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Red Sox History: Ranking every squad of the 21st century

By Daniel Fox

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 31: The Boston Red Sox 2018 World Series Championship banner hangs outside Fenway Park on October 31, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 31: The Boston Red Sox 2018 World Series Championship banner hangs outside Fenway Park on October 31, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: Christian Vazquez #7 jumps into the arms of Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox to celebrate their 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five to win the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: Christian Vazquez #7 jumps into the arms of Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox to celebrate their 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five to win the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

No. 1: 2018 Red Sox: 108-54

Undoubtedly the best Red Sox team of the 21st century, and the best Red Sox team of any era for that matter, were the 2018 juggernauts.

Mookie Betts (.346/.438/.640, 32 HR, 30 SB) and J.D Martinez (.330/.402/.629, 43 HR, 130 RBI) had two of the greatest offensive seasons of all time, as each finished in the top five in the MVP race. They weren’t alone, however, as Xander Bogaerts (135 OPS+, 23 HR 103 RBI) and Andrew Benintendi (.290 AVG, 16 HR, 21 SB) each supported them in the lineup, while mid-season acquisition Steve Pearce (141 OPS+) provided even more thunder.

The pitching staff was the benefit of all these runs, as Rick Porcello (17 wins) and David Price (16 wins) each were solid behind ace Chris Sale (2.11 ERA, 237 in 158 innings). The bullpen was once again anchored by Craig Kimbrel (2.74 ERA, 42 saves) along with a breakout season from Ryan Brasier (1.60), and mid-season addition Nathan Eovaldi (3.33 ERA) was dominant after coming over from the Rays.

The team was an absolute bulldozer, as they won a franchise record 108 regular season games and lost just three games en route to a World Series title.

Next. Top-5 Red Sox pitching performances of the 2021 season. dark

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