Game 1 of the Wild Card series was always going to be the hardest for the Boston Red Sox to win. Sure-fire American League Cy Young Award winner Cam Schlittler was on the mound.
Schlittler has had Boston's number each time they've met. Against the Red Sox, he's posted a 0.47 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 49 strikeouts over 38.2 innings across six starts between the regular season and the playoffs. This year, a matchup against Schlittler favors Schlittler only.
Beating the New York Yankees' young ace was always going to be a tall task, but Boston's offensive output in the last weeks of the regular season didn't help inspire any confidence. The Red Sox had the lowest batting average (.219), lowest OPS (.651) and fewest runs scored (71) of any team in September and that offensive performance carried into the Wild Card series.
The Sox's offense is dealing with a lot in regards to injuries — Willson Contreras and Ceddanne Rafaela aren't at full health and Roman Anthony could very well be done for the year after another hand injury flare up. But the Red Sox have come back from worse.
Red Sox have already gotten through the hardest part of their Wild Card series against the Yankees
Fans counted Boston out of the playoff conversation by June. Then came a 15-game winning streak as just a small part of an historic winning summer that roped everyone back in. Facing Schlittler was always going to be the hardest part of the Wild Card series, and now that it's behind them, the Red Sox have a chance to bounce back.
Game 2 still won't be easy. Max Fried will be on the mound for New York and the Red Sox have had trouble against him this year. He's logged a 0.77 ERA and Boston has posted a mere .146 batting average in two starts, though one was abbreviated since he was fresh off the injured list.
The Red Sox play best when they play for each other. When the whole lineup works together to play a smaller game of baseball, Boston is almost unbeatable, as it was in July and August. After losing Game 1 in a blowout, it should be all the more motivated to keep a special season alive.
In a battle between elite pitching staffs, one run can make all the difference. The Red Sox have already seem the best pitcher of the series and they need to get out of their own heads if they want to stay alive. It's easier said than done, especially when so many key hitters are hurt, but it's do or die for the Sox from here on out.
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