4 bold predictions for the Red Sox for the second half of the 2023 season
The second half of the season is underway. Here are some bold predictions for what will happen for the
This has been a weird season for the Boston Red Sox so far. Despite having to deal with a bunch of injuries on both sides of the ball, they are still seven games above .500 and playing very well of late thanks to Rafael Devers and Jarren Duran doing their thing and Brayan Bello holding things down in the rotation.
Unfortunately, all of that hasn't been good enough in the loaded American League East as they are still just fourth in the division at the moment. Every single team in the AL East has a positive run differential at the moment which is honestly kind of wild. One thing that Boston can find solace in is that the Yankees are in last place. You love to see it.
As a result, it is honestly difficult to figure exactly how the 2023 season is going to shake out for the Red Sox. Rafael Devers is a little dinged up, but Trevor Story is about to go on a rehab assignment which should be a boost for the offense and Chris Sale and Corey Kluber could return in the next month or so as well. Despite all of that uncertainty and adversity, lets take some bold guesses as to what the second half will hold.
Here are 4 bold predictions for the Red Sox for the second half of the 2023 season
Just for the sake of clarity: "bold" does not mean "next to impossible" here. The goal is to make some firm guesses, but not say wild stuff like "Boston will sweep the Mets in the World Series". A certain amount of plausibility is a prerequisite here. However, we still want to be a little bit brave at the very least even if that is a recipe for disappointment.
Anyways, here are some bold predictions for the Red Sox in the second half.
The Red Sox will add two starting pitchers at the trade deadline, one of which will come out of nowhere
Despite their position in the division, we are wagering that the Red Sox will indeed be buyers at the trade deadline. They could still trade some players away from areas of depth and/or move some pending free agents, but the team is playing too well at the moment for them to throw in the towel on 2023. Chaim Bloom could be playing for his job at the moment and betting on him to try and bring in some pitching help to make a run seems like a sure bet.
Realistically, the Red Sox need to at two rotation arms as that would give them some depth even if some of their injured guys don't bounce back. The bet here is that one of those arms will be a starter that is widely known to be available and probably a rental with Lucas Giolito probably near the top of their wish list. However, we think the other arm they end up adding will come out of nowhere and could have a fair amount of team control attached. Such a move would be costly, but would also help set Boston up for success in the years to come.
Rafael Devers will be awesome, but Jarren Duran will be the team's MVP
No one doubts that Rafael Devers is going to be awesome the rest of the way in 2023. Unless there are complications from his recent calf injury, Devers will still be a huge driver of the Red Sox offense and is on pace to match or exceed his output in 2021 when he slashed .279/.352/.538 with 38 homers. However, we are taking a shot that the team's true MVP for the 2023 season ends up being Jarren Duran.
Jarren's turnaround this season has been nothing short of remarkable. He went from a very talented guy who didn't seem to have what it took to be a productive big leaguer to being one of the most dynamic players on Boston's roster. Through 266 plate appearances this season, he is slashing .317/.368/.514 with 17 stolen bases to boot. We are wagering that he has finally figured things out and all of that hustling for extra bases will continue in the second half.
Chris Sale will come back in the second half and be awesome
Yes, yes....fool us once and all of that. No one denies Chris Sale's talent and resume in the big leagues. You are completely forgiven if you don't have any optimism that his latest stint on the injured list is going to end any different than how the others have the last few years. There are a lot of miles on that arm of his and the amount of trouble he has had staying on the field speaks for itself.
However, all of that rest and rehab could do a lot of good for Sale at least in the near-term. While the last year of his contract in 2024 could end up being another disappointment, Boston getting a couple months of vintage Chris Sale would be a huge boon to their chances at a playoff spot in 2023. Our guess is that he comes back before the end of August and looks well-rested and healthy enough to put together at least one last run of dominance. No guarantees about next season, though.
The Red Sox will finish ahead of the Yankees, but will fall just short of the wild card
Finally, we come to where we think the Red Sox will finish this season. First, the Red Sox are going to finish ahead of the Yankees. The Red Sox are just a better team right now and while the Yankees could make a run when Aaron Judge returns, that is a Yankees squad that can't seem to do much of anything right at the moment. They will finish above .500 in all likelihood, but expect Boston to be comfortably ahead of them by year's end.
However, even if Boston adds a couple starters at the trade deadline, it won't be enough and that is more in recognition of the other teams in the running for playoff spots. Tampa seems like a sure bet to make the playoffs and to probably win the AL East although that is far less certain now given their recent play. Baltimore is a genuinely scary team who is likely to be aggressive at the trade deadline as are whoever is left looking for a wild card spot between the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers. Passing the Blue Jays for the last playoff spot is Boston's best chance, but between some of the arms the Blue Jays have coming back and that young offensive core of theirs...making up the current 2.5 game deficit seems like it is asking a lot.
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