GDT: 3/3 Toronto Blue Jays @ Boston Red Sox (Sunday 1:35 ET)

[JaysAllMighty]

Toronto at Boston

 

Sunday, August 6, 2023 01:35 PM (ET)

Matchup

 

Last Meeting ( Aug 5, 2023 ) Toronto 5, Boston 4

 

 

The Boston Red Sox will try to put a bad day behind them and salvage the finale of a three-game series with the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon.

 

Boston's bad day started when outfielder Alex Verdugo was scratched from the lineup with no explanation. Neither Red Sox manager Alex Cora nor Verdugo, who never got into the game, commented on the reason.

 

The day ended when Reese McGuire, who had singled as a pinch hitter, was doubled off second base after a flyout to the wall in left-center field to cut a ninth-inning rally short in the Blue Jays' 5-4 victory.

 

"This is probably one of my worst days here in this organization," Cora said after the game.

 

He said that Verdugo's benching was a "manager's decision."

 

"I'm just taking care of the 26 guys (on the roster), and he wasn't gonna play," Cora said.

 

Cora has benched Verdugo for a lack of hustle in the past.

 

"That was a different situation," Cora said. "I think (Saturday), we took a step back as a team. We have to make sure everybody's available every single day here for us to get to wherever we're going to go. And that wasn't the case. And as a manager, I've got to take charge of this, and I decided he wasn't going to play."

 

"Just a manager's decision," Verdugo said. "We're gonna leave it at that."

 

When asked if he arrived to Fenway Park on time on Saturday, Verdugo said he did.

 

The Red Sox won the first seven meetings with the Blue Jays this season and now have lost two straight to a team they are chasing for an American League wild-card spot.

 

Toronto is scheduled to start right-hander Chris Bassitt (10-6, 4.00 ERA) on Sunday. Bassitt has faced the Red Sox once in his career, in 2021, when he allowed two runs and three hits with 10 strikeouts in seven innings.

 

The Red Sox are expected to start left-hander Brennan Bernardino (1-1, 2.72). Bernardino, who will be making his sixth start of the season, is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in four relief appearances against Toronto in his career.

 

McGuire's baserunning mistake allowed Erik Swanson to earn his fourth save.

 

"With the way the ball's been flying the last two days, you think that's off the wall at the very least," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. "But you never underestimate the power of (center fielder) Kevin Kiermaier in the outfield. So, you take advantage of a baserunning mishap by Reese. Definitely wasn't easy. A little stressful."

 

Toronto's George Springer, who ended an 0-for-35 drought recently, had four hits and a walk on Saturday.

 

Davis Schneider, who homered in his first major league at-bat on Friday in a two-hit debut, added three hits and a walk for Toronto on Saturday.

 

"He's thinking right now the big leagues (are) way easier than Triple-A. But his name is officially changed to Babe Schneider," said Brandon Belt, who had a solo home run and an RBI single on Saturday. "He's been unbelievable for us so far. I think that's a reason we've won these last two games. He's provided some energy that was maybe lacking the last series. It's been a lot of fun to watch him play."

 

--Field Level Media

 

 

Edited August 6, 2023 by JaysAllMighty

[infinitebook]

Boston is unravelling, time to bury them.

[MunenoriKawasakiMVP]

This should go without saying but, get Swanson the f*** away from high leverage spots.

[Stangstag]

This should go without saying but, get Swanson the f*** away from high leverage spots.

 

Overreaction. I’d get him off the “closer” role but he’s still probably our 2nd or 3rd best arm behind Mayza right now.

 

Green should be up soon too so the bullpen is in good shape even withe Romano out

[MunenoriKawasakiMVP]

Overreaction. I’d get him off the “closer” role but he’s still probably our 2nd or 3rd best arm behind Mayza right now.

 

Green should be up soon too so the bullpen is in good shape even withe Romano out

 

I trust Hicks, Cabrera and Yimi way more but that's just me I guess.

[Sammy225]

I trust Hicks, Cabrera and Yimi way more but that's just me I guess.

 

He has been nailes up until a week or so ago. I would say he is over worked. I think he had more appearances then anyone in that bullpen I would reduce his work load for a couple of weeks

[Delgalladay]

That is an interesting lineup with no Vlady and Schneider hitting 3rd. Need all these other players to step up today!

 

[Omar]

That’s a lot of confidence they’re putting in Schneider batting him that high in the order.

[Daniel Labude]

Huge game to put BOS back more...and looks like they are tanking it lol. Hopefully Jansen isn't out longer. Not having Vlad, Bo, and Jansen in the lineup looks ugly

[MunenoriKawasakiMVP]

That’s a lot of confidence they’re putting in Schneider batting him that high in the order.

 

Ride the hot hand. Make the players feel like that with good PAs, they can get a promotion too.

[jaysguy44]

Biggio batting 6th... puke

[Sorrow]

That is an interesting lineup with no Vlady and Schneider hitting 3rd. Need all these other players to step up today!

 

 

 

 

I was a bit surprised to see Vladdy sitting but he’s been cold for the last few weeks and likely is nursing the wrist. On looking into it since he hurt it again in May he’s been awful.

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/vladimir-guerrero-jr/19611/game-log?position=1B&season=&gds=2023-05-09&gde=2023-08-05&type=0

 

He has a 98 wRC+ in his last 328PA

 

I believe this was the same wrist he hurt last year and I’m hoping that they can correct any issues this off season and it’s not a permanent issue because if it is he’s likely not worth extending at all.

[Carlos Danger]

Boston is unravelling, time to bury them.

 

I think it will be the opposite today. I watched their press conference and the Verdugo interview. I think they will be coming out on fire today.

[jaysguy44]

I think it will be the opposite today. I watched their press conference and the Verdugo interview. I think they will be coming out on fire today.

Same, don't have a great feeling about today's game.

[gruber92]

I'd like to know who is actually responsible for batting Biggio sixth, ahead of both Kirk and KK.

[Spanky99]

[Carlos Danger]

That’s a lot of confidence they’re putting in Schneider batting him that high in the order.

 

I agree. Too much too soon.

 

Also, Biggio needs to do something today or just don’t get it.

[Stangstag]

I'd like to know who is actually responsible for batting Biggio sixth, ahead of both Kirk and KK.

 

Craig whispering in Atkins’ ear

[Sorrow]

I agree. Too much too soon.

 

 

Also, Biggio needs to do something today or just don’t get it.

 

 

Biggio has a higher wRC+ thank Kirk, Guerrero and Chapman since May at 119. It’s a pretty small sample size but he’s been hitting if inconsistently.

[John_Havok]

I was a bit surprised to see Vladdy sitting but he’s been cold for the last few weeks and likely is nursing the wrist. On looking into it since he hurt it again in May he’s been awful.

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/vladimir-guerrero-jr/19611/game-log?position=1B&season=&gds=2023-05-09&gde=2023-08-05&type=0

 

He has a 98 wRC+ in his last 328PA

 

I believe this was the same wrist he hurt last year and I’m hoping that they can correct any issues this off season and it’s not a permanent issue because if it is he’s likely not worth extending at all.

 

It could be a factor, but he’s still hitting the ball as hard as ever. He’s just not swinging at the right pitches with any consistency and still has this goofy inside out everything approach. Vlads problems are 100% between the ears.

[Jays24]

That is such a puke worthy lineup... let's hope we can complete the sweep.

[gruber92]

The line up does look a little spring trainingish

[tossingthiscoin]

Davis Schneider has the same fWAR as Vladdy as of today. Schneider has only played 2 games and has equal fWAR as Vladdy's 109 games are so funny.

[Daniel Labude]

Biggio has a higher wRC+ thank Kirk, Guerrero and Chapman since May at 119. It’s a pretty small sample size but he’s been hitting if inconsistently.

 

Damn, better than Bo as well...might explain the offensive issues

[Eat My Shatkins]

Vladdy is basically replacement level now.

 

I sure hope he's been nursing some sort of injury, because if this is what he's regressed to by the age of 24 then this iteration of the Jays core is probably not going to win anything.

[Stangstag]

Biggio has a higher wRC+ thank Kirk, Guerrero and Chapman since May at 119. It’s a pretty small sample size but he’s been hitting if inconsistently.

 

That’s pretty shocking tbh. Feels like Cavan has been crap again for the past few weeks

[43211234]

I was a bit surprised to see Vladdy sitting but he’s been cold for the last few weeks and likely is nursing the wrist. On looking into it since he hurt it again in May he’s been awful.

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/vladimir-guerrero-jr/19611/game-log?position=1B&season=&gds=2023-05-09&gde=2023-08-05&type=0

 

He has a 98 wRC+ in his last 328PA

 

I believe this was the same wrist he hurt last year and I’m hoping that they can correct any issues this off season and it’s not a permanent issue because if it is he’s likely not worth extending at all.

 

Yeah hopefully the offseason will help with the wrist issue.

 

 

Meaning that maybe he won't be able to double-fist a dozen donuts and he'll have to slowly eat them with only one hand!

[THANOS]

Yeah hopefully the offseason will help with the wrist issue.

 

 

Meaning that maybe he won't be able to double-fist a dozen donuts and he'll have to slowly eat them with only one hand!

 

Yeah hah. Honestly, after some rest with weekly check-ins with a team dietician, they need to send him to drive-line and re-work that swing and hlhave him with their sports psychologist to re-work his mindset.

 

If he comes back in 2024 as the same guy he's been outside of 2021, you've failed as a front office. The talent is clearly there, you need it consistently extracted.

[hanton]

Batting Schneider 3rd eh, this is unlike John Schneider but ok

[Spanky99]

Biggio has a higher wRC+ thank Kirk, Guerrero and Chapman since May at 119. It’s a pretty small sample size but he’s been hitting if inconsistently.

 

Agree, even Espinal has been roster worthy since than. Save for his terrible brain cramps this season.