue is he hasn’t been able to stay healthy other than 2021 when he hit 34 home runs and had 80 RBI. Today he showed Red Sox fans what he can do when healthy. So far this spring in six games he is hitting .286 with a 1.015 OPS; he has one double, he hit his first home run today and it cleared everything, he has three RBI, seven runs scored, four walks, and two stolen bases. If Duran can’t go, he will likely get the start in left field in Seattle but if Duran is healthy and Rafaela makes the team it will be interesting to see him splitting time with Wilyer Abreu in right field.
Brennan Bernadino
Bernadino who the Red Sox claimed off waivers last season and impressed as a bullpen arm last season has looked great this spring. His first appearance came on Saturday against Washington going one inning giving up just one hit. Today he pitched against Tampa Bay going one inning and he didn’t allow a hit or a walk and struck out one. He posts a 0.00 ERA and a 0.50 WHIP with one strikeout in two innings.
Enmanuel Valdez
Valdez today made a statement to be the Opening Day second baseman with Vaughn Grissom unlikely to go. He went 3-3 and just missed the cycle by a home run, and he had three RBI. He had struggled before today going 0-9. He is hitting .250 with a .857 OPS now after today’s game. It’ll be interesting to see the route they go with Valdez or Pablo Reyes.
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