After a feel-good four-game sweep of the Yankees, the Washington Nationals were the next challenge and after winning game one the Sox crashed hard. We don’t need to go into the next two games eccept for the impact on the road trip: No Willson Contreras, essentially.
For the most important stretch of the season remaining – 6 games against two mediocre teams and 3 against a good White Sox club – the Red Sox may be without their best player this season (non-Durbin division). Seven games out of 162 is about 4.3% of the season. With the All-Star Break, Cavalli may not functionally miss a start at all depending on how the Nationals reset their rotation. Not ideal.
The Angels have been reeling. Mike Trout, in the midst of a big year, hit the IL. The team fired their GM, and the Angels are headed to yet another losing season. Los Angeles is sitting at 36-51 to Boston’s 37-48 record entering play.
Jake Bennett is coming off a masterful start against the Yankees. 6.1 innings and 1 run to the former first place AL East club. He’s looking like an excellent acquisition by Craig Breslow. If he turns into a solid rotation member that’s a tremendous win for even a very good prospect who is more suited for relief. He’ll face Reid Detmers. The Angels starter has been up since 2021 and is breaking out this season. Detmers was hit hard for 8 runs in 5.2 innings on May 13 but then put up a true gem: 8 innings, 1 run, 14 Ks. And has mostly been cruising since then. He had as hiccup against the A’s in their minor league park but then handled them better at home. He is a lefty so hopefully we’ll see some vintage Romy vs Lefty magic.
Sonny Gray has been the #2 that was promised. What else can you say at this point? He’s making a great case to be traded or to stick around and just anchor the rotation that has lost all the depth from March. Someone needs to pitch innings. He’s opposed by a second lefty, Sam Aldegheri. In his third season in Anaheim, Aldegheri is not having the breakout Detmers has enjoyed. He only strikes out 15% of batters but walks 9.8% so this might be a short night if the Sox are hitting. He’s allowed 4 home runs in his 29 big league innings this year across 5 starts (8 total games).
Ranger Suarez missed out on the fun against the Yankees but pitched the Sox to their only win against the Nationals. Striking out 8 in 6.0 innings he turned in another solid start this year. There’s usually an inning where he runs into some trouble but he’s so good he can get out of almost any jam. Ryan Johnson, fresh off his latest Knives Out sequel will finish the series for the Angels. A righty, he’s strugglesd. Although an ERA over seven…we’ve seen this story before in 2026. Will it drop to 6.50 or lower if the bats take the night off?
Mike Trout is on the IL. As is old friend Yoán Moncada.
Zach Neto is leading the Angels with 18 homers.
Another old friend, Vaughn Grissom, is hitting .231/.311/.369.
Jarren Duran is coming off an absolutely brutal .144/.168/.227 month of June after his .261/.331/.548 line in May. Will July treat him better?
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday, July 3: Jake Bennett (3.27 ERA / 3.11 FIP) vs. Reid Detmers (3.88 ERA /2.96 FIP)
Saturday, July 4: Sonny Gray (2.69 ERA / 3.58 FIP) vs. Sam Aldegheri (4.85 ERA / 4.93 FIP)
Sunday, July 5: Ranger Suarez (2.94 ERA / 2.72 FIP) vs. Ryan Johnson (7.40 ERA / 6.07 FIP)
Friday, July 3: 9:38 PM ET on NESN
Saturday, July 4: 9:38 PM ET on NESN
Sunday, July 5: 9:30 PM ET on NESN
