It’s probably safe to assume the Boston Red Sox liked what they saw in left-hander James Paxton while losing to him and the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 21 because five days later they traded for him.
Paxton, who spent last year with Boston, will make his first start for the Red Sox this season on Tuesday, when they play the visiting Seattle Mariners in the second matchup of a three-game series.
“It feels like I never left,” Paxton said. “I got welcomed by everybody, and it feels really good to be here. I’m comfortable here and just excited to be a part of what we got going on.”
Paxton, 35, made 18 starts for the Dodgers this season and went 8-2 with a 4.43 ERA. He allowed three runs in five-plus innings and struck out seven to earn the win in the 9-6 victory over Boston earlier this month — then was designated for assignment the next day.
Paxton, who went 7-5 with a 4.50 ERA in 19 starts for the Red Sox last season, allowed two runs in five innings and earned the win in his only career start against Seattle, on Aug. 28, 2019. He spent the first six seasons of his major league career with the Mariners (2013-18), then returned for another stint in 2021 that ended after one game when he needed Tommy John surgery.
Right-hander Luis Castillo (8-10, 3.38 ERA) is scheduled to start for Seattle, which had its three-game winning streak end when Boston prevailed 14-7 on Monday. Castillo is 1-2 with a 5.06 ERA in three career appearances (all starts) against the Red Sox. On Opening Day this year, he lost to Boston after giving up four runs in five innings.
Castillo will be facing a Red Sox team that collected 16 hits in the series opener, including a season-high 11 extra-base hits. Boston scored seven runs with two outs in the third inning, which included a two-run home run by Masataka Yoshida.
The designated hitter had three hits and four RBIs in the win, and he is batting .347 with three doubles, three home runs and 20 RBIs in his past 20 games. Yoshida will carry a six-game hitting streak into the Tuesday game.
Boston entered the Monday matchup coming off back-to-back losses to the New York Yankees.
“We kind of needed (the win) to be honest with you,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “The weekend … we lost the series, but every pitch it felt like meant a lot. Probably bigger than what it really is. It was very intense, and to be able to breathe a little bit (Monday) was good for us.”
Seattle could have Justin Turner in the lineup on Tuesday. The Mariners acquired Turner in a trade with Toronto on Monday. He hit .257 with six home runs, 17 doubles and 31 RBIs in 90 games with the Blue Jays this season. He has been used primarily as a designated hitter this year — similar to last year when he played for the Red Sox.
“I just think, ‘pro’ — this guy’s been around a long time,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “He’s gone through a lot in his career. He’s been on winning teams — a lot of winning teams. So there’s a certain way that winning teams go about things. And I just think not only for what he can do on the field, which I still think he has plenty of left to give there, I think he’ll hopefully give in other areas as well, helping out some of our young guys.”
Seattle outfielder Randy Arozarena collected two hits on Monday — including his first home run with his new team — but left the game after hitting the wall in foul territory. He said he would be available to play on Tuesday.
–Field Level Media