The Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Sonny Gray is about to take the mound on Wednesday night, and the stats make it look like a trap. In his most recent 12 innings versus the Blue Jays and Athletics, he surrendered nine runs. That is a huge jump from his previous seven starts. Before that rough patch, he gave up just eight runs total across 45 and one-third innings of work. The veteran righty was wronged as an All-Star snub, yet he has been sensational all season. Now he faces a team that just crushed the Red Sox 14-2 in the series opener.
The White Sox are sending Sean Burke to the bump at Fenway. Burke arrives carrying the momentum from 20 strikeouts and only two earned runs given up across his prior 12 innings. That is a scary matchup for anyone watching the game. Boston aims to recover, seeking seven consecutive wins for the Red Sox. It looks like a classic case of a pitcher trying to fix a bad outing against a hot opponent.
Most fans will look at the nine runs Gray gave up and panic. They see the trouncing of the White Sox and think the pitching staff is broken. But look closer at the timeline. Gray had a massive run of stability before those last two starts. He allowed eight runs in over 45 innings before the slump. That is a long stretch of quality work. One bad week does not erase a season of being sensational.
The White Sox starter is no pushover either. Sean Burke has 20 strikeouts in his last 12 innings. He is keeping the ball in the park and getting outs. This is not a game where the Red Sox can just wing it. They need Gray to return to form immediately. The team saved some runs for this night after the 14-2 loss. The first pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET on NESN.
The Real Test for Boston
This game is the turning point for the veteran righty. If he can settle down, the seven consecutive wins for Boston become a reality. If he struggles again, the momentum shifts hard to Chicago. The lineup behind him is ready to go. The Red Sox will send who they will send to the plate behind him. The pressure is on Gray to prove the last two starts were just a blip.
The fans in the stands know the stakes. They saw the trouncing of the White Sox in the opener. They know the team needs a win to keep the streak alive. Gray has the talent to fix this. He just needs to execute against a pitcher who is striking out everyone. The game starts Wednesday night at Fenway Park. The clock is ticking for both sides to find their rhythm. For background, see Sonny Gray Finds Calm to Lead Red Sox Comeback Win.
