Patrick Sandoval gives up four runs in loss to Rangers

The Red Sox only need three starting pitchers for this first series, so Sandoval had been pitching out of the bullpen in recent games, perhaps to see how he would handle that role in the playoffs. With Garrett Crochet (shoulder) now also returning and Jake Bennett able to provide depth out of the bullpen as well, the team had no need for Sandoval in this series.

It’s unclear how the Red Sox are going to handle the situation since they’re ostensibly locked into the second Wild Card spot heading into the playoffs next week. Patrick Sandoval was scheduled to start Sunday’s season finale and will presumably get the ball on Saturday instead, weather permitting. Jake Bennett, Payton Tolle and Brayan Bello are also in the mix to pitch as well. It’ll be Matthew Boyd and David Peterson most getting the ball for the Cubs during the twin bill with Justin Steele (elbow) in the mix to return from the injured list this weekend. There are a ton of variables that fantasy managers need to monitor with Boston facing inclement weather from roughly Friday evening through Sunday afternoon.

Sandoval gave up four hits, walked two and struck out five. He fell to 1-7 with the loss. Sandoval allowed four runs in the first inning before settling in and completing seven innings. He has a 5.15 ERA this year. Sandoval is lined up to face the Cubs at home next Sunday, the last day of the regular season.

Saturday would be Payton Tolle’s turn, following by Patrick Sandoval on Sunday, but it looks like the Red Sox might be tweaking things. Depending on what they do, they could be aiming to move Tolle ahead of Ranger Suarez as a potential Game 2 starter in their likely Wild Card series.

Sandoval struck out seven with 16 whiffs and a fine 34 percent CSW, but he gave up plenty of hard contact, and as per usual this year, not enough of it was on the ground. He’s now 1-5 with a 4.58 ERA, though it should be noted that the Red Sox have prevailed in all five of his no-decisions. He’ll likely face the Rangers on Tuesday and then finish out the regular season in the rotation. The Red Sox will just hope they don’t need him as a starter in October.

Sandoval struck out two, needing 80 pitches to record 12 outs. The left-hander was making his 10th start since returning from elbow surgery, and he’s up to a 4.41 ERA. A seven-run debacle against the Pirates in mid-August is doing a lot of the damage. Still, Sandoval doesn’t have much fantasy upside next time out against his former team, the Angels.

On most nights, allowing just one earned run would be enough for a pitcher to, at worst, get hit with a no-decision. Unfortunately for Sandoval, when the opposing pitcher is Cam Schlittler, as it was on Friday, one earned run can prove to be too much. Sandoval’s lone blemish came in the third inning when he allowed a solo homer to Paul Goldschmidt to put the Yankees up 1-0. Sandoval wouldn’t allow another run the rest of the night and was pulled in the sixth inning after loading the bases after recording just one out. It’s a tough way to close out the month for Sandoval, who allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of the five starts he made this month. If he can replicate tonight’s outing in his next start, Sandoval could find himself on the winning side of things when he toes the rubber on Wednesday at home against the Mariners.

Sandoval surrendered a solo homer to Willy Adames in the first inning. Andrew Knizer later went yard for a solo homer in the third. The two solo homers would be all the damage the Giants would do as Sandoval pitched into the sixth, collecting six strikeouts. The 29-year-old left-hander will take a 4.54 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, and a 41/18 K/BB ratio across 39 2/3 innings into a start against the Yankees in New York on Friday.

Sandoval struck out six and walked three as his ERA ballooned to 4.76. This was only his seventh start since returning from a multi-year absence due to elbow surgery. It was also the second straight in which his velocity was down. Brayan Bello has thrown well out of the bullpen lately, which could put pressure on Sandoval to pitch well enough to stick in the rotation. His next start lines up at home against the Giants.

Sandoval gave up eight hits despite allowing just two hard-hit balls, as the Boston’s infield defense was not at its best tonight. The Red Sox dropped to 5-1 in Sandoval’s six starts. Sandoval is 1-1 with a 3.30 ERA during that span. He’s due to face the Pirates on Sunday, if the Red Sox are willing to let him work on four days’ rest. They weren’t last Sunday, which is why they used a bullpen game that day instead.