2025 MLB First-Half Recap: Boston Red Sox

The Pitching

The Good

The Red Sox’s offense has been largely productive this season, thanks in part to a marquee acquisition.

Alex Bregman, drafted by Boston in 2012 but didn’t sign, signed with the team in February, becoming the last star player off the free agency board. It seemed like a strong fit, given his pull-heavy, fly-ball tendencies from the right side of the plate. Thus far, that notion held true.

Bregman, who was sidelined for over a month thanks to a quad strain, hit .298/.380/.546 (.927 OPS) to lock up an All-Star nod. The addition gave the Sox another power-hitting right-handed bat. Trevor Story, on pace for a 20-20 season, is healthy. Cedddane Rafaela, meanwhile, hit .300/.333/.559 (.892 OPS) with 13 home runs since May 2.

The other marquee acquisition this winter by Boston was Garrett Crochet, who signed the largest contract given to a pre-arbitration player in April to keep him in town for the long haul. The hard-throwing lefty has been exactly the ace needed, as he currently leads the American League in ERA+ (185) and strikeouts (160, also MLB lead).

It’ll be interesting, though, to see how Crochet does in the second half. The Red Sox’s ace currently leads the Majors in innings pitched (129.1), 16.2 IP away from tying his career-most innings thrown (146), set last year.

He hasn’t been the only reliable starter. Brayan Bello, despite a significant dip in strikeouts, has found immense success as a ground-ball pitcher, working in a cutter and four-seamer to limit barreled (68th percentile) and hard-hit (80th percentile) contact. Lucas Giolito, after an uneven start, allowed fewer than two earned runs in five of his last six starts before the break.

Oh, and it helps to have Aroldis Chapman closing out games, as well.

The Bad

Well, the Rafael Devers situation sorted itself out.

Devers and the Sox were embroiled in a media circus this spring when the former insisted he would be the team’s regular third baseman. However, he ceded the spot to Alex Bregman and ultimately moved to DH.

However, the saga continued in the spring when Triston Casas — who was thrown yet another significant injury, this time a ruptured left patellar tendon — had his season end. The team’s brass wanted Devers to work at first, which the All-Star slugger brushed off. In June, Boston traded him to San Francisco.

The trade did leave a significant hole in the Sox’s lineup, especially when taking into account that Casas is out. As of this writing, Devers is still fourth in the American League in OPS (.905).

Kristian Campbell, meanwhile, struggled after receiving an eight-year extension. He got antsy at times, chasing more, and on top of that, struggled dealing with breaking balls and offspeed. He was ultimately optioned to Triple-A in late June.

Lastly, Walker Buehler (68 ERA+) and Tanner Houck (52 ERA+) have both seen their production regress in 2025.

For Buehler, this is somewhat similar to his production before he got on track late in the season. As for Houck, he wasn’t fooling many hitters, with a whiff rate in the bottom quarter of the league. Houck, who’s on the IL, did increase the usage of his four-seamer this season, likely necessitated by the fact that he works the lower half of the zone so much with his sweeper/sinker/splitter combo.

What to Expect in the Second Half

The Red Sox will start the second half against the Cubs, part of what will be a meat grinder of a schedule between now and the end of September.

Awaiting Boston in the second half include the Yankees (six games), Astros, Blue Jays, Tigers, Dodgers, Phillies, Padres, and Rays. Not to mention, two more series with an Orioles team playing better baseball of late. The same can be said for the Twins, who will play Boston again at the end of the month.

Even though the Sox are sitting in a comfortable position, it’s far from a lock that Boston will make it to October.

To do so, Boston will need to navigate the storm. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the Sox land another starter, although it would be a surprise if the team landed someone like Joe Ryan — a high-end starter with control — who the Red Sox reportedly have interest in.