Is Struggling Red Sox All-Star On Track After Bounce-Back Week?

The Boston Red Sox lineup has erased an offensive funk with a sudden surge. They’ll hope to extend that hot streak into a fruitful second half, particularly from Jarren Duran.

This time last year, Duran was named the All-Star Game MVP. The outfielder culminated his breakout 2024 campaign with 111 runs scored and MLB’s fourth-most extra-base hits behind Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr.

This season has been much more of a grind for Duran, who’s batting .255/.313/.412 with six home runs after hitting .210 in June. However, the 28-year-old is showing encouraging signs of life.

Duran extended his hitting streak to five games during Friday’s 11-2 win over the Washington Nationals. He went 2-for-5 in his first multi-hit performance since June 20.

The left fielder tallied one RBI over his previous 18 games before driving three teammates home Friday. He’s 5-for-16 with two walks, two doubles and a home run this week entering Saturday’s game at Washington.

Duran’s recent rebound has helped the Red Sox score 51 runs in their last six games after plating 16 in a preceding six-game losing streak. He admitted to feeling “tense” while placing pressure on himself during those doldrums.

This week could thus be precisely what Duran and the Red Sox needed. They’ll have a hard time climbing the American League standings if Duran doesn’t play more like the leadoff star who finished eighth in last season’s AL MVP voting.

Duran has nine more games to find his groove before the All-Star break, starting with a Saturday showdown against the Nationals at 4:05 p.m. ET.