The 10 best MLB teams of the now-concluding 2010s
5. 2013 Boston Red Sox, 14 12 points
Coming off a 97-win season and matching the Cardinals for the majors’ best record, the Red Sox were a favorite to make a strong run at the World Series title. They didn’t disappoint.
The Sox’ strength was their offense, statistically the majors’ best. DH David Ortiz led that attack with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs, but he got plenty of help from veteran Dustin Pedroia. The team’s batting average was .277; its 116 OPS+ led the majors.
The pitching staff was not as deep, but with Jon Lester (15-8, 3.75) and John Lackey (10-3, 3.52) it was experienced and good enough.
The Red Sox eliminated baseball’s first wild-card game-winner, the Tampa Bay Rays, in four games before taking out the Detroit Tigers in six games for the American League championship.
In the World Series, they met the St. Louis Cardinals in a rare matchup of the majors’ two best records. St. Louis won two of the first three games, but Jonny Gomes’ three-run sixth-inning home run carried Boston to a series-evening 4-2 win in Game 4.
It was all the Red Sox needed. Lester beat the Cardinals 4-1 on a four-hitter in Game 5, and Shane Victorino’s four RBIs provided more offense than Boston needed in the 6 -1 clincher.