Melissa: One run. That's all that separated the Red Sox from a huge win last night. And today, they get a chance to even the series. This is Beatline, and we're breaking down everything you need to know before first pitch.
Ryan: That was a heartbreaker, but the beauty of a four-game set is you get another shot. And we've got a great one coming up.
Melissa: Welcome back to Beatline, the Boston Red Sox podcast. I'm your host Melissa, and as always, the brilliant Ryan is here with me. How are you feeling after that 1-0 loss?
Ryan: Disappointed, but not discouraged. The pitching was there; we just couldn't get the bats going. But today's a new day.
Melissa: Exactly. And in this episode, we're going to break down the pitching matchup for Game 2, look at the hitters who need to step up, and give you our keys to the series. Stick with us.
Melissa: Alright, let's dive right in. Obviously last night was a tough one. Paul Goldschmidt took us deep, and that was the difference. But today, we've got Brayan Bello on the mound. Ryan, what are your thoughts on that matchup?
Ryan: I love Bello in this spot. He's been our most consistent starter all season, and he's got the stuff to shut down a lineup like the Yankees. He needs to keep the ball down and let his sinker work.
Melissa: And who do the Yankees have going? It's not someone we've seen a ton of.
Ryan: Right, they're throwing Sonny Gray. He's been solid for them, but he's a guy we've seen before and he can be hit. The key is to be patient and make him work. He's not going to beat himself.
Melissa: So it's a battle of righties. Bello vs. Gray. What's the one thing the Red Sox need to do offensively against Gray?
Ryan: We need to get his pitch count up. He's got a good slider, but if we can get him out of the game by the sixth, we can get to that Yankees bullpen, which has been a little shaky lately.
Melissa: That's a great point. And let's not forget, the Yankees have some key guys on the IL. Aaron Judge is still out, Giancarlo Stanton too. That's a lot of power missing from their lineup.
Ryan: Absolutely. But they still have Goldschmidt, Bellinger, and that guy who threw out the tying run last night. Bellinger's arm was a difference-maker. We need to be smart on the bases.
Melissa: No doubt. So what's the vibe in the clubhouse? They've got to be feeling good about their chances with Bello on the mound.
Ryan: I think they are. Bello gives them confidence. If we can scratch across a couple runs, I like our chances.
Melissa: Alright, let's take a quick break. When we come back, we'll talk about the hitters who need to step up and the bullpen concerns.
Melissa: Welcome back. So we talked about the pitching, but the bats have to show up. We were shut out last night. Ryan, who's the one guy who has to get going?
Ryan: It's got to be Jarren Duran. He's our sparkplug. When he gets on base, good things happen. He was quiet last night, but he's due. I'm calling it now: he gets a hit today, maybe even a home run.
Melissa: I like that call. And what about Wilyer Abreu? He's been swinging a hot bat lately.
Ryan: He's been great, and he's a guy who can drive the ball to all fields. He had a couple of hard-hit balls last night that just didn't find grass. They will today.
Melissa: Let's talk about the bullpen. We've got some injuries there. Max Fried is on the IL, Garrett Whitlock too. How does that affect how we use the pen today?
Ryan: It's a concern, but we've got some guys who can get big outs. The key is to not overuse them. If Bello can go seven, that would be ideal. Then you hand it to Chapman and the rest of the guys.
Melissa: And what about the other injuries? Trevor Story, Roman Anthony, those are big losses.
Ryan: They are, but we've got capable replacements. Andruw Monasterio has been solid at short, and we're getting production from the outfield. It's next-man-up mentality.
Melissa: So what about the catching situation? We've got Adley Rutschman and Connor Wong. How do you split that?
Ryan: Rutschman is the everyday guy, but Wong gives us a nice lefty bat off the bench. I'd expect Rutschman to catch Bello today, and Wong could get a start later in the series.
Melissa: Alright, so we've got the pitching and the hitters. What's the one key to winning this game?
Ryan: It's simple: get a lead early. The Yankees are tough to come back against, especially at home. If we can score first and let Bello settle in, we'll be in good shape.
Melissa: I like that. Let's take another quick break, and when we come back, we'll give you our bold predictions.
Melissa: Welcome back. We're back with our keys to the series and our bold predictions. Ryan, what's your take?
Ryan: For me, it's about plate discipline. Last night we swung at too many pitches out of the zone. We need to make Gray work, get his pitch count up, and get to that bullpen.
Melissa: And defensively, we've got to be sharp. Bellinger's throw last night was a game-changer. We can't give them extra outs.
Ryan: Exactly. And I'm going to make a bold prediction: I think we win this game 4-2, and Jarren Duran hits a home run.
Melissa: I love it. And I'm going to go a step further. I think we win this game and we take the series. This team has too much fight to let a 1-0 loss define them.
Ryan: That's the spirit. We've got the pitching, we've got the bats, and we've got the heart. Let's go get this win.
Melissa: Alright, that's all we have for today. Remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast, and share it with your fellow Red Sox fans.
Ryan: And stay tuned for our postgame reaction after tonight's game. We'll see you then.
Melissa: Go Sox!