Who would have thought that The Boston Red Sox would be in first place in the AL East after the all-star break? Can you believe that The Boston Red Sox have the best record in the American League (tied with the Astros) at 55 wins? If anyone would have told me that at the beginning of the season, I would have told them they are crazy. The even crazier part is that the Yankees aren’t even right behind them, they are in fourth place. Vegas pegged the Red Sox to be a middling of the pack team that would win 80-82 games this year. I have a substantial bet for them to over 82.5 wins and I am licking my chops for them to get 90+ wins this year. Going into the year I thought they would be a second place wildcard team but now I want them to get to at least the American League Championship Series. The only teams that are blocking their way are the White Sox and the Astros. The Astros are a complete team so if the Red Sox lose to them I won’t have a problem with it, but if they lose to the White Sox, I will be a little disappointed. With all that being said, ideally I have them going to the World Series versus the Padres or Dodgers. The Red Sox are currently +900 to win the World Series, +450 to win the American League, and -110 to win the AL East.
Starting Pitching
The starting pitching has been a rollercoaster this whole season. However, one of the bright spots are that the starting rotation has been healthy this whole season. Except for Eduardo Rodriguez missing two starts at the beginning of the year because of his shoulder injury in Spring Training, Evoaldi, Pivetta, Richards, and Perez have all taken the ball, every fifth day, the whole season. Chris Sale is rehabbing in Worcester right now, coming back from Tommy John surgery that he got last season. He will be a big boast to the rotation that has been shaky all year. I think that either Richards or Perez will get sent to the bullpen when Sale comes back, or an injury will sustain to one of the five and it will be sorted out that way. I believe they will have to get another front of the rotation starters for their playoff push just incase that Evoaldi goes down (he always does), Sale isn’t 100% when he comes back, or another starter will get hurt. The starting pitching currently has a 4.49 ERA between the five of them, which isn’t great, but “spider tack” is a contributor of the Red Sox’s bad numbers recently. Garrett Richards even said after the whole scandal that he has to change the whole way he pitches now in games because he can’t rely on that stuff, which is a bad look for him and the whole starting staff in general.
Bullpen
The bullpen was not great the first few weeks of the year, but it has turned a corner as of late. Josh Taylor was straight out BAD at the beginning of the season but every time he comes in he gets the job done. He is currently the only lefty out of the pen so the Red Sox will have to call someone up, trade for a lefty, or put Perez in the bullpen when Sale comes back from the IL (like I suggested). You also have Darwinzon Herandez and Hirokazu Sawamura that get the job done and are solid middle of the bullpen guys. Then you have the gems from the Yankees organization, Adam Ottavino and Garrett Whitlock that they got for nothing, that have been solid contributors for them too. Ottavino was traded for money and he is currently their 8th inning guy and Whitlock was from the rule 5 draft and he also gets high leverage situations. Whitlock can also go 2-3 innings at a time when he is called upon. Then there is Matt Andriese and Brandon Workman… Andriese has been a disaster all season (6.03 ERA) but was put on the IL recently because of his struggles. I have been calling for him to get DFA’d all season but I think he will be on the IL for awhile to figure out his head. Workman on the other hand has been decent (3.04 ERA) and they got him for nothing since he was picked up on waivers, but every time he comes in, I always get scared. Although, since the Red Sox do have him, they got Pivetta for almost nothing since Workman was a part of the trade. Then there is Matt Barnes. The Red Sox closer is here to stay because of his new two year deal, with a club option in 2024. He has been one of the best closers in the American League and an all-star this year. He has a 2.61 with 19 saves. He has been lights out all season and I have 100% confidence in him in the second half and in October. I’ll ride or die with Matt Barnes as the closer for the Red Sox. Plus they have Ottavino if Barnes gets into any “trouble”. The Red Sox also still have Houck to get called up and Ryan Braiser to return soon, so that should help in the bullpen. I do not want the Red Sox to go crazy for bullpen help in the trade deadline because of 2018. If Cora is going to have the same philosophy as 2018 where he used all of his starters out of the bullpen in high leverage spots, I do not see him doing it differently in 2021.
Starting Lineup
If this isn’t the brightest spot on the team, I do not know what it would be. The Red Sox have three all-stars this year in Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, and JD Martinez. Bogaerts and Devers even made it as a starter. JD would have too if it wasn’t for the AL MVP favorite Shohei Ohtani, but Martinez got second place in the fan voting. Bogaerts is having himself a season batting .321 with 15 HRs and 51 RBIs. JD is too, batting .299 with 18 HRs and 62 RBIs. Devers would is a front runner for AL MVP batting .282 with 22 HRs and 72 RBIs. I hope the Red Sox can resign Devers to an extension soon because he is going to be one of the best 3B for a long time. Verdugo was lighting the world on fire but he needed this all-star break to regroup. He is striking out and slumping hard lately. He looks mentally checked out. Maybe its because this is the first time he is playing this much. The Red Sox need him for the playoff push and his personality in the dugout. He is still batting .272 but I believe he will comeback strong in the second half. Hunter Renfroe is arguably the best signing that Chaim Bloom did in 2021. Renfroe is making his case on being the everyday 3rd outfielder with all of the outfield assists he has in right field. He was struggling early in the season but turned it around in tune with a .263 average and 13 HRs. If you disagree that the best signing was Renfroe, maybe you can make the argument for Kike Hernandez. Kike has been great in the lead off spot, hitting homeruns all the time, as of late. I wanted a leadoff hitter for a long time at the deadline but if Hernandez can keep this up, he can stay at the leadoff spot for the whole season. Next is the constant revolving door that is second base. Usually Christian Arroyo is the main starter, but he always is hurt. Marwin Gonzalez also plays there and Michael Chavis fills in when needed. This is one of the Red Sox’s biggest need going into the trade deadline. I want Whit Merrifield from the Royals. One of the main reasons is because I don’t think he will that expensive. Then there is Christian Vazquez, one of the best defensive catchers in the league. I’ll take his defense over his bat everyday of the week. He will continue to be the starting catcher for years to come and as long as he is batting .230 (he is currently batting .261), I will take that all day. Finally, is the blackhole that is first base. Obviously Bobby Dalbec is the first baseman for the future but he is struggling at the plate. He currently is batting a measly .219, but has 10 HRs, in 72 games. Marwin Gonzalez and Michael Chavis also fills in on Dalbec’s days off. However, I wouldn’t do anything drastic to change the first baseman. Many people argue that this is the teams most glaring need (behind starting pitching), but I wouldn’t give up any high prospects to get a first baseman. It would ruin Dalbec’s confidence and I believe he can figure it out. Unless it is an offer that the Red Sox that can’t refuse, do not trade for a 1st baseman, not even Anthony Rizzo. The Red Sox offense is the brightest spot they have on the team. They currently rank top 5 in every offense category, except for triples. The offense will be the reason why the Red Sox either make the World Series or they do not make it.
Bench
The bench is what it is. It will be filled out more when the Red Sox trade for another second baseman, outfielder, or a first baseman. Jarren Duran will be called up sooner rather than later so that will help them too. You’ll always have your second catcher if that is Plawecki or Wong. You will always see a combination of Christian Arroyo, Marwin Gonzalez, Bobby Dalbec, and Michael Chavis on the bench too. Dalbec is struggling this season but he is young enough to figure it out at first base (219 AVG with 10 HRs and 39 RBIs). Even though Gonzalez has a horrid average at 205, he will always be on the team because of his position versatility. He has played every position this season except catcher, including pitcher. I would love to see Franchy Cordero to be given another chance too because he is crushing it in Worcester. He is playing some first base down there so maybe that is where the Red Sox turn to in the second half as their first baseman down the stretch.