How the Red Sox Made the 2025 MLB Postseason

It’s been four years since the Red Sox last made the playoffs. Since then, much has changed, thanks to trades and the rise of several promising youngsters. And after hot stretches in July and August, the Boston Red Sox have a chance to do damage in the 2025 MLB Postseason.

A new ace in Boston

The Red Sox made one of the biggest moves of the 2024-25 offseason when Boston landed Garrett Crochet from the White Sox. In what seemed like a deja vu move, compared to when Boston added Chris Sale years ago, the Red Sox brought in a dominant left-handed pitcher who went from effective reliever to elite starter.

Less than a year later, Crochet’s second round as an MLB starter went better than 2024.

Crochet struck out 255 batters over the regular season, won 18 games, and ranked in the top 15% of the league in both chase and walk rates. The 26-year-old leaned very heavily on his booming four-seamer in 2024. Crochet used it a lot but only 36% of the time (54% in 2024).

For 2025, he mixed things up and leaned a lot on his sweeper. Opposing batters hit .126 with a 40.8% Whiff% on that sweeper.

Crochet finished the year with the third-most total swings-and-misses (479) in the Majors. Not bad in Crochet’s first season in Boston. And the Red Sox will have him for the long haul, as the team gave him an extension after his first start with the team that’ll keep him in town until at least the end of 2030.

Change in fortune

As of September 28, the Red Sox were seventh in the Majors in total runs scored (782). It’s a very impressive one, especially given that Boston traded arguably their best run producer over the years in June.

Boston traded All-Star and World Series champion Rafael Devers in June, ending a months-long saga between him and the front office.

Devers was asked to move off third when Boston signed ex-Astro Alex Bregman just before the spring. Bregman, a former Gold Glove at third with good instincts and more agile than Devers, fit in very nicely. He picked up 46 extra-base hits and likely would have had more had he not gone on the IL in the spring and missed significant time.

As for Devers, he publicly made known his displeasure. The noise got louder once Triston Casas went down to a season-ending injury, as the front office asked him to take reps. He declined, citing the difficulty of working at a new position in season.

The trade hasn’t borne much fruit for the Red Sox yet. Hicks continued to struggle with command. Harrison only pitched in three games with the big club. James Tibbs III, the big prospect in the trade, was flipped a month later to the Dodgers for Dustin May.

But in spite of that loss, the Red Sox reeled off multiple seven-game win streaks in July and August. It helped a Boston team that entered play on June 17, five and a half games out (38-36 record), make it to the playoffs.

Rejuvenated veterans

Much of the attention this spring regarding the Red Sox revolved around the three youngsters who were knocking on the door: Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer, and Roman Anthony. All three made their MLB debut in 2025, although their performances varied.

Campbell made the Sox’s Opening Day roster and promptly went on an early-season tear before signing an extension that bought out free agent years. However, Campbell got more aggressive, struggled, and was sent to Triple-A Worcester in June. He didn’t return to the Majors.

Mayer received a promotion in May after Alex Bregman went on the IL. However, he too struggled and needed wrist surgery later on in the summer. Anthony, promoted in June, was called up in June and went on a tear in August before an oblique injury ended his regular season.

While there were some youngsters, like rookie Carlos Narvaez and Ceddanne Rafaela, who helped out in key ways, it was the veterans who did a lot of the heavy lifting.

Lucas Giolito, signed two winters ago, logged 145 innings and was a horse for much of the second half. Aroldis Chapman struck out 85 over 61 frames, picked up 32 saves, and will set a career-best in walk rate (6.6% BB%). The 37-year-old, who got back on track two years ago after leaning more on the two-seamer, signed an extension to come back in 2026.

Trevor Story, the oft-injured shortstop, hit 25 home runs and stole 31 bases for the Sox. It was more reminiscent of his days with the Rockies.

It doesn’t stop there. Romy Gonzalez and Nathaniel Lowe helped fill the hole at first left behind by Triston Casas. An experienced bullpen that also included Greg Weissert, Justin Wilson, and Brennan Bernardino helped get the job done.

What to expect in October

The Red Sox’s offense, aside from Roman Anthony, is relatively healthy. Boston’s offense includes a collection of talented left and right-handed hitters, from Story and Bregman, to left-handed hitters Wilyer Abreu and Jarren Duran. Abreu just came back from the IL, in time for the postseason.

Boston also has one of the game’s best aces, one who is lined up to go in the Wild Card round. Take into account Brayan Bello, who’s been much better in 2025 after trusting his four-seamer and adding a cutter, and Giolito, and the Sox have a fantastic 1-2-3 pinch.

Any team that gets the Red Sox won’t have it easy.