Will the Boston Red Sox ever lose again?
By David Ruiz
The Boston Red Sox have jumped out to an impressive 15-2 record in the early going of the MLB season, but can they stay hot heading into the Summer?
The Boston Red Sox can do no wrong after winning 13-of-15 games after dropping Opening Day in Tampa Bay back on March 30.
Since then, they lead the Majors with a mighty 15-2 record, while leading the A.L. East by three games over second-place Toronto.
From stunning the Rays with a six-run comeback, winning the first series against heated Yankees rivals, to handling new Angels star-sensation Shohei Otahni, Boston is getting it done on both the mound and on the plate.
Not to mention, that Boston’s starting rotation is one of the best around the league. Chris Sale, Rick Porcello and David Price have gotten off to great starts.
Sale is second in the American League with an ERA of 1.23 through four starts, and Porcello is fourth with a 1.40 ERA and also leads with four wins.
Long-time starter Price has also contributed a 2-1 record while posting a 2.25 ERA with 17 strikeouts.
Thrown in with Craig Kimbrel’s five saves, and that’s a recipe for opposing teams to fail to score runs.
Did we mention that they can hit?
Because they can.
Slugger Mookie Betts leads off with a .390 batting average, five home runs and 13 RBIs in 59 at-bats. Big free agent signing, J.D. Martinez, has fit in nicely in his return to the American League.
Martinez is batting .313, four home runs and 14 RBIs of his own, in addition, has the benefit of playing at Fenway Park, which is a hitter’s ballpark. Martinez and Boston was a match made in heaven, and it’s showing.
Boston’s lineup of hitters has everyone hitting over a .250 average with the exception of Jackie Bradley Jr., who is batting .228 with one home run and three RBIs.
That said, as we march forwards towards May, and the summer months, the question becomes: Can they stay hot all year?
Boston made history this year in becoming the first team to win 15 of their 17 games to start a season.
But are they the best team so far?
“I think it’s way too early for that,” Martinez told ESPN reporter Alden Gonzalez. “Come at me when it’s July, you know? That’s when you can start having those conversations.”
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Even with the best record in baseball, Boston knows they can’t rely on the regular season as an indication of postseason success. After acquiring Sale in a trade with the Chicago White Sox two seasons ago — that sent highly viewed prospect Yoan Moncada in exchange — Boston still struggled in last season’s playoffs.
But that was then, and this is now. The Curse of the Bambino is long gone and the 2018 Red Sox are looking to put past playoff demons behind them.
With early MVP candidate Betts, American League Cy Young candidates in Sale or Porcello and four grand slams before the month of May, Boston may never lose again.