𧢠Preview: Red Sox vs. Tigers â Three Games to Prove Theyâre Not Just âMidâ
By: Jim Dalfino
Record: 22-20 | Game 1 vs Detroit: Tonight
Letâs not sugarcoat it â this upcoming series against the Detroit Tigers might be the biggest litmus test of the season so far. And thatâs not because Detroit is exceptionally good. Itâs because we donât know if the Red Sox are.
Three games. At in Detroit. Against a team you need to beat if you are a serious contender.
If Boston stumbles here? Itâs not just âone of those series.â Itâs confirmation: this team might be exactly what it smells like â a .500 ball club, built for moral victories and nothing more.
The Tigers: Better Than You Think. Worse Than You Fear.
Detroit enters the series with the best record in the American League, and a few guys no one outside Michigan can name.
Theyâre not flashy. But they grind.
And more importantly: they pitch.
Tarik Skubal is a legit frontline arm. He takes the mound Wednesday. Prepare to strike out 11 times and talk about âadjustmentsâ postgame.
Spencer Torkelson has been better than expected. Javier Baez at 32 all of a sudden is putting together a season Detroit has been waiting for.
Their bullpen? Not great, but definitely better than Bostonâs current fire drill. Kahnle has been great so far.
Theyâre the kind of team that can out-execute you if you come in sleepwalking. Which is exactly what the Red Sox have been doing after big series wins.
The Red Sox: Vibes FC
Letâs be honest â this team is unpredictable. They win games they shouldnât, then turn around and drop two of three to teams like Chicago. Theyâve got:
Lacking lineup consistency
A bullpen roulette wheel
Continued issues with errors
But theyâve also got energy. Abreu. Rafaela. Duran. Thereâs talent here.
This series needs to be where that changes.
3 Things Weâre Watching:
1. The Lineupâs Mentality:
Are we swinging out of our cleats in the first inning again, or actually working counts and punishing mistakes?
2. The Bullpen Nerves:
Can we please not blow a 7th-inning lead again?
3. Alex Coraâs Lineup Choices:
We love a random off-day as much as the next guy, but maybe, just maybe⌠let your best hitters play in all three games of an important series?
Prediction: 2 out of 3 â or Pack It In
If Boston doesnât take at least two games here, itâs definitely going to be disheartening. Because this is the kind of series real teams handle.
If they show up focused, they can roll.
If they show up lazy, weâll see what happens when Detroit smells blood.
Let us know your Game 1 take on X @Bastards_Boston and subscribe for postgame meltdowns, player rants, and all the chaos Red Sox baseball brings.
#RedSox #BastardsOfBoston #MLB #TigersSeriesPreview