Napoli returns to Red Sox's lineup for Game 1 vs. Rays

Buchholz may go on DL; Napoli sees doctors

The off-again, on-again status of Clay Buchholz's next start is off again, and Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell acknowledged the team may place the right-hander on the disabled list with ongoing discomfort in his trapezius muscle in his neck area.

about 2 days ago | Gordon Edes |

Rapid Reaction: Orioles 2, Red Sox 0

BALTIMORE -- What in the name of William Nathaniel Showalter is going on here? Son of a Buck, those are the Baltimore Orioles closing in fast on the Red Sox, who mathematically face the possibility of looking up at Showalter's O's in the American League East by the end of the weekend.

about 4 days ago | Gordon Edes |

Quick hits: Napoli ailing, Buchholz on track

BALTIMORE -- Quick hits on a perfect night for baseball (79 degrees, no humidity) in The House That Lucchino Built: * Mike Napoli, who came out of Thursday's game in the bottom of the third inning, remains ill and was unavailable for Friday night's game.

about 4 days ago | Gordon Edes |

Fantasy Facts - Mike Napoli is finding holes in the defense when he puts the ball in play

Mike Napoli has compiled only a .262 batting average this season, despite having the league's fourth-highest batting average on balls in play (.385). He currently maintains the second-lowest in-play rate (28 percent) and eighth-highest miss rate (34 percent) in the league. His career BABIP is .307 and his previous career high is .344.

Fantasy Fact - On offspeed pitches, Mike Napoli has the most success versus the curveball

Entering Sunday, Mike Napoli has had the most success in at-bats ending in a curveball than any other off-speed pitch (.965 OPS) He has a .617 OPS vs. in plate-appearances ending on the slider, and a .533 OPS in PA ending on the changeup. In May, opposing pitcher Justin Grimm used his curveball (29.4%) more than any other starting pitcher in the American League.

Napoli & Nava Defeat New York

From Elias: Mike Napoli and Daniel Nava each drove in four runs in the Red Sox' 11-1 win at Yankee Stadium. They became the fourth pair of Boston teammates to record at least four RBI in a road game against the Yankees. The others: Mo Vaughn and John Valentin (May 2, 1995); Edgar Renteria and Trot Nixon (May 28, 2005); Dustin Pedroia and Jason Bay (August 27, 2008). And we're not sure what this means, but Napoli and Nava are the first pair of teammates whose last names start with the letter "N" to each drive in four runs in a game since RBIs became an official statistic in 1920.

MLB- Napoli grand slam

Mike Napoli: 5th career grand slam (1 more than Miguel Cabrera, who also hit one today) Napoli is the 1st Red Sox 1B with a grand slam against the Yankees since Mo Vaughn in 1995.

Spratt: Choo struggling in center

Scott Spratt looks at how Shin-Soo Choo and others who switched positions are faring in their new spots.