Red Sox open crucial four-game series with the Yankees in the Bronx; Criswell on the bump, red-hot Tyler O'Neill batting fourth
The Red Sox will begin a four-game series with the Yankees in the Bronx on Thursday night. Boston is fresh off a series win over the Orioles at Fenway Park and still remains in the hunt for the final American League wild-card spot, trailing the Twins by four games.
It’s been a while since the Red Sox and Yankees were playing a meaningful series this late into the season. For the Sox, this series is an absolute must win to maintain in the playoff race.
Cooper Criswell (6-4, 4.11 ERA) will earn the start in the series opener, he will be opposed by Yankees left-handed starter Nestor Cortes (9-10, 3.97 ERA).
Criswell will make his first career start at Yankee Stadium; he owns a 5.40 ERA in two appearances (one start) against the Yankees. Over his last three outings, Criswell has a 2.19 ERA while allowing 11 hits with five walks and five strikeouts.
Tyler O’Neill reached the 30-home run mark for the second time of his career after his three-run walk-off blast in the 10th inning on Wednesday night. He has homered in five straight games, and eight of his last 14 hits since Aug. 25 have been dingers.
“I’m really proud of all the work that I’ve done this year,” said O’Neill. “Just making sure that physically, I’m in a really good spot to be able to go out and produce on a day-to-day basis. I’m seeing the results of that for sure.”
O’Neill will bat in the clean up spot and be the designated hitter versus Cortes.
On Tuesday night against the Orioles, Jarren Duran scored his 100th run of the season. He ranks tied for eighth in Major League Baseball and sixth in the American League with 102 runs on the season.
Duran will lead off and play left field with Ceddanne Rafaela playing center field.
Red Sox & MiLB notes
Bryan Mata made a rehab appearance for the WooSox on Tuesday night. He struck out two of the three hitters he faced while walking one.
Liam Hendriks remains in a holding pattern on whether he will pitch for the Red Sox this season. Red Sox manager Alex Cora has been skeptical as to whether he will pitch before the season ends.
“Still in a holding pattern,” Cora said. “As you know, we’re running out of time, and we have to make a decision on what we’re going to do.”
Minor league corner infielder Tyler Miller was promoted to Triple-A Worcester from Double-A Portland. He will start at first base for the WooSox on Thursday night at Polar Park. This season, Miller is hitting .246 with five homers and 42 RBI with a .667 OPS.
Key stats and Red Sox lineup
Red Sox vs. Cortes: Triston Casas 0-2, Rafael Devers 4-15, Jarren Duran 2-7, Romy González 4-5, Danny Jansen 1-7, Tyler O’Neill 1-6, Ceddanne Rafaela 0-4, Rob Refsnyder 8-16, Trevor Story 1-2, Enmanuel Valdez 1-2, Connor Wong 3-9, Masataka Yoshida 0-4
The Sox are hitting .225 with a .671 OPS in their last 22 games (beginning 8/19), after batting .285 with an .836 OPS in their first 28 games after the All-Star break.
Yankees vs. Criswell: Oswaldo Cabrera 0-1, Jazz Chisholm Jr. 1-1, Trent Grisham 1-1, Aaron Judge 0-2, Anthony Rizzo 0-1, Juan Soto 0-1, Giancarlo Stanton 2-2, Gleyber Torres 0-3, Alex Verdugo 1-3, Anthony Volpe 1-3, Austin Wells 0-2
Alex Verdugo has hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games (since Aug. 24), and he is batting .328/.361/.448 (19-for-58) with seven runs, one double, two homers, five RBI, and three walks over that span.
Right-handed reliever Luke Weaver earned his fifth win of the season after tossing 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief on Wednesday vs. Kansas City. He has recorded at least five outs in 20 relief outings this season, tied for the sixth-most in the Majors (tied for second in AL).
Red Sox (74-72) lineup at Yankees (84-62):
Jarren Duran LF
Rafael Devers 3B
Rob Refsnyder RF
Tyler O’Neill DH
Romy Gonzalez 2B
Connor Wong 1B
Trevor Story SS
Danny Jansen C
Ceddanne Rafaela SS
SP: RHP Cooper Criswell (6-4, 4.11 ERA)
The first pitch is at 7:15 p.m. and can be seen on FOX, FuboTV, or Sling, and it can be heard on WEEI 93.7 FM.
