{"id":658040,"date":"2026-04-02T03:51:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T03:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/658040\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T03:51:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T03:51:27","slug":"the-red-sox-run-prevention-approach-has-been-a-disaster-so-far","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/658040\/","title":{"rendered":"\u200bThe Red Sox\u2019 run prevention approach has been a disaster so far"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoston Red Sox\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t“We have time on our side, but there\u2019s urgency, for sure, that this is unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Boston
\n\tGarrett Crochet was knocked for five runs in Wednesday’s loss. AP Photo\/Michael Wyke\t<\/p>\n

After a tumultuous offseason in which the Red Sox pivoted from bolstering their lineup to upgrading their pitching corps, Craig Breslow mapped out Boston\u2019s vision for the upcoming 2026 season.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\"Red\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUmpire admits he forgot the count during bizarre Red Sox sequence\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCorrea\u2019s 3-run blast powers the Astros past the Red Sox 6-4 for a sweep\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019s a question anymore that the identity of our team and the strength of our team is going to be our pitching and our ability to prevent runs,\u201d Breslow told MassLive\u2019s Chris Cotillo<\/a> after Boston signed southpaw starter Ranger Suarez to a five-year, $130 million contract in January.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the improvements we made on the pitching side are significant,\u201d he added. \u201cIt can be difficult at times to fully appreciate the impact of having dominant starting pitching. \u2026 I think no matter who we\u2019re playing on any given day, we\u2019re going to feel like we\u2019ve got a chance to win.\u201d\u200b<\/p>\n

Through six games, the wins have been few and far between for a Red Sox club looking to build off last year\u2019s brief postseason appearance. \u200b<\/p>\n

Following Wednesday\u2019s series sweep<\/a> doled out by the Houston Astros, the Red Sox return to Fenway Park for their home opener with a dour 1-5 record \u2014 their worst start through six games since the 2019 campaign. \u200b<\/p>\n

Some of the fears regarding Boston\u2019s lineup have been evident. The Red Sox only crossed home plate seven times during their three games in Houston. As a club, Boston is batting just .208 on the year.<\/p>\n

Those initial offensive growing pains aren\u2019t much of a surprise, especially with a proven bat like Alex Bregman no longer entrenched atop Boston\u2019s lineup.\u200b<\/p>\n

But, it\u2019s been Boston\u2019s presumed strengths \u2014 stout pitching and improved defense \u2014 that have been the most disheartening result for Alex Cora\u2019s club through six games.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s embarrassing,\u201d Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet said Wednesday<\/a> after getting tagged for five runs in five innings of work. \u201cAnd typically in the past, I\u2019ve played that stopper role. And today I just let the guys down, especially when we scratched one [run] early in the first. For me to give it right back and then ultimately give them the lead at the bottom of the first, it\u2019s not acceptable.\u201d\u200b<\/p>\n

With Crochet situated atop Boston\u2019s rotation, the Red Sox\u2019 strength in 2026 was presumably rooted in its rotation \u2014 especially after the Red Sox signed Suarez in free agency and traded for both Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo.<\/p>\n

Those three pitching pickups have been tagged for 11 earned runs over 12 combined innings of work. Boston\u2019s starting rotation is sporting a collective 5.22 ERA.<\/p>\n

In total, Boston has been outscored, 32-17, in its first six games, while also coughing up 11 homers.<\/p>\n

To make matters worse, the Red Sox\u2019 shoddy defense \u2014 which led baseball with 116 errors last season \u2014 has been porous over the first week of this new campaign, committing six errors in six games.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just hesitated,\u201d Trevor Story said Wednesday<\/a> after a ball slipped under his glove, plating an Astros run in the first inning. \u201cAnd there\u2019s no room for that. It was similar to a play last night, where I was aggressive when I played through it, and I got rewarded for that. But can\u2019t be defensive out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 2026 Red Sox\u2019 season won\u2019t be decided in the final week of March. But a Boston roster presumably propped up by an adherence to run prevention has failed to make a strong impression so far.<\/p>\n

\u200b\u201cWe know we can be good,\u201d Story told The Boston Globe\u2019s Alex Speier<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s just about us, the players, to make the adjustments that we need to make. We have time on our side, but there\u2019s urgency, for sure, that this is unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Profile\t<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the Today newsletter<\/p>\n

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