The Boston Red Sox are officially heading to the postseason! With a Houston Astros loss on Sunday, the Red Sox punched their ticket, making it their second straight trip to the playoffs after only one appearance from 2019-24. And get this: they started the season at a dismal 32-46, an ugly opening that saw manager Alex Cora lose his job and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow facing questions about his own security. Talk about a comeback!
What a Turnaround!
Seriously, how did this even happen? Back on June 25, the Red Sox were a mess. But then they beat the Yankees in the first of four games at Fenway Park, and that was the spark. They went on to sweep that entire four-game series, and since June 25, they have baseball’s best record. It’s wild to think they were 32-46 and now they’re locked in. They credit the pitching staff, especially the rotation, and the offense picking it up midseason. What a run!
October Is About Home Runs, and They Get It
We all know what happens in October: home runs rule. It is super tough to string together multiple hits and walks when teams throw their aces constantly in the postseason. You need that one swing to put runs on the board. The numbers prove it: fewer runs per game in the postseason, but home runs per game go up. The Red Sox get this, big time. They’ve allowed the third-fewest home runs in baseball and are one of just three teams with a sub-1.0 HR/9. This home run suppression is a massive advantage in the playoffs. Their rotation, led by trade addition Sonny Gray, free-agent signing Ranger Suárez, and homegrown lefty Payton Tolle, is top five in WAR. And the bullpen, with closer Aroldis Chapman anchoring it, has been among baseball’s best too. That’s a serious combo.
Lefty Power and a Shot at Revenge
Here’s another wrinkle: their pitching staff is very left-handed. In the American League this season, that’s a huge plus. Teams like the Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Guardians, and Tampa Bay Rays are all in the bottom 10 in OPS against left-handed pitching. Who do they likely play in the Wild Card Series? The New York Yankees. While the Yankees are top 10 in OPS against lefties, several of their regular hitters, like Jazz Chisholm Jr., Luis Gárcia Jr., Ryan McMahon, and Austin Wells, are lefties who struggle against southpaws. Sonny Gray is the only right-hander in their likely postseason rotation, giving them a heavy left-handed advantage. This means a lot of tough matchups for their opponents.
They’re almost certainly going to face the rival New York Yankees in the Wild Card Series. Remember last year? The Red Sox lost that Wild Card Series in three games at Yankee Stadium. This season, they’ll most likely get a chance to avenge that defeat. You know they’re looking forward to that. What a narrative for the postseason!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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