The Boston Red Sox haven’t tasted a World Series victory since 2018 and have been crowned as World Champions nine times. The Boston Red Sox are one of the most famous sports franchises in the entire world and have a legion of fans all over the world streaming MLB games. Last year the Red Sox came out like gangbusters, but floundered throughout the year, finishing the season in the basement of the AL East.
This year the Red Sox have a ton of new faces, and will be looking to pick themselves up from last place and make a decent showing in the standings. However, in a division as loaded as the AL East the Red Sox will need to be at their very best to proceed to the playoffs.
So what chance do the Red Sox have to win it all?
Last season the Red Sox performed below expectations by ending up in last place in their division. During the offseason they lost Xander Bogaerts, on of their top talents, and Nathan Eovaldi. They also learned that Trevor Story, who had Tommy John surgery, would be lost through at least the All Star Break.
They have filled the gaps with some new acquisitions and built a respectable team of journeyman players and new faces. They also signed third baseman Rafael Devers to a long-term contract, essentially keeping him in Boston for the rest of his career. However, the questions surrounding Chris Sale and the team’s pitching depth will no doubt have them positioned as underdogs on most sports betting apps.
Couple this in with the fact the Red Sox play in the most competitive division within the MLB and it could be a season that could go either way.
Most pundits believe that the Red Sox will either just scrape into the playoffs as the American League’s final wildcard or just miss out.
The general consensus is that the cross border rivals the Toronto Blue Jays have the best roster in the division and arguably the entire MLB. The Yankees, as always, are built to compete and it looks like the winner of the division will come down to who can come out on top of the head to head encounters.
Alex Cora
Four of the five teams in the Red Sox’s division are just loaded and calling a winner of the division certainly isn’t the easiest thing to do. Where perhaps the Red Sox have an edge is through manager Alex Cora.
Despite Cora’s checkered past, Cora has never coached the team to a losing record. Remember, Cora is one of only a few managers in history who have been able to win a World Series title in their first season.
Although what happens on the field will determine whether the Red Sox have a shot or not, Cora’s role shouldn’t be underestimated. Cora can be a difference maker and could be the reason whether the Red Sox make it into the playoffs or not.