Unbelievable Red Sox Stat Shows Hitters, Pitchers Share Blame

Apr 28, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Payton Tolle (70) walks towards the dugout after being relived against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Unbelievable Red Sox Stat Shows Hitters, Pitchers Share Blame

Originally posted on Boston Red Sox on SI
By Jackson Roberts | Last updated Apr 29, 2026 11:00 AM ET

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If you're wondering whether the Boston Red Sox's offense or pitching staff is to blame for the team's horrible start, the answer is "Yes."

After losing their three-game winning streak with a 3-0 defeat against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, the Red Sox fell to 12-18. A night after Ranger Suárez dominated a potent Toronto lineup, rookie Payton Tolle had a minor clunker, allowing three earned runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Tolle's loss wasn't only a sign that Boston couldn't count on the young top prospect to be their savior. It marked the continuation of a horrendous trend.

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Red Sox falling victim to crazy starting pitching stat

Credit to Tyler Milliken of the "Section 10" podcast for pointing out the following stat, which was independently verified by Red Sox On SI: When Boston's starting pitchers go less than six innings, the team is 1-17 this season.

On the flip side, they've only lost one game when a starter went six innings or more: Tolle's last start, when he struck out 11 New York Yankees, but the bullpen coughed up a 2-1 lead in the seventh.

One could blame both halves of the team for that stat, and therein lies the problem. No one is doing their job right now, save for perhaps a couple of the team's top relievers and Suárez when he has his A-game.

The Red Sox knew they were going to be most successful if their pitching could carry the freight this season. Starters going less than six innings in 60% of the games is a recipe for failure, especially when they've shown that making it through the sixth is indeed a winning formula.

But that doesn't absolve the offense of its struggles. The Red Sox have now scored three runs or less 16 times this season. "Score four" is one of the most classic winning formulas Major League Baseball has to offer, and this punchless lineup can't even do so half the time.

Maybe all we've shown here is that the Red Sox are incompetent on both sides of the ball, but it sure does help Alex Cora's argument that the losses weren't his fault when the evidence shows none of the players are executing.

This article first appeared on Boston Red Sox on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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