Boston Red Sox: 3 reasons they'll win 2017 World Series

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The Boston Red Sox are playing great baseball right now, but what are the three reasons why this team will win the 2017 World Series?

The Boston Red Sox are currently sitting in first place of the AL East and staring down the gun of the 2017 postseason. While the American League Divisional Series isn’t until October, you must know that this team is preparing for the stretch run as we speak. Simply, this team will settle for nothing less than a World Series in 2017.

It’s been a few years since we’ve last seen the Red Sox on baseball’s biggest stage, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been good. Boston has actually been one of the better teams in Major League Baseball over the last decade. Largely thanks to their great front-office and farm system.

That being said, this 2017 Red Sox baseball team is definitely a product of those two systems.

Boston has done a fantastic job of identifying talent outside of their organization and doing whatever they can to bring them in without having to give up the farm. Whether it was Chris Sale or David Price, the Red Sox didn’t have to give up too much, even though they did have to trade their top prospect Yoan Moncada to the White Sox.

Needless to say, the Sox have put themselves in a great position to compete for another championship this season. Here are three reasons why Boston could bring home a World Series title this October.

3. Young Superstars

The Boston Red Sox are one of many teams in 2017 that have been graced by their talented farm system. This is already an organization that has added some big pieces like David Price and Chris Sale, but it’s been their young superstars that have given the Sox an edge over the other contenders in the American League. If Boston brings home another World Series title in 2017, it’ll be because of those guys.

Rafael Devers and Andrew Benintendi are two guys that have added a completely different element to this Red Sox team. While Benintendi made his debut last August, Devers has only been in the league for less than a month.

Needless to say, both guys have been extremely impressive since coming to the big leagues. Just take a look a their stat lines, courtesy of MLB Stats:

Rafael Devers: .319 AVG, 3 HR, 19 RBI and 15 Hits

Andrew Benintendi: .272 AVG, 13 HR, 57 RBI, 13 SB and 104 Hits

While we all know that the pressure of playing postseason baseball is much different than competing in the regular season, these two studs have shown they can handle the large expectations set on their shoulders.

Don’t be surprised when Devers and Benintendi continue surging over the next month and a half, while leading the Red Sox to the AL pennant and possibly the World Series.

2. Clutch Hitting

As if we need another reasons to believe the Red Sox will be playing in the World Series this season, they give us another confidence-booster with their ability to drive in runners. While they aren’t a power-hitting baseball team, they are one of the best in MLB in clutch hitting.

Yes, there are many ways to determine what “clutch hitting” actually means, but I’m specifically talking about their ability to drive runners in with two outs. If you can do that in October, that will definitely mess with the psyche of the opposing team.

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According to MLB Stats, the Red Sox have 176 RBI whenever they have had runners on base with two outs. Not only does this place them seventh in Major League Baseball, but it also ranks them second in the entire American League in this category.

If that wasn’t impressive enough to convince you, Boston is also the best team in baseball in the ninth inning or later, as MLB Stats has recorded 65 RBI from the Red Sox in those situations. When it comes down to it, the Red Sox find ways to score whenever the pressure is on.

If Boston wants to bring home another title to the true “City of Champions”, they need to continue having an extremely low blood pressure in the late innings of games. Needless to say, the most calm and confident ball club usually plays its best baseball whenever October rolls around and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Boston keep it rolling.

1. Pitching Staff

What comes to mind when you hear the names of David Price, Chris Sale, Craig Kimbrel, Rick Porcello and Drew Pomeranz? I don’t know about you, but that definitely sounds like a group of elite pitchers who could be wearing World Series rings by this time next year.

That is exactly why it shouldn’t surprise you that Boston has one of the most efficient pitching staffs in all of Major League Baseball this season. Not only have their starters been fantastic, but their bullpen has been lights-out as well.

According to MLB Stats, the Red Sox are third in MLB in ERA, tied for fourth in wins, ninth in saves, third in fewest walks allowed, third in strikeouts and fourth in WHIP. There has never been a club to win a World Series without having a great staff of pitchers, and I don’t see Boston being any different.

When it comes down to it, you can only win games if your pitcher give you a solid start, especially in the postseason. Even though rotations are shortened, the best possible scenario is for a team’s starter to go deep into a game. I guess it’s a darn good thing the Red Sox front office had invested in top-of-the-line guys in their rotation.

Next: Sox adjusting Sale's schedule for playoff push

Winning a championship isn’t easy, but this Boston baseball team has set itself up to have a chance to bring home another title to the New England area.

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