Boston Red Sox Prepare for Season Opener Against Baltimore Orioles

Observations and Things Learned about the Red Sox Team before the Opening Day Matchup with Orioles

The Boston Red Sox are entering the 2023 season on Thursday, April 6th, with a record of 14-14-4 after finishing their Spring Training schedule. As they prepare to host the Baltimore Orioles for their season opener at Fenway Park, there are several observations and things learned about the team that could impact how they perform in the regular season.

Firstly, the Red Sox roster has looked mismatched during Spring Training, with players playing in positions that don’t match their strengths. This has led to some concerns about team performance during the regular season. Additionally, injuries to multiple starters have forced young pitcher Tanner Houck into the rotation, which could lead to further struggle if he continues to struggle with his command.

Another concern for the team is the bullpen situation, with primary setup men struggling and injuries opening up roster spots for inexperienced players. This could cause problems later on in games when high leverage situations arise, and inexperienced players are called upon to deliver key outs.

Furthermore, there has been speculation about who will start on Opening Day for the Red Sox. Many believe that Chris Sale should be starting since he is by far the team’s best starter. However, it remains to be seen who Manager Alex Cora will choose for this important game.

On a positive note, Rafael Devers has emerged as the team’s best player during Spring Training and is expected to feature prominently in their batting lineup during the regular season. Additionally, Masataka Yoshida’s performance in the World Baseball Classic was impressive and has shown that he could be a valuable addition to the team if he can handle high fastballs in the big leagues.

Performance of Boston Red Sox Players in Spring Training

As previously mentioned, the Red Sox finished their Spring Training schedule with a 14-14-4 record after starting out with a 9-0-3 streak. There were several players who impressed during the preseason and others who will need to improve during the regular season.

One player who made a compelling case for a call-up is Jorge Alfaro, who did not make the major league roster out of spring training but could feature later in the season. Meanwhile, Triston Casas, the Red Sox’ No. 2 prospect, was one of the team’s best hitters in spring training and is expected to perform well during the season.

Adam Duvall caught fire over the last month of Spring Training, finishing with a .938 OPS, and if he remains healthy, he’ll be a valuable asset for the team. Additionally, Yairo Munoz had a spectacular spring and looks to be a reliable outfield option off the bench.

Pitching-wise, Connor Winckowski was Boston’s best pitcher during Spring Training and was rewarded with a spot on the Opening Day roster. However, Tanner Houck struggled during Spring Training with a high number of homers let up and struggled with his command. Nick Pivetta’s starting pitching job is on the line and he may wind up in the bullpen. In contrast, Hirokazu Sawamura should be an excellent addition to the bullpen.

Boston Red Sox’s Final Spring Training Game and Season Opener Details

The Boston Red Sox will play their final spring training game against the Braves before flying home to Boston for their regular season opener against the Orioles. Fans can watch the final spring training game on NESN Live, Sling, DirecTV Stream and fuboTV. However, NESN is only available for live streaming within New England while NESN National covers all of New England except Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Kutter Crawford will make the start in Boston’s final spring training game against Atlanta Braves, and as the fourth game pitcher of the season for Boston. In this game, Alex Cora will be using a lineup that looks like the one he’s likely to use for the season opener against the Orioles.

The Red Sox’s season opener against the Orioles will take place at Fenway Park on Thursday, April 6th. The game is an important one, and it sets the tone for the rest of the regular season. Fans are eagerly anticipating this matchup and are hoping that their team can secure a win in front of their home crowd.

Overall, there is much excitement surrounding the Boston Red Sox as they prepare for their 2023 regular season opener against the Baltimore Orioles. Fans are hopeful that their team can improve upon last year’s disappointing performance and make a strong showing in the American League East division.

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