The Red Sox are cooked. It was exciting that they hung around for 4 1/2 months. But this weekend’s sweep at the hands of the Diamondbacks ended it. They are only 4.5 games back of the Twins and Royals for the final wildcard spot. With how they have played (and pitched) recently, that gap is not that close.
In August, Red Sox pitching ranks 28th in team ERA. They have given up a league-worst 38 home runs in the month. Earned runs? 29th. Innings pitched by starters? 24th. The pitching that carried the team at the beginning of the year is gone.
The Athletic ran a great article exploring the idea that the league has adjusted to Andrew Bailey’s philosophy. No four-seamers, more sliders. You have to wonder if you see some more four-seam fastballs from Red Sox pitchers. Brayan Bello’s worst outing of the year 2.1 innings, seven earned runs, and three walks on June 25 was the last time this year he has not mixed in a four-seamer. Maybe they are starting to counterpunch, but it may be too little too late.
Bello has bounced back this month slightly, although he had a rough outing against the D-backs. Every other starter has been trending in the opposite direction. Kutter Crawford has struggled the most. Since the All-Star break, he only has 26 strikeouts and has surrendered 14 home runs. Tanner Houck looked like he had turned a corner until there was a bump in the road today. Nick Pivetta recently missed a start because he was topping out in the high 80s.
The relievers haven’t faired any better. They have been worse. They have the worst ERA in August. They have given up the most earned runs, homeruns and are tied for the most blown saves.
It has been exciting this season. The trio of Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaella, and David Hamilton have had great rookie seasons. Jarren Duran, having a bad August for non-performance reasons, has cemented himself as a star. Rafael Devers, the $300 million man, two-time silver slugger, is having the best year of his career.
The year has not been as complete a disaster as we thought it was going to be at the start of the season. There are reasons to keep watching, mainly to see where certain players counting stats end up. But, the team was bitten by the same bug that has gotten them the last two years.
The big three (maybe four) prospects loom on the horizon. Adding some pitching will be key. Contention is not that far off.
Photo from @RedSox on X
The Never Weres 
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