2026 Reality Check: Can the Red Sox Find Hope After a Gut-Wrenching Astros Loss?
Out of all the shortcomings of the 2026 Red Sox, a unique low was hit on May 3rd: the team lost on their mascot’s birthday. Wally, the jolly green monster created to represent Fenway Park’s hulking left field wall, invited all of his friends to the game and donned celebratory Star Wars regalia. Boston responded by falling to the Houston Astros in ten innings. Wally’s boys now sit at 13-21 and will take on the Detroit Tigers next. While understanding the innumerable shortcomings, let’s try to look at the team in a ‘glass half full’ kind of way. Even if the Glass is less than half full, it might be closer to 25 percent full at this point. Even if the Glass can’t hit with runners in scoring position. Even if the glass loses very winnable games. Even if the Glass has a seriously depleted starting rotation, we’re really going to try half full.
Sox Star Relievers Deliver
One of the last things that Boston can still comfortably count on is pitching in the eighth and ninth innings of close games. Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman are a fantastic one-two punch, and they did their thing on Sunday, holding off the Astros and forcing extra innings. Chapman, though occasionally showing his age with dipping velocity, can still bring it; his 100-mph fastball to end the ninth was a thrill. He currently sits second all-time in strikeouts amongst relievers and could easily overtake Hoyt Wilhelm by the season’s end.
Duran Closes His Impressive Weekend
After a brutal start to the year, Jarren Duran is showing life again. The outfielder tallied the only run for the Sox, a solo home run in the fifth. It was the 2024 All-Star’s second blast of the weekend, a positive sign given that he had previously only hit one all season. It showed that better things could be on the horizon if he properly rides this wave. Additionally, he has been theorized as a valuable trade asset, so perhaps better baseball could bring that closer to fruition.
Anthony Shows Promise
Roman Anthony is another hitter in desperate need of better baseball, and he, too, seems to be headed in that direction. With a knock on Sunday, he now rides a four-game hit streak. What is even more encouraging is the change in the kind of contact he is drawing. His struggles up to now have centered on weakly hit balls and meager numbers. He seems to be settling into really driving pitches again; even his outs so far in May feature more hard contact. It is reflective of the hope that the Boston Red Sox have laid at his feet. Hopefully, he can properly turn the corner, other bats can take off, and, even if the season is not salvageable, at least Wally can live happier.
