RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 16: The tarp sits on the field during a rain delay in a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Red Sox at PNC Park on August 16, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Patrick Sandoval, simply put, is not good enough. I don’t know what discussions were had about bringing in a starting pitcher at the deadline, but I’m surprised they decided to roll with the group they have.
Sandoval has one good pitch: his changeup. His slider is a fine pitch to get strikes, except he hasn’t had feel for it since coming back from injury. His four-seam fastball is entirely too hittable, and his sinker is just fine at 93 mph. When those other pitches don’t work, his changeup doesn’t do him much good. The other pitches weren’t there today, and he paid the price for it.
This has been brewing for a while, too. In his first outings of the season, he was keeping opponents off the scoreboard, but not without traffic on the bases. A blow-up outing was bound to happen, and it all but lost the Red Sox today’s game in the first three innings. If it were up to me, Brayan Bello would be in Sandoval’s spot, with or without an opener.
A Connor Wong home run in the fifth inning was the only offense from the Red Sox today. They threatened in the second inning, but Andruw Monasterio quickly ended the threat by grounding into a double play after trying and failing to get a bunt down, putting himself in a negative count. The bunts have been great at times, but if you ask me, it’s been excessive lately.
Raymond Burgos took over for Sandoval, throwing two innings before severe thunderstorms hit Pittsburgh. The tarp came on the field, and a lengthy weather delay ensued. The game was delayed for about 2.5 hours, during which time I drank a mojito and gathered some stats for my upcoming feature. I don’t know how Burgos passed the time, but he came back out and fired two innings, allowing one run. The Red Sox failed to score in the after-rain innings, and the Pirates won, 8-3.
Two Studs
Connor Wong (2-3, HR)
Raymond Burgos (4 IP, 1 ER)
Shoutout to Burgos for being the ultimate sacrificial lamb. He’s come up and down between Worcester and Boston and been asked to eat meaningless innings in less-than-favorable conditions. He’s an unsung hero who we should sing about.
Duds
Patrick Sandoval (4 IP, 7 ER)
Anyone in the lineup not named Connor Wong
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