Sogard Gets the Nod on His Birthday
Nick Sogard turns 29 on Wednesday, and the Red Sox made sure he felt it. He will start at first base and bat fifth in the series finale against the Los Angeles Angels. This happens right after Boston lost 6-1 to the Angels, the team with the worst record in MLB. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak, but Sogard’s presence in the lineup offers a bright spot. In that defeat, he drove in Trevor Story for the winning run, accumulating 16 RBI across 50 games this season. The team did not post a special birthday message on social media, but the media guide confirms his date of birth. Sogard is 6-foot-1 and 189 pounds, born in Los Angeles on September 9, 1997.
Crochet Shows Promise in Bullpen
While Sogard plays, Garrett Crochet is getting closer to helping the team in October. The left-hander worked out in the bullpen on Tuesday while Craig Breslow and Andrew Bailey watched. According to Tim Healey of the Boston Globe, Crochet is advancing toward availability for the playoffs. He threw his second session since Friday, but he kept his fastball in the upper 80s on purpose. When Crochet described his strategy, he stated that there will be a time where he needs to step on it. Bailey voiced assurance regarding the pitcher’s recuperation, remarking that adding Garrett Crochet into the mix is going to be huge for the team.
Contreras Could Return This Week
The injury news gets even better with Willson Contreras. He took batting practice on the field Tuesday and ran the bases, signs that he is nearing a return. A hamstring injury has kept him on the injured list for over a week. He becomes eligible to come off the list on Thursday, but an off day pushes his earliest return to Friday. Boston had gone 6-2 without him before Tuesday’s loss, but his bat is still needed. Ceddanne Rafaela is also set to become eligible for a return as early as Sunday. Reintegrating these two bats into the lineup during the same week would assist in stabilizing the team.
The Red Sox face the Angels on Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. ET at Fenway Park. Jake Bennett will start for Boston against Ryan Johnson. Mickey Gasper will handle catching duties while Roman Anthony assumes the role of designated hitter. Sogard is scheduled to bat between Story and third baseman Caleb Durbin. This marks his 16th time playing first base this season. Over his last 30 games, he has maintained a .281 batting average alongside a .362 on-base percentage. As the squad strives to return to the win column, they require every ounce of that production.
