Red Sox
“I told him to envision the ALCS first at bat, that’s what I told him.”
COMMENTARY
Alex Cora preached confidence and poise on Wednesday afternoon — even in the face of devastating news for his ballclub.
Yes, the Red Sox currently hold a 97.8 percent chance of making the playoffs this fall, per FanGraphs.
But with star rookie Roman Anthony likely sidelined for the remainder of the regular season with an oblique strain, Boston is going to be severely shorthanded for their stretch run — and potentially the start of October baseball.
As Cora was quick to point out, the 2025 Red Sox are no stranger to adversity.
In a season with about any many twists and turns as the Yankee Cannonball up at Canobie Lake, the Red Sox have trudged through a season-ending injury for Triston Casas, an extended stint on the IL for Alex Bregman, rookie struggles for Kristian Campbell, and a seismic trade centered on disgruntled star Rafael Devers.
“We keep going, just like we did with Casas and how we did after the trade. We keep going,” Cora said. “At one point he’s going to be a part of this, so just have to be patient, but keep pitching, keep putting good at-bats, keep playing.”
Those struggles have seemingly braced Boston for this moment, as ace Garrett Crochet noted on Tuesday night.
“April was tough. We took our lumps there in terms of one-run ball games, but ultimately, I think that it was for a reason that led us to this point,” Crochet said on a night where he was knocked for seven runs, but Boston emerged with an 11-7 comeback victory.
But the optimism drawn out of a second-half surge from this scrappy Sox roster gave way to some hard truths on Wednesday night.
As resolute as Boston has been this summer, the hopes of that strong play carrying over into the fall took a sizable hit Wednesday with Anthony now on the mend.
“We keep pitching,” Cora said of how Boston needs to respond with Anthony sidelined. “We keep pitching and playing good defense. I think Roman is part of that, but the pitching has been the key this season. We expect to keep pitching, and other guys have to step up offensively.”
That sentiment didn’t translate onto the diamond Wednesday night — as Boston’s bid to secure a sweep of the Cleveland Guardians dissipated in short order via an 8-1 loss at Fenway Park.
Of course, Anthony’s absence held little sway over Boston’s ability to keep Cleveland’s bats at bay.
And it’s probably wise to not make many sweeping conclusions about the state of Boston’s pitching corps on a night where Cora turned to Brennan Bernardino as the team’s opener before giving way to the rest of the bullpen.
Boston still has some sizable concerns about arms like Jordan Hicks — who relinquished four hits and four earned runs while recording just one out. Hicks is now sporting an 8.20 ERA over 21 appearances with Boston.
But with the trio of Crochet, Brayan Bello, and Lucas Giolito atop the rotation — and rookie Peyton Tolle set to make his second start on Friday against Arizona — the Red Sox should have the personnel in place to avoid the lopsided score that played out on Wednesday.
The more pressing concern for the Red Sox revolves around Boston’s lineup, especially with Anthony no longer available to set the table at the leadoff spot.
Anthony’s lack of big-league experience (71 games) hasn’t factored into his propensity of tormenting opposing pitching at just 21 years old.
The Red Sox hold the second-best record in baseball (46-28) since Anthony’s arrival on June 9, with the rookie’s knack for getting on base and jolting a stop-and-start offense evident over the last few months.
Since June 28, Anthony ranks third in the American League in both on-base percentage (.421) and hits (68), while ranking fourth in average (.329).
And with no timetable put in place for Wilyer Abreu to return from a calf strain that has sidelined him since August 17, the Red Sox are also operating without another middle-of-the-order bat who has slugged 22 home runs this season.
Wednesday stood as a sobering result for a Red Sox offense that has been propped by the play of Anthony as of late — with an RBI single from Nick Sogard the lone highlight at the plate for Boston.
Even without both Anthony and Abreu, the Red Sox have the talent to push runs across down the stretch.
But even with both Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela’s dynamic talents and flair for the dramatics, both are prone to extended cold stretches — while Alex Bregman is also just 5-for-49 at the plate over his last 12 games.
“Over the course of the season we’ve dealt with a lot of injuries and different things,” Bregman said pregame. “The message has remained constant: To control what you can control, execute your game plan, focus on the next pitch, and find a way to win. I feel like we’ve done a good job of that and we have to continue.”
Given all that they’ve endured so far this season, Cora and his club believe they have the means to stay afloat and await Anthony’s return in mid-October.
“I told him to envision the ALCS first at bat, that’s what I told him,” Cora said when asked of what his message was to Anthony as he begins his rehab process. “Just put that goal in your mind and hopefully it happens.”
The Red Sox are certainly not lacking in confidence as they enter the final weeks of the regular season.
As for talent? It’s hard to push back against the assertion that it’s now in short supply with their best player out of the equation.
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