No matter what happens for the rest of the season, the Boston Red Sox are a playoff team — they've popped the bottles and showered in the beer that secures their fate. But Boston's offense hasn't given fans anything to be excited about over the last few games.
The Red Sox have lost eight of their last 12 games and three of their last four series, including one to the MLB-worst Los Angeles Angels. Boston has the second-lowest batting average in September (.221) and the sixth-lowest team OPS (.675). It has just a .179 average with runners in scoring position this month. The Red Sox haven't scored more than four runs since their September 12 game against the Kansas City Royals.
Offensive production that minimal won't keep the Sox alive very long in the postseason. Boston will face the New York Yankees in a Wild Card rematch of last season's series, which didn't end well for a highly-injured, slumping team kind of like this year's squad.
Thankfully, offensive reinforcements are coming, starting with Ceddanne Rafaela. The outfielder has been on the 10-day injured list with a strained hamstring since September 3. Red Sox manager Chad Tracy announced following their September 22 loss that Rafaela would be activated the following day.
Red Sox need Ceddanne Rafaela back to help awaken slumping offense
Rafaela has been one of the most important pieces of Boston's offense all year thanks to the best season of his young career. He's slashing .282/.317/.443 with 32 doubles (tied for the 13th-most in MLB), three triples, 16 home runs and 70 RBI over 135 games.
Rafaela isn't the only missing piece of the Sox's offense, as Willson Contreras is also out of commission after taking a pitch to the side of his hand on September 17. Boston's home run leader never went on the IL so he doesn't have to be formally activated to return to action. He's swung a bat and is on the road to recovery, but the Red Sox haven't announced an estimated return date for him.
Rafaela and Contreras being injured can't be an excuse for the Red Sox's offense disappearing with just days to go in the regular season. They could be playing down since the rest of their games don't technically matter, but the sudden decrease in offensive production is concerning nonetheless.
It serves the Red Sox to go into the playoffs confident and with a humming offense. Rafaela's return could help them get there. but the rest of the bats need to step up, as well.
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