Red Sox: Kiké Hernández is the player to watch tonight against Gerrit Cole

Kiké Hernández could be the difference-maker for the Red Sox tonight

We are about to kick off what will most likely be the most important series of the year for the Red Sox. with a two-game lead over the Yankees in the Wild Card race the Bronx Bombers are making their way to Fenway for the final time in 2021. Both teams will be putting their best pitchers on the mound to set the tone tonight but it may be someone else that changes the course of the campaign.

Kiké Hernández has been an absolute bolt of energy of this club since joining in the offseason and his personality has lifted this team to a possible playoff berth. Not only has he shown that he can flash some Gold Globve caliber leather in centerfield, but his bat has also come alive since becoming the full-time lead-off man. An early-season sputter is not in the rearview mirror for the eight-year veteran and he’s evolved into one of the most important players on this roster.

There’s a reason why I pegged him as the man to keep your eye on tonight against Yankee ace Gerrit Cole, he hits him pretty damn well. The two have faced off in three games this season with Kiké getting the better end of the duel each and every time. Could that luck run out tonight? Sure. But with the added bonus of the controversial yellow jerseys, I don’t see it happening. I’ve got a real good feeling that he and the Yellow Sox may bring their win streak to eight.

So why do I have so much faith in Kiké you ask, well buds, let me break it down for ya. As I said, he’s seen Cole a trip of times in 2021 and they’ve all gone pretty well for the man in the “#5,” jersey. In their first meeting all the way back on June 27th, the Red Sox outfielder went 2-5 with a homer and a pair of RBI. You may recall that as the game where Boston just smashed Cole into oblivion.

They would meet up again a few weeks later on July 17th,  and the story wasn’t as much in the favor of Kiké, but still pretty good. He would tally a 1-3 line against the righty and I have to admit that Gerrit was an absolute machine in this outing. He dominated the Red Sox for six innings, giving up just one hit and striking out 11 in the process. But Hernández wasn’t done with the Cy Young favorite just yet.

Their final dance before tonight came on July 23rd and this one would be the best of the three meetings. Kiké went 2-3 with a walk, two hits, and two runs. Cole would pick up the loss in this start, his second two the Red Sox this season, and another time where he couldn’t solve the riddle of Kiké Hernández.

One thing that sticks out to me the most in these battles is the fact the Hernández didn’t strike out a single time against Cole. If you know anything about this game and the type of pitcher that Gerrit is, you know this man loves punching batters out. It’s a testament to the type of hitter that Enrique is that even against one of the best in the game today, he didn’t give away any free-outs by whiffing.

Kiké Hernández is emerging as one of the best moves that Red Sox CBO Chaim Bloom has made during his short tenure in Boston. Not only has he evolved into one hell of a lead-off hitter but his never-say-die attitude has often been a spark for this team when they need it. Tonight is going to be another chance for him to prove Bloom and Alex Cora right and add another notch onto his belt against Gerrit Cole.