Editor's note: The temperature gauge is a Bill James-created statistic that measures how hot or cold hitters are. We will spotlight Red Sox and opposing team temperatures on game days.
Cody Ross' sixth-inning home run against the Indians on Friday — which proved to be the difference in a 3-2 victory — simply confirmed what is becoming obvious: The right fielder is on a roll. Ross enters Saturday's game carrying an eight-game hitting streak during which the righty is hitting .406 with a .719 slugging percentage.
He's not the only Red Sox player who is hot at the plate. Adrian Gonzalez's nine-game hitting streak came to an end Friday, but it was likely only a blip on the radar. The four-time All-Star has been raking in the season's second half. Since June 23, Gonzalez has hit at a .392 clip and has posted a phenomenal 1.010 OPS. He's also been great at putting the ball in play, striking out just 18 times in 174 plate appearances during that span.
The Sox will have another chance to pounce Saturday. Cleveland starter Zach McAllister allowed nine runs in just 1 2/3 innings in his last outing against the Twins on Monday.
Despite the recent heroics of Ross, Gonzalez and Dustin Pedroia — who, with a six-game hitting streak, finally seems to be finding his stroke — the Sox have still struggled, dropping seven of their last 10. As usual, much of that blame rests on the shoulders of the Boston pitching staff, which has failed to back up a lineup that has scored the second-most runs in baseball this season despite a slew of injuries.
Asdrubal Cabrera enters Saturday as Cleveland's hottest hitter, which makes sense since he was the only Indian to get a hit against Clay Buchholz on Friday. In fact, Cabrera had two hits, including a solo home run in the first inning to put the Indians on top.
Here are the Red Sox and Indians temperatures for Saturday, Aug. 11.
Red Sox
Cody Ross 94
Adrian Gonzalez 86
Dustin Pedroia 85
Pedro Ciriaco 76
Scott Podsednik 71
Will Middlebrooks 69
Nick Punto 64
Mike Aviles 64
Carl Crawford 62
Ryan Lavarnway 61
Jacoby Ellsbury 56
Jarrod Saltalamacchia 54
Kelly Shoppach 47
Indians
Asdrubal Cabrera 87
Carlos Santana 76
Michael Brantley 74
Jason Donald 69
Brent Lillibridge 68
Ezequiel Carrera 64
Shin-Soo Choo 63
Casey Kotchman 63
Lou Marson 62
Shelley Duncan 61
Jason Kipnis 60
Jack Hannahan 59
