Here Are 4 Bold Red Sox Predictions For Second Half

Thanks to a stellar stretch going into the All-Star break, the Boston Red Sox find themselves in an interesting spot with the second half of the season set to begin Friday.

At 53-45, the Red Sox are three games behind the first-place Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East standings, and just one game behind the second-place New York Yankees. Boston owns the second wild card spot, one game clear of the Mariners, with six other teams 4.5 games or fewer back from Seattle.

With a tough schedule out of the break and the trade deadline set for July 31, a lot is set to happen in the coming weeks. Here are four predictions for the final two-and-a-half months.

The AL East race comes down to the final week — with the Red Sox in the thick of it
It feels like a lot is riding on the next couple of weeks for this to come to pass. Checked the schedule recently? Here’s what awaits the Red Sox out of the break: the Cubs, Phillies, Twins, Dodgers and Astros. Fun!

That takes us to Aug 4. At that point, it could become much clearer whether the path to the postseason is through the division or the wild card. Their direction at the deadline will also contribute to this, of course.

If the Red Sox can survive the tough stretch — and with their recent form, flourishing is also on the table — the rest of their schedule is filled with soft matchups, especially if the Orioles end up selling.

Boston’s penultimate series is against the Blue Jays. The guess here is the Red Sox play well enough through the forthcoming hard stretch and blossom in the soft stretch to keep the division race between Toronto, Boston and New York down to the final week.

Tanner Houck becomes an impact bullpen arm
This probably won’t be his preference, especially after reaching the All-Star Game as a starter last season; however, it might be in both parties’ best interest for 2025.

The rotation is getting jammed, and it’ll be getting even more crowded if the Sox add to the rotation at the deadline. Houck previously has found success out of the bullpen — even though he hasn’t pitched in relief since 2022 — including in high-leverage situations.

Especially with the injury struggles he’s had this season, perhaps spending the final couple of months as either a bulk middle-innings arm or, eventually, high-leverage reliever again might be a path that helps get Houck back on track in the big leagues while also bolstering the bullpen.

Roman Anthony runs away with AL Rookie of the Year
Hand up, this one might not be that bold. However, Anthony spent the first two-plus months of the season in Triple-A, which is the type of thing that can chip at a player’s Rookie of the Year case.

That is, unless they make it so convincing that voters have no other option. Suffice it to say, Anthony has that potential.

The 21-year-old has raked since finding his footing in the big leagues. He has a .777 OPS and is routinely being slotted in the heart of the Red Sox order. Once the left fielder acclimated to the majors, it didn’t take long for him to start hitting like, well, the way he has at every level. Having Alex Bregman back in the lineup also will help.

His competition essentially consists of Cam Smith and Jacob Wilson. Smith has been impactful for the Astros, whereas Wilson is boosting a fledgling A’s team. Neither has been so good, though, that a solid second half from Anthony — especially if it helps push Boston into the postseason — could put him very much at the front of the race.

Lucas Giolito pitches like a true No. 2 starter the rest of the way
The 31-year-old has gotten into a groove after a bumpy start. He hasn’t given up more than two runs in a start across his last six outings, and four of those starts have been shutouts. Giolito is showing flashes of form we haven’t seen from him since 2021, when he and Dylan Cease anchored the White Sox rotation as Chicago won the AL Central.

Boston has been looking for someone to step up behind Garrett Crochet, and that’s largely been by committee based on whoever is in form. Giolito has had some good stretches, as has Brayan Bello. But unless the Red Sox trade for a Zac Gallen- or Joe Ryan-type of arm, that No. 2 starter role effectively remains up for grabs.

Giolito continuing to pitch deep into games will be a boon for the Red Sox alone. He’s really only had three bad starts all season, and the last rough one was on June 4. If he can eat innings and continue holding teams to two or fewer runs like he largely has been, it’ll go a long way in stabilizing the top of the rotation and preserving the bullpen.