In the latter portion of the MLB season, the Boston Red Sox are currently experiencing a severe slump. The team has only been able to win one game since the all-star break. Since the all-star break, Boston has a 1-4 record and a -33 run differential. Boston even suffered a humiliating 28-5 loss to division enemy Toronto in the first game after the break. The Red Sox now fall to fifth (last) in the AL east with a record of 49-49.
There are many factors that have been pulling the Red Sox down. Some of which are uncontrollable. This includes injuries. Boston ace In his first game back from the DL, Chris Sale was declared out for the remainder of the season. The pitcher fractured his finger after taking a comeback hit directly to his finger during his first inning of work. First inning! WOW, how unlucky!
The number of players who have been placed on the disabled list is one of the Red Sox's other worries. All season long, the Sox have been missing important members of their starting lineup. For instance, they presently have Rafael Devers, Matt Barnes, Trevor Story, Michael Wacha, Kike Hernandez, and many more on the disabled list. Boston has also been forced to start using young, inexperienced players because of this. This includes players like 23-year-old prospect Brayan Bello, who has a 0-2 record and a 10.50 earned run average in the major leagues.
The schedule hasn't been beneficial for the Red Sox. After losing so many key pieces throughout the season, Boston came off the all-star break playing against tough American League East competition. The New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. Playing top-tier teams in the MLB with lower-tier players is not a recipe for success. You NEED your superstars, like Rafael Devers and Trevor Story, to compete with the best. This, furthermore, has driven down the confidence and morale of the team.
The pitching Boston has gotten has been terrible, despite the fact that injuries are a common occurrence across the whole team. Starters aren't going deep into the game, causing the bullpen to be put into use. Every inning, we witness pitchers surrendering numerous runs. Sox pitchers have allowed 80 runs in the last eight games. That's an average ERA of 10! You can't win games without providing decent pitching. An illustration is Boston's lone victory over the Guardians since the all-star break. Nick Pivetta struck out six batters in 5.2 innings of one-run ball. The bullpen also came in clutch, throwing 3.1 scoreless innings.
Hitting hasn't necessarily been bad for Boston, although the ladder part of the order hasn't been steady throughout the season. Regulars in the Boston lineup such as Bobby Dalbec, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Franchy Cordero have been struggling lately. Out of the three, Cordero has the highest batting average (.218). The team needs the bottom part of the order to produce if they want better success. Especially when a team is missing too many key pieces.
To sum it up, Boston's struggles are due to the lack of available talent, poor pitching, and lack of depth in the organization. The team will make a push when the stars are back and ready, although it may be too late. Boston is currently sitting 3.5 games out of a wild-card position and 17 games-behind the first-place New York Yankees.