Honorable Mentions
Xander Bogaerts, Shortstop
Bogaerts has put up All-Star caliber numbers this season. The problem is that the AL crop of shortstops is loaded. Manny Machado‘s transition back to the position doesn’t help, while Francisco Lindor has to make the team. Bogaerts also faces competition from Carlos Correa, Jean Segura, Andrelton Simmons, and Didi Gregorius. How many shortstops can they fit on this team?
Brock Holt, Utility
Hey, he’s done it before! Holt isn’t the flashiest name on the roster but he’s producing career highs in batting average and OPS. He was the lone All-Star representative for the Red Sox in 2015, selected primarily for his defensive versatility. He still offers that same Swiss-army knife value with offensive numbers almost identical to what he had at the break in 2015.
Rick Porcello, Pitcher
Porcello has never been an All-Star, not even during his 2016 Cy Young campaign. He should have made the team that year so maybe this is the season they rectify that omission? He’s 9-3 with a 3.60 ERA. His ERA is about half a run higher than in 2016 but his 3.40 FIP is almost identical, which shows he’s pitching about as well as he did when he won the award. He’s also top-10 in the league in K/BB ratio.
Next: Should Red Sox ignore luxury tax?
David Price, Pitcher
Don’t laugh. This season has given us the closest glimpse of vintage Price that we’ve seen since he joined the Red Sox. A rocky start dampens his overall numbers but Price hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a game over his last nine starts. He’s 7-1 over that stretch, lowering his ERA from 5.11 to a respectable 3.66. A couple more starts like that before the break and Price’s numbers may warrant consideration.