Sandoval Gets the Ball Against Tampa Bay Despite Weather Chaos

Patrick Sandoval is taking the mound for Saturday’s matchup against the Rays, assuming Mother Nature cooperates. The Red Sox had to delay first pitch due to forecast concerns at Fenway, but Sandoval remains the scheduled starter for what should be an important divisional bout in the AL East.

This is a critical spot for Sandoval in the rotation. Craig Breslow’s pitching staff has depth — Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez, and Jake Bennett have been anchoring things — but consistency matters when you’re grinding through July. Sandoval needs to show he can eat innings and keep the Red Sox competitive against a division rival that always seems to find a way to be dangerous.

The weather delay is a minor annoyance, nothing more. Both teams will deal with the same conditions once play resumes. What matters is whether Sandoval can execute his gameplan against a Tampa Bay lineup that doesn’t beat itself. Alex Cora’s squad has the talent to win in Fenway’s cavernous corners, but they need their starter to give them six solid innings and a chance to win a ballgame.

Keep an eye on how Sandoval’s stuff plays in whatever conditions we get. Humid air moves the baseball differently than dry air, and a delayed start sometimes means a completely different weather profile by game time. It’s small stuff, but in baseball, small stuff adds up.