Fully operational Shohei Ohtani isn’t back quite yet though.
The Red Sox stretch of games again first place teams continues. This time, at least, they’re at home. And they face a Dodgers team that is a) less than full strength and b) not rolling out their best rotation over the three game stretch.
Emmet Sheehan is a 25-year-old righthander coming back from Tommy John. He tossed 60.1 innings in 2023, missed 2024, and has made 3 starts and a 4.1 inning relief appearance since returning season for a total of 16.1 innings. Facing the San Diego Padres, Houston Astros. San Francisco Giants, and Milwaukee Brewers he’s had some tough opponents. He’s put up a 16:5 K:BB over his four outings but maxed out at 80 pitches. His last appearance against the Brewers was a 65 pitch, 3.0 inning, 5 run affair.
Saturday is a matchup for the ages. Well, it might be more of a passing of the torch. Clayton Kershew vs. Garrett Crochet.
Kershaw at this stage of his career is….fine. The strikeout rate has been cut in half from 31-33% at the peak of his powers ti 16.2% this year. Although he did reach 3,000 Ks. His walk rate has gone up to 7.0% after years between 4-5%. He’s throwing somewhere between 80 and 90 pitches over 5 to 6 innings of work. He only allowed 1 run in 4.1 innings to the Brewers last time out but also gave up 4 runs to the White Sox two starts earlier.
Dustin May is, uh, also returning from TJ, His career high in inning pitched entering 2025 was 56 back in 2020. He’s at 99 now after missing 2024. He’s 27 now so he’s not a “kid” but hasn’t really thrown a starter’s workload. Crochet was in a similar boat last year and ended up making all his starts but the White Sox ramped down his innings. And he still got to 146. But that was to build up for this year where he’s leading the league with 135.1 innings. Like Kershaw, it’s a bit of a mystery box. With the veteran it’s how much does he have left and with May it’s all uncharted territory. He’s more-or-less 5-6 innings and 3-4 runs. A tad worse than a quality start. Walker Buehler, coming off his best start, will face his old team for the first time. That’s some extra pressure.
Catcher Will Smith is the only qualified National League hitter batting over .300 right now (at .323).
Shohei Ohtani leads the NL with 37 home runs and has chipped in 13 steals after he set the record with his 50-50 season last year.
Mookie Betts, who was violently ill when the team opened the season in Japan, is having a career worst year and is now expected to miss time for personal reasons. Sorry Mookie.
Freddie Freeman is doing his normal thing: .295/.368/.470.
Andy Pages has broken out with a .284/.328/.486 slash line.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is thankfully not pitching in this series.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday July 25: Emmet Sheehan (4.41 ERA / 2.85 FIP) vs. Brayan Bello (3.23 ERA / 4.36 FIP)
Saturday July 26: Clayton Kershaw (3.27 ERA / 4.15 FIP) vs. Garrett Crochet (2.19 ERA / 2.41 FIP)
Sunday July 27: Dustin May 4.73 ERA / 4.72 FIP) vs. Walker Buehler (5.72 ERA / 5.67 FIP)
When/Where to Watch
Friday July 25: 7:10 PM ET on NESN
Saturday July 26: 7:15 PM ET on FOX
Sunday July 27: 1:35 PM ET on NESN