Red Sox Face Daunting Doubleheader Challenge Against Yankees Aces originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox could not solve Cam Schlittler on Friday night. Their reward is a Saturday date with two of the New New York Yankees’ top pitchers.
New York will activate Max Fried from the injured list to start the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. Carlos Rodón will start the opener against Red Sox left-hander Connelly Early.
Fried’s return comes exactly 15 days after the Yankees placed him on the injured list, allowing him to return following a minimum-length absence. The timing presents another difficult test for Boston’s struggling lineup.
The Red Sox entered Saturday after being shut out in consecutive games. They dropped Friday’s series opener 1-0 despite recording five hits and drawing six walks against New York’s pitching staff. Boston went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners. The loss extended its scoreless streak to 18 innings.
Red Sox Offense Draws Difficult Doubleheader AssignmentRodón and Fried give the Yankees a pair of accomplished left-handed starters for a doubleheader with significant American League playoff implications.
Fried will return to the rotation for the nightcap after initially expressing hope that his injured-list stay would be brief. The Yankees confirmed his scheduled start following Friday’s victory, according to Pinstripe Alley.
The Red Sox first must deal with Rodón.
Boston will send Early to the mound in the opener and likely will need another strong pitching performance after wasting Patrick Sandoval’s excellent start Friday. Sandoval allowed only one run on three hits over 5 1/3 innings, but Paul Goldschmidt’s solo home run was enough to decide the game.
Boston’s offense has created opportunities during its current drought. Finishing them has been the problem. Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu combined for four of the Red Sox’s five hits Friday. The rest of the lineup went 1-for-24, including hitless nights from Willson Contreras, Adley Rutschman, Jarren Duran and Nick Sogard.
Reinforcements could be approaching. Roman Anthony and Trevor Story reportedly completed their rehab assignments with Triple-A Worcester and are expected to join the team in New York. Both could be activated Saturday or Sunday, according to MLB reporter Francys Romero.
Whether either player returns in time for the doubleheader remains unclear.
What is clear is that Boston’s margin for error continues to shrink. The Red Sox fell three games behind the Yankees with Friday’s loss and now must rediscover their offense against Rodón and a returning Fried.
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