Red Sox look to salvage final game of series vs. Mets, Tanner Houck on mound, rookie sits amid struggles at the plate
The Red Sox will try and salvage and win the final game of their three-game series with the Mets on Wednesday night. Boston has dropped the first two games of the series, including a 7-2 loss on Tuesday night.
Tanner Houck will make his first career start against the Mets. He owns a 5.36 ERA in seven starts versus National League teams this season (42 innings). The Sox won Houck’s last start after losing his previous seven outings; Boston was 9-1 in his prior 10 games.
Rafael Devers will bat second and play third base. The All-Star slugger was moved up in the Red Sox lineup by Alex Cora in the attempts to generate more offense. Boston has scored just five runs in the last 36 innings.
Devers went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in the loss and is scuffling on the road trip with just one hit in his last 21 at-bats.
Ceddanne Rafaela sits to start the game with Nick Sogard playing shortstop and batting ninth. The rookie is hitless in his last six at-bats and has a .571 OPS with 21 strikeouts and no walks in his last 22 games, which dates back to Aug. 10.
The Mets will counter with right-handed pitcher Tylor Megill, who is looking for his fourth win of the year. He will face the Red Sox for the first time in his career, and they will become the 27th team he’s faced in his career.
Francisco Lindor extended his on-base streak to 32 games on Tuesday. It is the longest active streak in the majors and the longest streak of his career. Over that stretch, he is batting .333 (45-135) with 26 runs, 10 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 21 RBI, nine walks, a .379 OBP, a .600 SLG and a .979 OPS in that span. Lindor has safely hit in 39 of those 32 games.
The Mets are on a six-game winning streak, one win short of their season-best seven-game winning streak (June 12-18). They have won seven of their last eight, 10 of their last 13 and 13 of their last 18. New York has posted a 1.33 ERA over 54 innings with 15 walks and 58 strikeouts over the winning streak.
MiLB updates and notes
Trevor Story is playing shortstop for the WooSox, who are on the road playing the Rochester Red Wings. Story is scheduled to play again on Thursday with Friday off. The team will reassess what they are doing, and it’s possible the veteran could be activated shortly after.
Alex Cora told reporters this week that Story doesn’t necessarily need to play all nine innings in a game before returning to the Sox.
Roman Anthony was named the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball on Tuesday, according to Baseball America. He is in center field and leading off for the WooSox on Wednesday.
The WooSox final Throwback Thursday (9/12) next week will feature former Red Sox pitcher Derek Lowe and NESN commentator Steve Lyons.
Key stats and Red Sox lineup
Red Sox vs. Megill: Tyler O’Neill 1-2
Mets vs. Houck: Starling Marte 0-2, Luis Torrens 0-4, Jesse Winker 1-4
Among qualified AL rookies, a Red Sox either leads or ranks within the top 10 in several offensive categories.
Ceddanne Rafaela leads in hits (122) and RBI (63), while ranking 2nd in HR (14, tied), runs (66), and SB (17).
Wilyer Abreu leads in doubles (30), XBH (46), AVG (.268), SLG (.494), and OPS (.827), and ranks T-2nd in HR (14).
David Hamilton leads MLB rookies in stolen bases (33).
Red Sox (70-69) lineup at the Mets (75-64):
Jarren Duran CF
Rafael Devers 3B
Wilyer Abreu RF
Tyler O’Neill LF
Masataka Yoshida DH
Triston Casas 1B
Connor Wong C
Enmanuel Valdez 2B
Nick Sogard SS
SP: RHP Tanner Houck (8-9, 3.12 ERA)
The first pitch is at 7:10 p.m. and can be seen on NESN, TBS, FuboTV, or Sling, and it can be heard on WEEI 93.7 FM.
