MLB Team Outlook: Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox finished the first part of the season on a positive note. With a win-loss record of 55-35 they are currently placed on top of the American League East Division and top the overall batting statistics in the Major League Baseball.
The Red Sox are ranked first in most runs (482), overall team batting average (.278), slugging percentage (.456) and on base percentage (.354).
These statistics are majorly helped by All-Star selections Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz. Gonzalez was the first person to score a home-run in the All-Star Game since 2008 and was the only batter to provide confrontation from the American League’s team.
Gonzalez has thus far managed 128 hits and yielded 64 runs at an average of .354. The first baseman has the second-most home-runs (17) in the Red Sox line-up, two behind leader David Ortiz. Adrian’s usefulness can be gauged by the 77 RBIs he has managed
to this point in the season and keeping fitness to be constant, the second-half promises more from the star player.
Designated hitter and American League home-run derby captain David Ortiz has proved his mettle this season for the Boston Red Sox. The heavy-weight Ortiz has amassed 19 valuable home-runs along with 55 RBIs. His contribution has been useful to generate momentum
in scoring runs in addition to facilitating the pitching staff to defend a reasonable total. The Red Sox need to use him more selectively now and make sure that the big-hitter stays fit for the rest of the season.
Boston’s pitching has been of top-quality as well. There cannot be much debate on the eminence of Josh Beckett and Jon Lester. Combined, Beckett and Lester can match even the finest pitching staff in the Majors.
Ten of Beckett’s 17 starts have been on the road and he still has a win-loss record of 8-3. He has shown immense improvement since last season and with the bull-pen positive, this improvement seems to be on an exponential path. Beckett was scheduled to start
for the American League in the All-Star Game but had to sit out of the game because of slight injury concern. The team management, however, has ruled the injury to be minor and he is expected to start against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, July 17.
With only the first-half of the season played, Jon Lester has already registered ten wins for the season with just four losses. In 18 games, he has struck-out 110 batters and is showing fast improvement after a lacklustre show in the month of May. In the
last 33 innings, an ERA of 1.64 sums up his performance. The Red Sox need him up and ready for the big challenge that lies ahead, keeping their first spot in the AL East safe from the New York Yankees.
In the last ten games, Boston boasts an exceptional 9-1 win-loss record with a six-game winning streak. Entering the second half of the season, Boston has an opportunity to extend their winning streak with six games scheduled against the Tampa Bay Rays and
the Baltimore Orioles.
The Rays have lost their previous two games and the Orioles are on a seven-game losing streak. A win in both series will not only cement their place at the top but also give their pitching staff a confidence boost ahead of the tough games which follow.
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