Boston Red Sox: 2 causes for concern through the first 2 series

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Over the long haul of a 162-game 2023 season, the odds appear to be stacked against the Boston Red Sox. The American League East is a beast with the Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays all expected to be playing postseason baseball. Throw in the improved Baltimore Orioles, then it’s going to be hard for Alex Cora’s crew to stay afloat in the standings over 162 games.

There was hope for the Red Sox to get off to a good start this season with the schedule they had facing them. Three at home against the Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates, before three with the Detroit Tigers on the road offered a glimmer of hope that they could start the season off on the right foot. It didn’t happen.

Boston dropped four of their first six games at Fenway Park against Baltimore and Pittsburgh and, as they head to Detroit for three games over the weekend, they are sitting at 2-4 and in the basement of the American League East. That’s not a spot you want to be in six games into the season.

As the Red Sox look to right the ship on their upcoming road trip against the Tigers and Rays, here are two reasons why Boston Red Sox fans should be concerned as to where they are heading this season after just six games. Yes, it’s just six games and a very small sample size, but there are signs that are pointing to them finishing where they currently sit.

Oct 20, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (41) walks off of the field after being taking out of the game during the sixth inning of game five of the 2021 ALCS against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Boston Red Sox pitching has too many questions

Entering the season, the Red Sox pitching staff had more questions than answers. Brayan Bello, Garrett Whitlock, and James Paxton all begin the season injured or rehabbing with the Worcester Woo Sox.

That leaves a lot of what if’s with the remaining starting rotation. Cora made the curious decision to start veteran Corey Kluber on Opening Day against the Orioles and he got hit and hit hard, allowing five earned runs on six hits in 3.1 innings and two home runs. His second start against Pittsburgh on Wednesday went a little better. In five innings, he allowed just three hits and a run on a home run on 67 pitches.

Chris Sale’s first start was nothing short of a disappointment. In just three innings, the southpaw gave up seven runs to Baltimore on seven hits, and three home runs, but he did strike out six. Finally healthy, the Red Sox are going to need big things from him this season and the first outing was not what anyone wanted to see.

Tanner Houck pitched well in his first outing, but Kutter Crawford struggled giving up seven runs, three home runs, and eight hits in four innings, while Nick Pivetta yielded just three runs on three hits, two home runs, in five innings.

The one common theme in all six starts for the Red Sox starting pitchers has been the home run ball … and a lot of them. Of the three pitchers currently out, Whitlock offers the most hope in terms of success on the mound and Bello is a big question mark based on his performances last season. Paxson has battled injuries recently in his career and he is nothing but one big giant question mark.

To compound their problems on the mound, Boston has allowed an MLB-leading 14 stolen bases. If the Red Sox are going to be competitive this season, the starting pitching needs to turn it around.

Feb 21, 2023; Lee County, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Justin Turner (2) poses for a photo during photo day at JetBlue Park At Fenway South. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Boston Red Sox offense can’t bail them out every game

While the pitching has been suspect at best, the offense bailed them out in both wins. However, as the other four games have shown, it can’t do it every single day.

On Opening Day, they scored nine runs against the Orioles, but they gave up 10. In their second game, a 9-8 win, it was Baltimore that gave the Red Sox a chance to steal a win. With two outs and nobody on, Rob Refsnyder’s routine fly-ball to left field was dropped by Ryan McKenna. Adam Duvall followed by launching a game-winning two-run home run over the monster in left field for the win.

Adam Duvall is 𝗛𝗜𝗠. pic.twitter.com/GW4qZnZuSY
— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 1, 2023

They took the series final 9-5 on Sunday, but things changed when they were swept by the Pirates. They scored eight runs in the three games, but six of the eight were scored in the opening game and they tallied just one each over the final two.

Losing Xander Bogaerts was not only a big blow defensively, but also offensively. J.D. Martinez also left for the Los Angeles Dodgers, leaving a second hole in the lineup. Newcomer Adam Duvall has been the best Red Sox hitter so far, batting .476 with two homers. Alex Verdugo is hitting .346, Rafael Devers is at .296, and Triston Casas is only hitting .158, but he has had some promising at-bats.

In March and April, you can’t win a division or clinch a playoff berth, but you can certainly put yourself behind the eight-ball with a tough start to the season and bury yourself in the standings. That could very well be the case with the 2023 Boston Red Sox unless they are able to turn around their pitching and not count on their offense every day.

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