Boston @ Kansas City preview
Kauffman Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 14, 2024 ) Kansas City 4, Boston 5
The Kansas City Royals look for right-hander Brady Singer to continue his second-half success as they open a three-game series against the visiting Boston Red Sox on Monday.
Since the All-Star break, Singer (8-6, 2.88 ERA) has won three straight, going seven innings in each game and allowing a combined three runs on 13 hits and four walks with 16 strikeouts.
"The two-seamer was really good," he said after throwing seven shutout innings against the Chicago Cubs on July 26. "It had a lot of movement. That was the pitch tonight that was really helping me out."
Mixing sweepers with his sinkers and sliders adds a new dimension.
"I think the pitches are in the right spot," Singer said. "I've used that sweeper a lot more since the All-Star break. I think that's helped me a lot. A little bit different look than the slider."
Confidence in his sinker has contributed to his recent success against left-handed hitters.
"Just trusting it," Singer said. "Trusting it on the inner half. Not trying to yank it in there."
In three career starts against the Red Sox, Singer is 2-1 with a 4.11 ERA. In his last outing against Boston, on July 14 at Fenway Park, Singer couldn't get through three innings, allowing four runs on eight hits while getting just eight outs in the 5-4 loss.
Left-hander James Paxton (8-3, 4.52) hasn't completed more than five innings in six starts, posting a 6.67 ERA while allowing 34 hits and 16 walks in 27 innings.
The Red Sox hope Paxton, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline, will rebound after losing in his return to the Boston rotation. Paxton, who played for the Red Sox in 2023, allowed six runs -- three earned -- on six hits in 4 1/3 innings against the visiting Seattle Mariners on Tuesday.
"Good fastball, good breaking ball," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Paxton. "Obviously, we didn't play good defense behind him."
In nine starts against the Royals, Paxton is 4-1 with a 2.57 ERA. He took the loss last Sept. 1 at Kansas City, allowing six runs on five hits while getting just four outs as Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez homered in the first inning.
Boston's offense has been potent since the All-Star break, scoring at least six runs in 11 of 15 games, with Jarren Duran leading the way.
The All-Star Game MVP has hit safely in 16 of his last 17 games, batting .403 with 16 extra-base hits and 14 RBIs. His solo homer in the fifth inning on Sunday put the Red Sox ahead to stay in their 7-2 win over the Rangers.
Duran is part of a productive young core of Boston hitters.
"I feel like we're such a young group," Duran said. "We're just always ready to fight. We've been down a lot and come back in a lot of games. That's something we're going to be able to have in our back pocket down the long stretch."
Rookies Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu have also provided an offensive spark.
"What (Rafaela is) doing is very unique," Cora told MassLive. "To play center and to play shortstop a lot, that's very unique. And offensively, he's making strides. He's getting better."
Rafaela hit safely in 13 of 15 games, batting .317 and scoring 10 runs.
Abreu homered twice Sunday, driving in four runs. He recorded a hit in eight of his past 10 games, hitting .400 with 13 RBIs.
--Field Level Media