Red Sox Series Preview: Battle of the Disappointing Sox

Aug 23, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (25) gets a hit to drive in a run against the Kansas City Royals in the seventh inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

If the Boston Red Sox have been considered a disappointment this season with all their underperforming big money signings, it is safe to say that the Chicago White Sox are in the same boat.  Playing in the same American League Central as the resurgent Kansas City Royals, the White Sox felt the need to go out and sign some high profile free agents to compete with the American League Champion Royals.  Jeff Samardzija, Melky Cabrera, Adam Laroche, and former Yankees closer David Robertson were brought in after last year’s 73-89 season.

With the exception of Robertson, who is performing to his career norms, the other three are significantly below their career averages. Samardzija especially, with his 8-9, 4.64 ERA this season has to be especially disappointing for the White Sox, after last season’s outstanding performance splitting time between the Cubs and Athletics (2.99 ERA). This has to be a factor in the White Sox lackluster season thus far, as they have limped to a 58-64 record, in seventh place, five and a half behind the current second wild card leader Texas Rangers. The White Sox are two games under .500 since the All-Star break, and 9-12 in the month of August, winners of three of their last four games.

After a crushing defeat on Sunday, the Red Sox are 56-68 on the season. Boston is 10-10 in the month of August and 11 games behind the Rangers for the second wild card spot.

Let’s take a closer look at the Red Sox series as they travel to Chicago to take on the White Sox tonight.

Aug 19, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija (29) pitches against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Pitching Matchups

Monday, August 24, 8:10 p.m.: Joe Kelly (6-6, 5.37) vs. Jeff Samardzija (8-9, 4.64)

Kelly is pitching the best he has all season. This is not such a difficult feat considering his season-long struggles, but Kelly has won his last four decisions, allowing just a 1.56 ERA over his last three starts (three earned runs in 17.1 innings, striking out 16 and walking seven batters). Considering the overall struggles of the bullpen, the Red Sox would like to see him get beyond the sixth inning which he has been unable to accomplish in his last 12 starts. Kelly faced the White Sox on July 27 in which he was cuffed around for seven hits and four earned runs in 3.1 innings. He was not around for the decision as Chicago won the game 10-8. This was Kelly’s only career appearance against the White Sox.

As this writer alluded to in the introduction, Samardzija has had a down year. The former Notre Dame wide receiver has been touched for a 9.27 ERA in the month of August, and a 6.35 ERA since the All-Star break. Samardzija beat the Red Sox 9-4 on July 28 of this season with an eight inning performance, surrendering four earned runs. In 14.1 career innings (three games, two starts) vs. Boston, he has a 6.28 ERA and a 1-1 record.

Tuesday, August 25, 8:10 p.m. Wade Miley (10-9, 4.41) vs. Jose Quintana (7-10, 3.60)

Miley has won his last two starts allowing just three earned runs over his last 14.1 innings (1.88 ERA). The two starts before that, he left with the lead which his bullpen then gave up. His last really poor start was the game mentioned above that Samardzija won, 9-4. In that July 28th game, Miley surrendered seven runs on ten hits, walking three and striking out five and giving up one home run. Miley has been good in keeping the ball in the park, allowing just 14 homers over 147 innings this season which is his career average (0.9 per nine innings.) In two career starts vs. the White Sox, Miley has a 1-1 record with a 6.39 ERA over 12.2 innings.

Wednesday, August 26, 8:10 p.m. Rick Porcello (5-11, 5.81) vs. Chris Sale (12-7, 3.34)

This is Porcello’s first start back from the disabled list. In two rehab starts in the minors, Porcello allowed three earned runs on six hits, walking one and striking out seven batters over 9.1 innings. His last start in the majors was July 29th against the White Sox, allowing five earned runs on ten hits (including two home runs) walking one and striking out two and hitting a batter. Since he came from Detroit who plays in the Central Division with the White Sox, he has seen them a lot in his career. Over 20 starts and 125 career innings, he has a 4.32 ERA and a record of 9-8 against Chicago.

Sale had one of his worst starts of the season against Boston, getting pounded for seven runs and 12 hits on July 30th in an 8-2 Boston win. He followed that up with a terrible start against Tampa Bay, allowing seven runs again. Since then, he seems to have righted his ship, winning his last three decisions, striking out 36 batters (15 and 14 in his last two starts, respectively) in 21.1 innings while allowing just five earned runs. He is a bona fide ace, currently leading the American League with 222 strikeouts and strikeouts per nine innings with 12.2. Sale has finished in the top six for the Cy Young Award for the last three years and has a career 2.87 ERA.

Jul 1, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu (79) during the ninth inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

White Sox Players to Watch

Jose Abreu was seven for 16 with two doubles and two homers when the Red Sox were pounded by the White Sox offense who took three out of four from Boston in that series at the end of July. After 36 homers in his rookie season, Abreu’s numbers fell somewhat in the first half, notching 14 homers with an OPS of .835 compared to last year’s .964. Abreu’s success in Boston was part of second half resurgence. He has hit nine homers since the break with an OPS of .927. His 76 RBI might be slightly down from last year, but with his second half comeback, he could reach last year’s total of 107. Keeping him in check will be a major goal of Red Sox pitching. Abreu has enjoyed Red Sox pitching in his brief career, torching them for a .357/.438/.690 batting line with three homers in 48 career plate appearances.

After last year’s .817 OPS, the White Sox were certainly expecting more out of Adam LaRoche who has struggled to a .213/.298/.357 batting line with 12 homers and 42 RBI after signing a two year $25 million contract with the White Sox in the offseason. He was not a part of most of the White Sox hit parade at Fenway last month, sitting out two of the games and going one for eight with an RBI when he did play. The White Sox have given him more days off in the second half to try to get him going to no avail, as his numbers have slipped even more since the All-Star Break, posting just a .189/.215/.315 in that time. Considering Abreu’s recent success, the Red Sox will probably pitch around Abreu to get to LaRoche and force him to beat them. Over his career, Boston has held LaRoche to a .125/.211/.188 batting line over 64 career plate appearances with just one home run against them.

In July, Melky Cabrera was in the best stretch of his season, batting .393 with a 1.017 OPS for July, when he owned the Boston pitching staff over that four game set, going nine for 19 with five doubles, a triple, three RBI and five runs scored in the White Sox series win. He has cooled off considerably lately.  Over the last week he is just three for 26. Hopefully the Red Sox can hold him in check for this three game set.  In his career vs. Boston, Cabrera has an .802 OPS with eight homers and 52 RBI in 425 career plate appearances.