Ranger Suarez pulled after long third inning

Suarez gave up a run in the opening frame, but managed to keep Tampa Bay off the scoreboard into the late innings despite issuing a season-high five walks. The control issues seem like a bit of an outlier considering he’s rarely handed out more than three free passes and four of those five walks went to Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero in this one. He finished with five strikeouts and allowed three earned runs or fewer for the third consecutive start since the beginning of September. He’ll wrap up the regular season with a home matchup against the Guardians on Thursday.

Suarez cruised through five scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and no walks before Carter Jensen took him deep for a solo homer in the sixth. That would be all the damage the Royals could get across on Suarez. He pitched a scoreless seventh and finished his day with eight strikeouts. The 31-year-old left-hander will take a 3.33 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and a 130/40 K/BB ratio across 137 2/3 innings into a start against the Rays in Tampa Bay on Friday.

The Red Sox have some extra flexibility with off days coming up Thursday and Monday. Gray got to pitch on nine days’ rest last time through. Now, Suarez, who pitched seven scoreless innings against Baltimore last time out, will get eight days in between starts, with Gray working on five days’ rest.

Suarez gave up five hits, walked one and struck out three. He improved to 6-4 with the win. Suarez bounced back after allowing six runs in his previous start against the Yankees. He lowered his ERA to 3.44 with the scoreless outing Friday. Suarez is lined up to face the Angels at home next week.

Suarez allowed two walks and only struck out two. He had made it through four scoreless before things unraveled in the fifth, though there was a questionable umpiring decision involving Ceddanne Rafaela on a ball he appeared to catch. Rafaela was ruled to have “trapped” the ball even after review. That led to a two-run hit from Paul Goldschmidt, followed by a Heliot Ramos three-run homer. The Yankees took the season series with the victory. That could affect home-field advantage in the Wild Card Series if the two rivals finish with identical records. Suarez is scheduled to face the Orioles on the road next time out.

Suarez was uncharacteristically wild in this one, handing out a season-high four free passes, in addition to hitting a pair of batters, needing a staggering 93 pitches to complete five frames. He finished with four strikeouts and managed to limit Miami’s lineup to just a second-inning sacrifice fly from Otto Lopez. He’s struggled to work deep into starts, pitching into the sixth inning just once in six outings since coming off the injured list on July 26. It hasn’t been a massive issue for the Red Sox since Brayan Bello has been a revelation coming out of the bullpen as a multi-inning weapon. He’ll get the ball against the Yankees in a challenging road tilt to close out a two-start week on Sunday.

Congratulations to Suarez on his first decision since June. All of the runs came on Gabriel Moreno’s grand slam in the third, making this Suarez’s first win while giving up four runs since Sept. 21, 2023. He’s now 5-3 while posting a 3.41 ERA in 22 starts this season, and he’ll pitch in Miami next time out.

Suarez gave up six hits, walked one and struck out two. It’s the first time he’s completed at least five innings in a start since June 29 against the Nationals. Suarez’ 3.25 ERA and 3.32 xFIP are in line with his career norms, he just had a July to forget. Even though he only recorded two strikeouts Wednesday, Suarez has a 25 percent strikeout percentage this year. He’s lined up for a two-start week next week, starting with the Diamondbacks at home on Monday.

Not wanting him to face Shohei Ohtani for a third time, the Red Sox employed a surprisingly quick hook with Suarez after a walk and two singles in the fifth. So, Jovani Moran replaced him and gave up a homer to Ohtani anyway. Suarez threw just 65 pitches before exiting, and his stuff was fine. It would have been just fine to keep him in. Maybe he’ll be allowed to complete five innings next week against the White Sox.

Suarez struck out six without walking anyone, lowering his ERA to 3.02. It was Boston’s 22nd victory in 26 contests. The left-hander was making his first start since July 5 due to a groin issue. He signed a five-year pact with the club over the offseason and will resume operating as one of their top starters. However, Suarez’s next start lines up as a tough one at Dodger Stadium.