Hold up, baseball fans, because today’s game just got a wild card thrown into the mix. Pittsburgh’s ace, Paul Skenes, isn’t taking the mound this afternoon, and honestly, even though he hasn’t been quite “Paul Skenes” with at least five earned runs in three of his six July starts, this is still a sweet treat for the Red Sox. Instead, we’re gonna see Lake Bachar, a reliever, get the start for the Pirates.
Bachar On The Bump? The Bucs Are Rolling The Dice
The Pirates are clearly getting creative with their pitching today, because putting a reliever like Lake Bachar out there from the jump is a move. He has actually thrown three innings in a game four times already this season, with two of those coming just this month. So, you gotta figure the Bucs are hoping he can eat up those three innings before they go to the rest of the bullpen. It’s a gamble, for sure, and we’ll see if it pays off or if the Red Sox jump all over it. This kind of unexpected change can really swing the momentum.
Lineup Shuffle And Sandoval’s Tightrope Act For The Sox
The Red Sox aren’t without their own adjustments. Masataka Yoshida is heading to the IL, which means Adley Rutschman is stepping into the DH spot. Plus, Willson Contreras, who’s been struggling at the plate with just one homer in August and hitting below the Mendoza line, is getting the day off. On the other side of the ball, Patrick Sandoval is making his seventh start of the year for Boston. His numbers might look okay on paper, but anyone who’s actually watched him pitch knows he’s been living on the edge, benefiting from a lot of luck. He’s been walking that tightrope every single time out there. Let’s hope he doesn’t take a tumble this afternoon.
This is the last one before the Red Sox head home, so you know they’re gonna be playing with some extra fire. Every pitch, every swing matters. They’re looking to close out this series strong, and with Skenes out, the path just got a little clearer.
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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