MLB Standings Watch: Red Sox starting to shut down
Aug 9, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Junichi Tazawa (36) in the dugout during the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
With less than three weeks left in the season and a playoff spot hopelessly out of reach, you can’t blame the Boston Red Sox for being ready to shut down.
This isn’t to suggest that the players aren’t trying. These are paid professionals that are always expected to give it their all whenever they take the field. Some of them are still motivated to make a good impression in order to earn a role with next year’s team, while others won’t quit because they take too much pride in their work.
However, we are seeing the Red Sox begin to ease off some of their veterans in an effort preserve them for next season.
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Following Tuesday night’s extra-innings affair in Baltimore, Red Sox interim manager Torey Lovullo revealed that Junichi Tazawa was not called upon because the team has decided to shut him down for the rest of the season. Lovullo stressed that there are no injury concerns related to this decision, but Tazawa has endured a heavy workload over the past few years and his recent struggles may indicate that he is feeling the effects of the innings that have piled up on his arm. Tazawa will join closer Koji Uehara on the sidelines for the rest of the season, enabling him to get a head start on the offseason so that he can come back fresh in 2016.
Joe Kelly‘s early exit last night also raises concerns about his availability moving forward. He will be evaluated by the medical staff later today before the Red Sox make a decision regarding his next start, but there is the possibility of him being shut down for the season as well, according to the Boston Globes’s Nick Cafardo.
Dustin Pedroia has been on fire since his return from the disabled list, with 9 hits in 25 at-bats (.360), but he has yet to play in three consecutive games. Expect a similar trend to continue over the next few weeks, as the Red Sox don’t want to risk aggravating the hamstring that has pestered him this season.
We still don’t have a timetable on Hanley Ramirez‘s return. That may be in part due to the Red Sox being cautious with his ailing shoulder, but the team also needs to be confident that he is ready to transition to first base. He hasn’t been shut down yet because the team would like to get a look at him at his new position before the end of the season, but it may only be a brief glimpse.
The Red Sox are essentially playing out the string at this point, while looking ahead to next season. Anyone that is banged up or struggling with fatigue will likely get some additional rest down the stretch, while we may even see more players get shut down over the next couple of weeks.
Next: Rising
Sep 15, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (32) hits a sacrifice fly scoring first baseman Chris Davis (not pictured) during the third inning against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Rising:
(American League team on the rise)
Baltimore Orioles: When this week began it looked like the Red Sox might have a chance to climb out of the AL East basement and leap all the way to third place in the division. Then they traveled to Baltimore and dropped the first two games of the series by a total of three runs.
The O’s have now won three straight and six of their last 10 to distance themselves from last place. They are still 5.5 games out of a playoff spot, with four teams to climb over in the Wild Card race. Making the playoffs may not be realistic anymore, but climbing back over .500 would be a reasonable goal.
Chris Davis has been lighting it up this month, slashing .413/.550/.935 with 7 home runs already in September. He is now tied with Nelson Cruz for the league lead in homers with 42 and his 107 RBIs are the second most in the league. The batting average isn’t what you’d like it to be, but he still gets on base at a reasonable clip to go along with his tremendous power. If the O’s were in contention, Davis would be on the verge of the MVP discussion, at least as a dark horse candidate.
Baltimore won’t be repeating as division champs this season, but a strong finish would at least push them into a respectable position, whereas a few days ago they were heading for last place. The Red Sox know a thing or two about going from first to worst, so they know firsthand that it’s a result the Orioles desperately want to avoid.
Next: Falling
Sep 2, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Scott Kazmir (26) pitches against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Falling:
(American League team that is struggling)
Houston Astros: Dropping the first two games of their series in Texas has cost the Astros their division lead, as the Rangers have moved a half game ahead of them in the standings. They will play two more in Texas this week, followed by a rematch in Houston later this month, which gives them plenty of opportunities to control their own fate.
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Houston is trending in the wrong direction, losing 7 of their last 10 games. They have lost 4 of their last 5 series, including meetings with the disappointing Seattle Mariners and lowly Oakland A’s. As the Rangers surge past them, the Astros also need to be wary of the Wild Card teams sneaking up on them.
The Astros pitching staff leads the league with a 3.41 ERA, but they have dropped to 8th in September. Scott Kazmir has been one of the league’s best pitchers and was nearly untouchable at the time he was traded to Houston in July, but he’s been scuffling the last few weeks. Over his last 6 starts Kazmir is 1-3 with a 4.54 ERA. Moving from one of the league’s worst teams to one of the best was supposed to put him in a better position to win, but that hasn’t been the case so far. He was 5-5 with Oakland to start the season, but owns a 2-4 record with his new team.
Houston was the Cinderella team of the first half, as their young core began to thrive and carry them to contender status. The problem with relying on so many young players is that they may be more prone to fade late in the season, which is what is happening to this team down the stretch.
Next: Playoff Outlook
Sep 11, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) celebrates his two-run home run against the New York Yankees with Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Ben Revere (7) and Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (19) during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
AL East Standings:
(Division standings as of Wednesday morning)
Playoff Outlook:
(Division leaders and teams holding a Wild Card spot in the American League)
AL East: Toronto Blue Jays (82-62)
AL Central: Kansas City Royals (85-59)
AL West: Texas Rangers (77-67)
Wild Card: New York Yankees (79-65)
Wild Card: Houston Astros (77-68)
Taking three out of four against the Yankees has helped the Blue Jays build a three game cushion in the divisional race, but the teams will meet again before the season ends. Both teams are likely to make the playoffs, but each desperately wants to avoid the one-game Wild Card round.
Boston has dropped to three games behind Baltimore and two behind Tampa Bay, but they remain close enough that a short win streak could help them climb out of the basement of the AL East. Given how well some of their young players have performed in the second half of the season, that would be a promising sign for the Red Sox.
Nobody is catching the Royals in the Central division, but the Minnesota Twins are still knocking at the door of the second Wild Card spot at 1.5 games behind Houston.
Texas and Houston remains the most compelling race down the stretch. Not only are they separated by a mere half game, but unlike the race in the East, the team that fails to win the West isn’t necessarily assured of a postseason spot.