Red Sox Strut: Jackie Bradley, Matt Barnes earn top honors this week

Apr 22, 2017; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (19) runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the third inning during a game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Patrick McDermott-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2017; Baltimore, MD, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (19) runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the third inning during a game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Patrick McDermott-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 30, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) pitches during the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) pitches during the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Pitching Candidates

Craig Kimbrel continues to do Craig Kimbrel things, striking out three over three scoreless innings last week. He now owns a 0.92 ERA and his WHIP is down to 0.41 – ridiculous numbers for any pitcher at this point in the season.

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Make it eight consecutive starts with double-digit strikeouts for Chris Sale, tying his own record that he shares with Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez. Sale allowed two runs on seven hits but had to settle for a no-decision in a game that Boston would lose in extra-innings.

Fernando Abad tossed three scoreless innings this week, extending his scoreless streak for the month of May to eight innings. Is Abad actually a trusted arm in the bullpen now? His most recent appearance came in mop duty in a loss to Oakland, but prior to that he provided two solid innings to earn the win in a 13-inning affair in St. Louis. It was the first time all season that Abad has logged more than one inning in a game and he threw a season-high 32 pitches.

Robby Scott totaled only one inning over two appearances in the St. Louis series and hasn’t been used since. He allowed one base runner and no runs, so he pitched great but didn’t receive enough of a workload to Strut this week. Just wanted to point out that Scott now owns a 0.87 ERA and 0.68 WHIP. He’s basically been the left-handed version of Kimbrel only with fewer strikeouts. He’s turning into a lefty specialist that often only faces a batter or two, but it’s a role he’s thriving in.

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