Was the Right Red Sox Starter Named a 2026 All-Star?
We are days away from baseball’s brightest stars descending on Philadelphia for the MLB All-Star Game. Players from every corner of the country, representing a wide array of talent and pedigree, will compete in the annual AL versus NL clash. As the rosters have been published and debated, many have looked to the athletes sent from Boston, or, should I say, not sent from Boston. Starter Sonny Gray was absent, but he has put together quite a season. Did he deserve to be named as one of the arms sent to Citizens Bank Park? Would that have come at the expense of a teammate?
In 16 appearances, Gray has notched 10 wins, a league-leading number. Additionally, the veteran righty achieved that stat while holding a 2.61 ERA, good for second-best in the American League. His June was especially mind-boggling, stringing together quality starts with an impossibly improved 1.97. Unfortunately for the former Athletic, his teammate Ranger Suárez was the only Beantown starter voted in. In all fairness to Suarez, he, too, has been dominant, posting another sub-three ERA over 16 games. All the same, Sonny’s performances warrant recognition from the nation. It’s possible that the poor season from the Red Sox as a whole disincentivizes celebrating too many of their players.
Manager Chad Tracy, however, is optimistic that both guys will end up getting their moment to shine after all. "When the All-Star Game happens”, Tracy said, “there's so much roster fluctuation. It happens every year with pitchers who can't go, people are hurt, people back out. Things happen, so I'm still holding out hope for a couple more guys on the team who I feel are deserving." Though it's nice to hold out hope for every deserving arm, the final lineup is not actually the key point here. The fact that the Massachusetts franchise has multiple pitchers worth debating in the first place is a heart-warming sign. As July comes into focus, with Fenway Park just seeing its best homestand of 2026, there’s some slight optimism in the air that might combat the worst pessimism of the spring so far. So, cheers, Sonny, Ranger, and every other Red Sox player giving it their all every night; all-star or not, you are worthy of celebration.
