In the leadup to the Red Sox’ 9-6 loss to the Mariners on Tuesday night, they made a knowing, calculated risk: Allow Sonny Gray to rest, and accept whatever happens in the game that would have belonged to him.
It’s the final four weeks of the regular season. Their place in the postseason seems secure, if not guaranteed. So the Red Sox are zooming out. With a torrid summer, they have earned the luxury to think bigger.
Giving Gray four extra days off before a busy month, maybe two, was more valuable than this one game, win or lose, in the view of the Red Sox, so they made their decision, felt comfortable in it, and picked among their inexperienced alternatives to fill in.
His name was Jedixson Paez. He is a 22-year-old Venezuelan righthander who signed with the team in 2021. And he was pummeled by Seattle for eight runs and 10 hits in 3⅔ innings at Fenway Park in the Red Sox’ most uncompetitive start in about three months.
Read more from Tim Healey at BostonGlobe.com/Sports. | 
