Ali Sánchez faces playoff heartbreak as Red Sox catcher drama unfolds with unexpected roster twist
Ali Sánchez Faces Playoff Heartbreak Amid Unfolding Catcher Drama
The Boston Red Sox are bracing for a critical decision as they approach the postseason, particularly regarding their catching situation. With the playoffs looming, the team has yet to finalize its roster, but whispers from within suggest that 28-year-old catcher Ali Sánchez is unlikely to make the cut.
Sánchez’s Tumultuous Journey
Sánchez’s season has been anything but stable. After starting the year with the Toronto Blue Jays, his tenure took a sharp turn when he was designated for assignment in August. The Red Sox initially took a chance on him, bringing him into the fold briefly before ultimately releasing him. However, a twist of fate saw Sánchez signing with the New York Mets, only for the Red Sox to express interest in bringing him back, culminating in a trade that reunited Sánchez with Boston.
This series of events has left Sánchez on a roller coaster of emotions. His journey through the majors this season has been marked by uncertainty and the constant struggle to find a permanent home.
Impending Roster Decisions
As the Red Sox weigh their options, they face a roster dilemma that will impact their postseason strategy. Though Sánchez has shown flashes of potential, his inconsistent performance may play a pivotal role in the team’s decision-making process. The organization has hinted at forthcoming roster choices, signaling that the clock is ticking.
The Red Sox have a wealth of talent at their disposal, making for a competitive environment as they finalize their playoff roster. The team must evaluate not just Sánchez’s skills behind the plate but also how he fits into their broader postseason strategy.
Looking Ahead
With the playoffs on the horizon, the Red Sox’s decision may hinge on a variety of factors, including player performance, team chemistry, and matchups against potential opponents. For Sánchez, missing out on the playoff roster would be a profound disappointment, especially after the tumultuous path he has navigated this season.
As fans and analysts alike await the official announcement, Sánchez’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the unpredictable nature of baseball and the emotional stakes involved as teams vie for postseason glory.
Padres visit Cubs, red-hot Seiya Suzuki for wild-card opener
Seiya Suzuki has picked a fine time to start flexing his muscles again.
Suzuki followed up a seven-week homerless drought by going deep five times over the Chicago Cubs' final four games of the regular season.
Suzuki will look to continue his recent torrid run on Tuesday afternoon as the fourth-seeded Cubs host the fifth-seeded San Diego Padres in Game 1 of their best-of-three National League wild-card series.
San Diego right-hander Nick Pivetta (13-5, 2.87 ERA) will be tasked with keeping Suzuki in check in the series opener.
Chicago has yet to announce its Game 1 starter. However, left-handers Matthew Boyd (14-8, 3.21) and Shota Imanaga (9-8, 3.73) figure to be the top candidates.
But let's get back to Suzuki, who belted a solo homer in the Cubs' 2-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the season finale on Sunday. He boosted his team-leading RBI total to 103 after driving in 12 runs during his seven-game hitting streak.
"It's great to have a player that goes in with a ton of confidence," manager Craig Counsell said of Suzuki. "He struggled for a bit of the second half, for a pretty good portion of the second half. But he picked it up at a good time. ... He's definitely entering the postseason in a very confident place."
Suzuki isn't the only member of the Cubs heating up at the right time. Nico Hoerner is batting .337 in September while Pete Crow-Armstrong has two homers and four RBIs during his four-game hitting streak.
"The recent couple of games, the offense is back to where it should be," Suzuki said Sunday, per the Chicago Sun-Times. "Going into the playoffs, everybody has that confidence, especially the offense right now. Hopefully, we can use that as a strength in the playoffs."
Suzuki, however, went 1-for-13 with four strikeouts against San Diego in April. The teams each won two of their three games at home against the other.
While the Cubs (92-70) punched their ticket to the postseason for the first time since 2020, the Padres (90-72) are set to compete in the playoffs for the fourth time in six years. San Diego is doing so after recording consecutive seasons with at least 90 wins for the first time in franchise history.
"That's a big accomplishment," Padres manager Mike Shildt said. "This team is setting out to be consistent and year in year out play baseball that the city can be really proud of."
Pivetta, however, doesn't have much postseason experience, save for three appearances with the Boston Red Sox in 2021.
He split a pair of outings against the Cubs in April. He allowed three runs over three innings in a 7-1 setback in Chicago on April 5 and yielded one run over six frames in a 4-2 victory in San Diego 11 days later.
Pivetta, 32, is 2-2 with a 3.96 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) versus the Cubs.
Boyd, 34, posted a 0.77 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in three playoff games last season with the Cleveland Guardians. He faced the Padres this season for the first time in his career, going 1-1 with a 1.59 ERA.
Imanaga fared even better versus San Diego this season, posting a 1-0 record with a 0.73 ERA. He is 1-0 with a 1.40 ERA in three career meetings with the Padres.
Either pitcher would be wise to tread carefully around Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arraez. Tatis has gone deep in three of his last four games, while Arraez is batting a robust .352 in September.
