SF
BOSOne's playing meaningful August baseball, the other is running out the clock on a sell-off — but the scoreboard doesn't know the difference once these two get on the field.
Jake Bennett gets the ball for Boston in the early-afternoon getaway game, and the Red Sox have been deliberate about it — the rookie lefty was given extra rest this month rather than run out on a normal turn. San Francisco hasn't announced a starter for its side yet.
Boston's rotation has been stripped for parts. Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck, Johan Oviedo and Kutter Crawford are all on the 60-day injured list, and the bullpen has its own issues with Garrett Whitlock only just resuming throwing and Justin Slaten shut down with an elbow problem. That's part of why Bennett, even fresh off a rough outing, is getting the ball with extra rest built in rather than pushed.
San Francisco's injury report reads even longer. Matt Chapman and Harrison Bader are done for the year, catcher depth is thin with both Daniel Susac and Jesus Rodriguez out, and the bullpen has bled arms all season. None of it is new — the Giants have been selling off pieces since the trade deadline, not adding to the pile.
