The front office waived the white flag, will the team follow?
Well, yesterday sure was something.
This is a test
To see if my worst still can beat my best
This is a test
A measurement of my failure at success
— The Impossibles, The Week of August First
Garrett Crochet was pushed back from this series against a playoff team in the Houston Astros to face the Kansas City Royals, a team that decided they too could win a Wild Card in a weak American League as buyers at the dealine. Just three games behind the restocked Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers they just might too! Great to get reinforcement at the deadline.
Friday begins with a bullpen start or a callup or Cooper Criswell or who know, Dustin May? He hasn’t pitched since allowing four runs in five innings to, uh, the Red Sox. So he’d be in line if he can get here.
Hunter Brown has given up more than three earned runs just three times in 21 starts this year. In the month of July, thanks to a 6 run outing against the Cleveland Guardian, Brown posted a 5.54 ERA / 3.97 FIP. Perhaps his relative struggles continue against TBD.
Colton Gordon has struggled a bit all season. With and ERA near 4.75 he lucks out to be paired against Walker Buehler. Buehler, for his part, is coming off a strong July with a 3.57 ERA / 4.94 FIP over 22.2 innings. He struck out 12 and walked 9 over that stretch but it’s still an improvement and at this stage of the year with starts dedicated to him, hopefully he continues to turn the corner.
Framber Valdez is having a good season as well as two double-digit strikeout games in his last three starts. Can the Red Sox hold their bats and not have a long night “by way of the K?”
Carlos Correa rejoins his old team after being re-acquired from the Minnesota Twins.
Will Steven Matz make it to Boston? Hunter Dobbins went to the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man roster but the 26-man move hasn’t been announced at this time of this writing (ditto Dustin May).
BAH. New pitchers dropped.
Sox rotation:
Friday: Criswell (1-0, 5.06)
Saturday; Buehler (6-6, 5.72)
Sunday: May (6-7, 4.85)— Peter Abraham (@peteabeglobe.bsky.social) 2025-08-01T14:45:18.877Z
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday, August 1: Hunter Brown (2.54 ERA / 2.96 FIP) vs. TBD (— ERA / — FIP)
Saturday, August 2: Colton “Commissioner” Gordon (4.74 ERA / 4.64 FIP) vs. Walker Buehler (5.72 ERA / 2.41 FIP)
Sunday, August 3: Framber Valdez (2.62 ERA / 2.86 FIP) vs. Lucas Giolito (3.80 ERA / 4.19 FIP)
When/Where to Watch
Friday August 1: 7:10 PM ET on Apple TV+
Saturday August 2: 4:10 PM ET on NESN
Sunday August 3: 11:35 PM ET on Roku