Every season, it seems a couple of teams that struggled last year in their division – starts off hot, this year, the Boston Red Sox are making their case. The Sox are making the right plays when necessary, and they have not blown games, when the game is tight, a team taking care of those things has a great winning recipe. This is a team that has not been overall used to making the postseason, having made the playoffs just 4 times since 2011. Red Sox fans have to feel great seeing a competitive team take the field again, after last season’s debacle. The Red Sox were one of the most dangerous teams in the early 2000’s, winning 90+ games in 7 seasons during that era.
Boston has an OPS of .752 – which is sitting at 5th in the league, that’s certainly something to be ecstatic about.
Numbers like those – are going to get you moving as a 1st place team. They also have a team batting average of .256, and, here we are, 64 games in, and Boston are 14 games over .500. Can they win their division with a division with talent like rivals New York, always tough Toronto and the division leader, Tampa Bay? The Red Sox have a nice bunch of talent, with a lineup that is filled with patient and complimentary hitters.
24 year old, Rafael Devers has some legit power from the plate, and some tend to forget he sported 32 HRs just 2 years ago. He is hitting .268 along with leading the team with 48 RBI’s as well, he has been very important to them this season. Xander Bogaerts is pacing himself for another 30 HRs after 60 games, as the talented hitter simply does his job, every game he plays. The 28 year old is producing a .324 avg, along with team leading 73 hits.
Nick Pivetta has been less than stable in his previous seasons pitching, with a 21-30 record and a career 5.19 ERA.
This year, he has been able to win games by keeping guys off the bases with a nice arsenal with a fastball, slider and curveball. He has been strong this season with 74 K’s and 1.29 WHIP. He is taking care of business from the bump. As he has shown improvement, and has shown he has the smooth ability to be able to sit bats. Along with Nathan Eovaldi who has been another star, leading the team with 7 wins this season so far, they have had some very good pitching.
The Sox have been able to beat some good teams – it is hard to still question them as being real division contenders.
It is not tough to trust them to be competing for a playoff spot. Big names and good pitching wins in MLB – and the Boston Red Sox are doing both. Their offense has been scoring 5.01 runs /game, and hammering teams by a +48 run differential this season, and their bullpen is more than solid, I think more likely they end around .630 win pct. and will be a team to keep an eye on this year in MLB action.
10StarPicks Expert Sports Blog 