Ranger Suarez (2-3, 3.02) gets the ball for the Red Sox opposite Tanner Bibee (0-7, 4.57) with first pitch at 1:40 PM ET in Cleveland. Suarez is coming off a rough 5-inning, 5-ER loss to the Braves last time out, so the $130M lefty has something to prove on the road.
Bibee is the story here. He's 0-7 — tied for the most losses in the bigs — and just got blown up by the Nationals for 7 ER and a career-high 5 homers in 3 innings on May 25. The advanced numbers say he's been better than that line and his offense has been historically allergic to scoring when he pitches, but at some point the W column has to start cooperating. Boston, fresh off a 9-1 thumping behind Sonny Gray, would prefer it not start today.
That Saturday romp masked how thin this Red Sox roster is right now. Connor Wong and Jarren Duran each drove in 3, Caleb Durbin chipped in 2 RBI, and the Sox needed every bit of it just to climb to 24-33. The injury page is a horror show — Crochet, Story, Anthony, Casas, Sandoval, Houck, Crawford, Oviedo — and Boston is still trying to claw back to .500 with a patchwork lineup.
- Day-To-DayHobie Harris RP — Harris was optioned to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
- 10-Day-ILRoman Anthony LF — Anthony (finger) felt discomfort while hitting off a tee Thursday and has been shut down from swinging, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILTrevor Story SS — Story underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia Thursday and will be sidelined 6-10 weeks, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
- 15-Day-ILGarrett Whitlock RP — Whitlock (knee) threw from flat ground Thursday but has been shut down after experiencing discomfort, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILGarrett Crochet SP — Crochet (shoulder) said that he's scheduled to throw a second live batting practice session Sunday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.
- 60-Day-ILTriston Casas 1B — Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told reporters Wednesday that Casas (abdomen/knee) is close to being cleared to swing a bat, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILPatrick Sandoval SP — Sandoval (biceps/elbow) threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILRomy Gonzalez 1B — Gonzalez (shoulder) has started hitting flips, MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayAngel Martinez LF — Martinez was removed from Saturday's game against the Red Sox with left foot inflammation, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
- Day-To-DayCarlos Hernandez RP — Hernandez (shoulder) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
- bereavementSteven Kwan CF — Kwan went 3-for-4 with an RBI in Sunday's 3-1 win over Philadelphia.
- 15-Day-ILErik Sabrowski RP — Sabrowski (elbow) underwent an MRI on Tuesday which confirmed inflammation but no structural damage, MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILGabriel Arias SS — no
Cleveland's banged up too in spots that matter. Steven Kwan is on the bereavement list, Angel Martinez was pulled Saturday with left foot inflammation, and Gabriel Arias is on the 60-day. For a team that lives on contact and defense, losing Kwan at the top is a real subtraction even short-term.
The market has this one essentially a coin flip — Pinnacle's fair line has Boston at -111 and the total sitting at 7.5 with the under juiced. That tracks. Suarez has been the steadier arm all year, but he's on the road against a lineup that just hung 4 on him's teammates Friday, and Bibee's peripherals suggest the 0-7 isn't the whole truth. Take the under, trust Suarez to grind, and see if the Sox can sneak a series win out of Ohio before flying home.