Erik Miller gave up the winning run in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians on a leadoff hit by pitch, and that’s a tough look. This 3-2 loss, while not changing Boston’s Wild Card road spot in the postseason, absolutely screamed trouble. Miller has now given up at least one run in four straight outings. Are we really going into the postseason with a late-game arm who can’t find the plate when it counts?
Bullpen Brouhaha: Command Issues and ‘TBD’ Answers
Chad Tracy, the manager, was asked about Miller’s struggles after the game, and his response was, well, something. He said Miller’s “going through some things, obviously. But we still trust the stuff. If we can get that right, we trust his stuff and his ability to get guys out.” That’s a lot of “if” for a team heading into a win-or-go-home situation. What happens if he doesn’t “get that right” in the next seven days? With Justin Slaten out and Tyron Guerrero hitting a wall recently, the Red Sox bullpen is looking mighty thin if they’ve got a one-run lead in a gotta-have-it game. Is this where Garett Crochet steps up? Do they dare go with Bryan Bello? Honestly, the reporter who followed up asking when Miller would pitch next deserves a raise. Tracy’s answer? “TBD.” Yikes. That’s about as comforting as a wet sock.
Hitting Woes and Tolle’s Last Tune-Up
It wasn’t just Miller, though. Payton Tolle, the big lefty, had a less than stellar night too. He gave up eight hits and two walks in just 5.2 innings, struggling with his command early on. Sure, you can be an optimist and point out he limited the damage and got better as the game went on, which is a sign of a good pitcher developing. But Boston needs him to be a *great* pitcher right now, and this was his last tune-up before he takes the mound in New York. On offense, this lineup just doesn’t have the firepower to handle postseason arms. They went 0-9 with runners in scoring position against a Cleveland team fighting to stay ahead of the White Sox in their league. We know they’re missing Willson Contreras, but this game was just another chapter in their complete inability to get a big hit against velocity with ducks on the pond.
Can they figure it out just in time, with everybody healthy? They’re postseason-bound, playing on the road in the Wild Card series, and can’t move up their seeding. Tolle is set to pitch in New York next week, and how he performs there is going to be huge. We’ll see if this squad can shake off these bad vibes before it really matters.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Over the Monster.
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