The Boston Red Sox are in the middle of a high-pressure situation. The playoffs are looming, of course, but Boston still hasn’t locked up a postseason berth, as the Sox were only 2.5 games above the Cleveland Guardians and 3.5 games above the Texas Rangers in the American League wild-card standings entering Wednesday.
With more than 10 games to play, anything (good or bad) can happen, and Boston needs to start playing well again immediately.
The problem for the Red Sox is that their offense hasn’t been energetic or effective at all lately. It’s an issue that stems from Roman Anthony’s absence, but the Red Sox need to get over that. Boston still has a ton of quality in its lineup without Anthony there, even if recent showings haven’t illustrated that.
The main guy who really needs to step up and snap out of his slumping ways is three-time All-Star Alex Bregman. The third baseman has been utterly frigid in September, hitting .200/ .254/ .309 with just six RBIs over the last 13 games for Boston.
There are certain guys the Red Sox simply can’t survive without, and Bregman is one of them, especially with Anthony sidelined. Bregman needs to return to being a threat every single time he steps into the batter’s box. Otherwise, the Boston lineup becomes mediocre.
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Other players need to contribute, too, and Bregman isn’t the only one struggling. Is Ceddanne Rafaela going to lock in at some point? That’s another question that Alex Cora is surely thinking about.
Boston needs to make an energy change on offense, and soon. And it all starts with No. 2.
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