How Red Sox Pitching Staff Is Bailing Out Struggling Offense

The Red Sox will wake up Thursday to some pretty good news when they look at the current American League Wild Card standings.

That’s because Boston is tied with the Cleveland Guardians for the final AL wild card.

If you want to dream the impossible dream, the Red Sox are just 4 1/2 games behind the slumping first-place New York Yankees in the American League East.

So how has Boston fueled its surge in the standings? USA Today’s Bob Nightengale had an interesting observation after the Red Sox’s 3-1 win Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners.

“The Boston Red Sox have struggled offensively, scoring 4 or fewer runs in eight consecutive games. They are 7-1 in this stretch,” Nightengale posted on X. “The Red Sox have won 10 of their last 13 games, and four straight series.”

On top of that, MLB.com’s Ian Browne noted the Red Sox are 9-2 since June 7. So how is Boston getting it done? Pitching, pitching, and yes, more pitching.

In the last seven days, the Red Sox have posted a 2.17 ERA, which is third in the American League. Boston also ranks third over that stretch in WHIP (0.96), as well as second in opponents’ batting average (.181) and hits allowed (34). Just two of those hits have been home runs, which is best in the AL over the last week.

During that same time period, the Red Sox offense is second to last in batting average (.158), slugging percentage (.277) and OBP (.527). Boston ranks last in hits (28) over the last seven days.

The Red Sox offense will try to get back on track Friday, when the three-city, nine-game West Coast road trip brings them to San Francisco and former teammate Rafael Devers, who Boston traded to the Giants on Sunday.