{"id":815539,"date":"2026-09-27T13:03:24","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T13:03:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/815539\/"},"modified":"2026-09-27T13:03:24","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T13:03:24","slug":"roman-anthonys-breakout-against-cubs-could-save-the-red-sox-at-just-the-right-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/815539\/","title":{"rendered":"Roman Anthony\u2019s breakout against Cubs could save the Red Sox at just the right time"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the second Wild Card locked up and a Nor’easter throwing the Boston Red Sox’s schedule into flux this weekend<\/a>, no one would have blamed the team if they took things easy while preparing for a trip to the Bronx to kick off their postseason run. Instead, they crushed the Chicago Cubs’ hopes and dreams, sweeping a Friday doubleheader at Fenway before flying south for the regular season finale at Tropicana Field.<\/p>\n

Brilliant pitching was mostly responsible for that pair of momentum-sealing victories, holding the potent Cubs offense to just three runs over two games. But more positive than anything was Roman Anthony’s performance \u2014 he looked as comfortable at the plate as he has all year during the doubleheader.<\/p>\n

All told, he went 4-for-6 with two walks, three extra-base hits, and three runs, posting an enormous 436 wRC+ between both contests. Coming on the same day that Mickey Gasper was potentially lost for the season<\/a>, Anthony’s breakout must be a sign of what’s to come in October if the Red Sox have any hope of avenging last year’s Wild Card Round loss to the New York Yankees.<\/p>\n

Red Sox’s injured, struggling offense leaves the team’s fate in Roman Anthony’s hands<\/p>\n

Since returning from injury in late August, it’s no secret that Anthony has been mired in a rust-related slump. Prior to his dominant showing against the Cubs, he had posted just a 99 wRC+ in his first 102 plate appearances back, featuring an on-base percentage below .300.<\/p>\n

That just isn’t going to get it done, especially when the rest of the offense can’t produce with any sort of consistency<\/a>. Since Anthony returned to the fold on Aug. 30, the players with the highest wRC+ marks on the Red Sox are: Willson Contreras (156), Eli White (144), Anthony (123), and Gasper (118). Every single one of those players, save for the left fielder, is currently injured.<\/p>\n

That includes Contreras, who isn’t actually on the IL. However, he recently told reporters that his hand hurts too much to swing a bat<\/a>, meaning that even if he did try to accelerate his return from a hit by pitch, his impact would likely be muted. Considering that he’s been the single-most important hitter in the lineup by a country mile this season, his absence looms large.<\/p>\n

A return to form from Anthony would go a long way toward mitigating that loss, especially since he’s settled back into his everyday spot atop Chad Tracy’s lineup. If the Red Sox’s offense has any chance of surviving the postseason, they’ll need their star leadoff hitter to keep playing like a star.<\/p>\n

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