Isaac Bean
Sports Editor
The Red Sox are coming off a down year, in which they finished 78-84 and in last place in the AL East. Through the first ten games of the season, the Red Sox definitely look like their team has improved.
It can be quite difficult to judge how good a team really is early in the season. After all, 162 games are played in a MLB regular season. 10 games is a small sample size compared to the length of the season. However, if the nine games that have been played is a sign of the things to come for the Red Sox, the team should be much better than last year.
The Red Sox have started off 7-3. Based on winning percentage and mathematics, the team would finish with about 113 wins on the season if they sustain the winning percentage they currently have. 113 wins is a lot in the MLB, so the chances of them winning that many games is not likely at all. However, if they can win 90 games, which is fairly reasonable, this gives New England another sports team that is back in the mix at a potential spot in a professional sports playoffs.
The actual team has had some pleasant surprises to start the season. Right fielder Tyler O’Neill has been off to a hot start. O’Neill, who came over from the Cardinals on a one year contract, has been the team's best hitter to start the season. O’Neil has already hit five home runs on the season and has a batting average of over .350.
Left fielder Jarren Duran is also off to quite a good start. Duran is currently leading the team in hits with fifteen. Duran has been on the team since 2021, but seems to be having a real breakout season. Duran has been hitting in the lead off spot in the order and is currently leading the league in stolen bases with six on the season.
Rafael Devers and Masataka Yoshida are likely to pick it up this season as well. Devers just hit his second home run of the season and Yoshida scored two runs against the Angels. Both players were two of the Red Sox’s best hitters last season and have a track record of being major contributors.
The pitching for the Red Sox, which was one of the big problems last year, has been quite the strength of the team at this point in the season. Last season, the Red Sox had a combined average ERA of 4.52. This season the ERA has gone down all the way to 1.44. That is a major change in what was one of the worst pitching units in the league last season. This season it seems like the pitching staff might be one of the strengths of the team.
There are still 152 games to be played, so a lot will most likely change, but from the games the Red Sox have played so far there is definitely reason for excitement.