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.
Dustin Pedroia has been one of the Red Sox’ most consistent players all season despite injuries and a slow start to the season. The second baseman enters Wednesday night as the team’s high-water mark when it comes to hitting.
Pedroia takes the crown of hottest hitter in the absence of Jacoby Ellsbury, who would be the leader if not missing several games due to injury. Pedroia has had at least two hits and a double in each of the last three games, going 6-for-13 with two runs scored and raising his average to .290 for the year.
After Ellsbury and Pedroia, things drop off a bit. Scott Podsednik, Mike Aviles and Ryan Kalish all come in at an even 72 on the temperature gauge, with everyone else on the roster falling below the midpoint of the scale.
As for the Rays, Jeff Keppinger has been the hottest hitter of late and is coming off a two-hit night in which he took Clay Buchholz deep. The Rays infielder is 9-for-22 with two home runs and six RBI during the team’s six-game winning streak.
Nine Rays players come into Wednesday night’s game above the 72 rating on the temperature gauge, which does not bode well for Jon Lester, who takes the hill Wednesday night in search of his 10th win.
Here are the hitting temperatures for the Rays and Red Sox for Wednesday, Sept. 26.
Red Sox
Jacoby Ellsbury, 82
Dustin Pedroia, 81
Scott Podsednik, 72
Mike Aviles, 72
Ryan Kalish, 72
Guillermo Quiroz, 71
Daniel Nava, 69
James Loney, 68
Danny Valencia, 65
Pedro Ciriaco, 65
Che-Hsuan Lin, 64
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, 64
Ivan De Jesus, 63
Mauro Gomez, 61
Jose Iglesias, 58
Cody Ross, 56
Ryan Lavarnway, 50
Rays
Jeff Keppinger, 92
Jose Molina, 89
Evan Longoria, 87
Ben Zobrist, 84
Carlos Pena, 80
B.J. Upton, 77
Sean Rodriguez, 73
Reid Brignac, 73
Desmond Jennings, 72
Jose Lobaton, 71
Stephen Vogt, 70
Chris Gimenez, 69
Rich Thompson, 69
Elliot Johnson, 68
Luke Scott, 68
Ben Francisco, 68
Ryan Roberts, 67
Sam Fuld, 64
Matt Joyce, 62
