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Why Red Sox Have Lost Their Offensive Edge in Recent Games

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Douglas Santo | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 2:00 PM ET

The Boston Red Sox have had quite the stretch over the last 14 games. The team won six straight games, eight out of nine, and have now lost five consecutive games.

The one consistent factor throughout the stretch has been their inability to produce in the batter's box. The Red Sox have scored 43 runs across their last 14 games, which averages out to just over three runs per game.

However, during the season, the Red Sox ranked inside the top 10 at 4.65 runs per game.

SB Nation's Matthew Gross pointed to a stat he created called the "Drag Factor" to explain the Red Sox's recent struggles.

The "drag factor" considers a player's wRC+, plate appearances, and the total number of plate appearances for the team.

Regarding the calculation, subtract the player's wRC+ from 100 and multiply that by their plate appearances. Then, divide that number by the team's total plate appearances.

You can add up each player's score to determine the team's total, and the ultimate goal of the stat is to show that the higher the team total score is, the less productive the offense is.

According to Gross, the average MLB team Drag Factor is about 11 or 12 each year. The Red Sox team Drag Factor is at 14.20 currently.

To Gross' point, he referenced the 2015 Colorado Rockies, who lost 94 games and traded their star away, as they're Drag Factor that year was 13.99, still lower than the Red Sox.

Gross initially invented this stat to measure how small market teams - like the Rockies - could manage their resources and compete with big market teams. However, the Red Sox are a big market team and have the resources to go out and acquire top-talent hitters.

Since the Rafael Devers trade, the Red Sox's production at DH has fallen off a cliff. The fill-ins have hit below .200 and have just one extra-base hit.

You think the Boston Red Sox are missing Rafael Devers' bat?
The Red Sox DH production since the Devers trade:
Batting average: .182.
On-base percentage: .270
Slugging percentage: .273
OPS: .543
HRs: 1 (lone extra-base hit)
RBI: 3
Runs: 3
Walks: 3
Strikeouts: 12
Record: 3-6
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 25, 2025

Boston presumably will still be busy at the trade deadline, but they could be sellers now. Boston sits fourth in their division with a 40-42 record, and 2.5 games out of the wild card.

If the Red Sox want to make a run for the postseason, they're going to have to go out and acquire some offensive production and use the resources they have available to improve their hitting.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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