Game 87: Reds at Red Sox resumption thread

The Red Sox lead 2-1 going into the top of the fourth inning of last night’s suspended game against the Reds.

The Red Sox got off to a good start last night plating a pair of runs in the first inning thanks to RBI hits from Roman Anthony and Carlos Narvaez.

As the action resumes this afternoon, the Red Sox will need to make a pitching change, and this is where the strategy for the entire day becomes relevant. Brayan Bello, who was originally slated to start tonight’s 7:10pm game, will get the ball in the top of the fourth inning.

The idea here is likely to try and minimize the bullpen usage in the afternoon, and then aggressively manage through a bullpen game in the nightcap, repeatedly gaining the platoon and overall matchup advantage. Six innings of work from Bello would get the Sox through through the ninth in the resumption game, and then they’d be in position to mix and match like crazy in the 7:10pm game thanks to a combination of an off day tomorrow, and the bullpen not pitching at all last night.

On the other side, Sam Moll will be on the mound for the Reds when the game restarts, so unlike the Sox, they’re going straight to their bullpen.

I’ll be at work during the later innings of this one, so Dan Secatore will have your game wrap, and then Juliet Hurwitz will be on for your regularly scheduled Wednesday game programing this evening.