Red Sox season preview: Biggest keys to a deeper postseason run originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Editor’s note: Leading up to Opening Day, our staff will share several predictions for the 2026 Red Sox season. In Part 2 of the season preview series, our three-person panel named the biggest key to Boston making a deeper postseason run.

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Part 1: Predicting the regular-season record

The Boston Red Sox ended their four-year postseason drought last season, winning 89 games en route to the Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees.

After falling to their archrival in the opening round, the Red Sox are poised to make a deeper playoff run in 2026. They loaded up on starting pitching during the offseason, trading for Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo before signing Ranger Suarez as their No. 2 starter. They lost veteran Alex Bregman in free agency, but the addition of first baseman Willson Contreras should help replace his offensive production.

Boston should also get a significant boost from its collection of young talent, with Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer looking to take the next step at the big-league level. Top prospects Payton Tolle and Connelly Early — who started in Game 3 vs. New York — figure to play key roles in 2026 as well.

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So, what are the biggest keys to the Red Sox making a deeper postseason run? Our panel tackled that question in Part 2 of our season preview series:

Justin Leger: Starting pitching lives up to expectations

After acquiring Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo in the offseason, the Red Sox are expected to boast one of the best rotations in baseball. They also still have admirable depth if one or two starters go down. Top prospects Payton Tolle and Connelly Early are in the mix, plus veterans Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval are set to return from injuries.

If the starting pitching staff disappoints, it could be a long season. Boston’s lineup leaves plenty to be desired heading into the campaign, with FanGraphs’ ZiPS projecting zero players projected to hit 20-plus home runs.

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Nick Goss: Young players take the next step

Roman Anthony has superstar potential, and if healthy, 2026 could be the year he makes that jump.

What will the Red Sox get from Marcelo Mayer? Can he earn a regular role at the MLB level and be a key contributor? Can he stay healthy for a full season? Injuries are inevitable, so the Red Sox will need prospects and/or utility guys to step up.

Brayan Bello has All-Star potential. It was encouraging to see him lower his ERA by more than a full run in 2025 and pitch a career high in innings. Can he make another jump in 2026? The Red Sox need it to be a true contender.

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Darren Hartwell: The rotation staying intact

The Red Sox had 13 pitchers make multiple starts last season, including September call-up Connelly Early, who got the ball for a winner-take-all playoff game against the Yankees. Craig Breslow’s offseason investment in the rotation should decrease that number in 2026, and they now have the depth to roll out seasoned starters in every game of a playoff series… assuming their “horses” are healthy in October.