So much has changed since the last edition of Brayden’s Breakdown where I previewed the summer ahead for the Boston Red Sox. The team has revamped and rejuvenated themselves into a playoff spot with a month to go in the regular season. A turbulent season will culminate in a huge stretch of games against the division leading Blue Jays, the archrival Yankees and a very good Detroit Tigers team.
As I recap the Red Sox summer, I will also look back on some of the comments and predictions I made in the summer preview.
Let’s start with Rafael Devers and his dramatic departure from Boston. After a rocky offseason and a historically slow start to the season, Devers was traded to the San Francisco Giants on Father’s Day. Since the trade, the Giants have fallen to 72-71 after acquiring Devers with a 41-31 record while the Red Sox own one of the best records in the league since the trade. Both the Red Sox and Devers had different ideas about the future of their partnership, and the trade has proven to be a positive for both teams. Despite his teams struggles, Devers has been raking since August started and has become a first baseman for San Francisco. The Red Sox have had their own individual success and seem to have moved past the drama to try and win a World Series.
The trio of Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer and Kristian Campbell was a hot point of discussion during the spring. At the time of my last article, Campbell was doing well in the majors while Anthony and Mayer were in Triple-A. The tide has completely shifted as Campbell has been in Triple-A since June, Mayer played decent before a season-ending wrist injury and Anthony was playing exceptionally well before a recent oblique injurysidelined him for possibly the rest of the season.
Credit to Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow and manager Alex Cora for handling the situation well with all three players. The future of the team looks very promising.
The pitching staff had an up and down first few months, but they have really found their groove. Aroldis Chapma is having the best season of his illustrious career at age 37. He has not allowed a hit since July, his ERA is creeping under 1 and he is 29 for 31 in save situations. The Cuban flamethrower, who also signed an extension for next year with the club, will receive Cy Young votes for his unreal season.
Garrett Crochet will likely lose the Cy Young to Tarik Skubal, however his efforts this season have given life to the Sox pitching staff. Crochet leads the league in strikeouts and innings pitched while maintaining a 2.67 ERA. He has been amazing all season with only a few rough starts and there is no one else Red Sox fans would rather have in the first game of a playoff series.
Alongside Crochet, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito have really stepped up as second and third starters. The trio has been dominant since June and has continuously set the game up for the backend of the bullpen. Pitchers like Garrett Whitlock, Justin Wilson and trade deadline acquisition Steven Matz have locked up the back of the bullpen in Boston.
The bats have been good for the most part with free agent acquisition Alex Bregman being a highlight in the lineup. The former Houston Astro was solid before his quad injury and has remained solid since returning at the all-star break. Trevor Story has finally produced a healthy season in Boston. Story has 23 home runs, 88 RBIs and he is a perfect 27 for 27 in stolen bases.
In my previous article I questioned if Carlos Narvaez could sustain decent play for the whole season, I was wrong. The catcher is hitting .247 while also playing the best defense a Red Sox catcher has played in years.
Other lineup mainstays like Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu have been great this year, but Abreu went down with a calf strain in August and his return is still TBD. Duran is not exactly his monster 2024 self, yet his hustle and continued defensive improvements kept him off the trade block at the deadline and ensured his spot in the new look Red Sox.
Defense has been inconsistent, which has been the theme for the past few years. The Sox lead the league in errors with 0.74 per game. One defender who has not been inconsistent is Ceddanne Rafaela. The centerfielder, who also occasionally plays second base, provides a highlight almost every night in the outfield. He has also been the clutchest player on the team, hitting the only two go ahead homeruns in the ninth inning for Boston all season. Ceddy will have huge at bats in the postseason and will no doubt come in clutch like he has all season.
The last two players I want to highlight are Nathaniel Lowe and Romy Gonzalez, who have provided timely hits for the Red Sox the past month and will be vital in October.
Fall is coming and the 79-65 Red Sox will be battling for a playoff spot. If October comes around and they are still in the mix, expect anything and everything to happen at Fenway just like it has since 2004.