The Boston Pink Sox will see an outdated buddy when visiting the West Coast this weekend.
Boston begins a three-game sequence in opposition to the San Diego Padres on Friday evening. Former Pink Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta will begin the primary sport for the Friars, however he’s not the one acquainted face enjoying nice baseball.
Xander Bogaerts enters the interleague sequence on a sizzling streak. The longtime Pink Sox star has hit a house run in every of his final two video games, giving him a .971 OPS to begin August.
The four-time All-Star is batting .291/.321/.519 for the reason that break and .297/.353/.521 for the reason that begin of June. That’s far more just like the Bogaerts that Pink Sox followers keep in mind, reasonably than the one who ended Might with a .241/.326/.335 slash line.
Bogaerts tallied 1,410 hits, 156 house runs and 74 stolen bases throughout his decade in Boston. The shortstop obtained 5 Silver Slugger awards and received two World Sequence titles in 2013 and 2018.
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His embellished Pink Sox tenure ended when San Diego signed him to an 11-year, $280 million contract after the 2022 season. The deal takes Bogaerts into his age-40 season, a very dangerous funding for a contact-oriented hitter.
Bogaerts started his Padres profession with a 4.6 WAR in 2023, however he then registered his lowest OPS (.688) since 2014. These struggles coincided with the Aruba native enjoying second base for the primary time in his profession.
The Padres moved Bogaerts again to shortstop this season. After some early doldrums, the 32-year-old has kicked again into excessive gear in time to face his former crew.
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Friday’s sport between the Pink Sox and Padres begins at 9:40 p.m. ET.
