The Red Sox Are Back? Breaking Down Baseball’s Hottest Team Before the All-Star Break
It seemed all was lost for the Red Sox last month. While sitting 13 games back in the AL East to the Yankees, management traded away their star slugger, Rafael Devers, to the Giants in what many considered a bad deal. When Boston lost its series to San Francisco and Devers just weeks later, it seemed as though this team had hit rock bottom. Then things changed around for the Red Sox as quickly as they went badly. This team won their last three series before the All-Star Break, all in a sweep. They will enter the break with a 10-game win streak, and are just three games behind the Yankees in the division after New York suffered a significant slump in June. Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu have stepped up in big ways for this team, and the pitching is doing its part. Garrett Crochet still leads the league in strikeouts with 160 and boasts a 2.23 ERA. Brayan Bello has similarly impressed as of late, as he’s given up just four runs in his last two starts combined, including pitching a rare full game against the Rockies.
There’s no doubt there are still holes in this roster. The team is currently relying on a pair of rookies to play in the lineup, including Marcelo Mayer at second base, who has been struggling at the plate. Similarly, the team needs more production from their rookie designated hitter, Roman Anthony, who only sometimes plays in the outfield. If there is anywhere the entire team can improve, it’s reducing the strikeouts. Boston ranks third in the league in striking out the most with 873 on the year.
When the Red Sox return from the break, they will face a daunting schedule to open the second half of the season. They face the Cubs and Phillies on the road, before welcoming the Dodgers to Boston. All being playoff teams, these series will test Boston on if they are a serious playoff contender. In the always competitive AL East Division, it seems Boston will need to ride this dominant hot streak over this break and through July.
