The Boston Red Sox have a 2.5-game lead atop the American League East division. After an inconsistent start to the year, the Red Sox have found their way and put together a solid 54-42 record through 96 games.
The Red Sox started their 2017 campaign in mediocre fashion as they were merely 21-21 after 42 games. They were one of the favorites to win the American League going in but were nothing more than a .500 team late into May. They’ve flipped the switch a little bit since then, though, going 33-22 in their last 55 games.
Boston still has its work cut out as the favorites to win the AL East and contend for a World Series. A lot can change the rest of the way and there is no doubt that this club will need more in order to be considered serious championship contenders. Here is a look at five keys to success for the Red Sox in the second half.
Improved Pitching At Back Of Rotation
Chris Sale has been outstanding in his first season in Boston with an 11-4 record and a 2.59 ERA. Drew Pomeranz has been a bright spot as well with a 9-4 record and a 3.60 ERA. However, the Red Sox will need more from the back end of their rotation. Reigning AL Cy Young award winner Rick Porcello has struggled with a 4.60 ERA. David Price has been better than Porcello, but will need to prove he can stay healthy and continue to pitch at a high level. Meanwhile, Eduardo Rodriguez has somewhat flown under the radar despite a solid 3.66 ERA over 66.1 innings pitched. With Sale and Pomeranz locked in, Boston will rely on health and consistency from Price and Rodriguez while hoping that Porcello can find his 2016 form over the second half.
Bullpen Consistency
Speaking of pitching, Craig Kimbrel has been the best closer in baseball this season with 24 saves and a 1.32 ERA. His 0.56 WHIP is ridiculous and he has produced a 16.02 K/9 through 41 innings of work. The Red Sox will need Joe Kelly and Matt Barnes to continue to hold their own in relief roles. Kelly has been a solid seventh-inning guy while Barnes leads the team with 16 holds. Boston could benefit from the addition of another quality arm in its bullpen. For now, the Red Sox will hope for their relievers to continue to consistently perform at a high level.
An Upgrade At Third base
Boston probably wants Travis Shaw back at third base right about now. The Red Sox third basemen have combined to produce a .235 average at the position this season and their options have struggled defensively as well. With Pablo Sandoval out of the picture, Boston has relied on Deven Marrero and Tzu-Wei Lin of late. However, the Red Sox could really use an upgrade at the position with the potential to acquire a quality starting third basemen via trade before the deadline.
Improved Production From Offensive Stars
The absence of David Ortiz has hurt the Boston offense so far this season. The Red Sox rank 10th in the majors in runs scored despite the fifth-best batting average in baseball. Boston will need more production from its offensive stars over the second half. Mookie Betts has been outstanding so far this season. However, Xander Boegarts has just six home runs while Dustin Pedroia is stuck on five. The Red Sox would also benefit from improved production by Hanley Ramirez and Jackie Bradley Jr. Boston has the star players to produce elite offensive numbers over the second half of the season. The key will be more consistent performances from the club’s top stars the remainder of the season.
And don’t forget about Pablo Sandoval. At this point, it would be a mild miracle if he did absolutely anything of note for the BoSox this season. He’s only played in 32 games while hitting .212 with four home runs and 12 RBI’s. With an OWar of -0.3, the Red Sox are better without him. That’s how they’ll be the rest of the season unless he catches lightning in a bottle. If Panda was the Panda of old, the Red Sox would be in great shape heading into the second half of the season.
The MLB season is in full swing, so if you’re looking at betting lines, in-game betting and World Series futures, click here to bet on MLB (or any other sports) at BetDSI!
