The Boston Red Sox have turned into one of MLB’s most fascinating teams this season. That shouldn’t change down the wire of a fiery playoff race.
Boston possesses the American League’s first wild-card spot to start a three-game series against the San Diego Padres. Having won 10 of their last 13 games, the Red Sox only trail the Toronto Blue Jays by four games in the AL East.
Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly set the stage for an eventful finish to the regular season by ranking MLB’s 12 “most watchable teams.” The Red Sox garnered the No. 9 spot in a list led by the streaking Milwaukee Brewers.
“It’s been an uneven ride for Alex Cora’s club in 2025, but the Red Sox have one of the more talented rosters in baseball and could easily still either win the AL East or claim one of the top wild-card spots in the AL,” Kelly wrote.
Kelly identified Alex Bregman, Garrett Crochet and Aroldis Chapman as specific players to watch. In addition to those All-Star mainstays, it’ll be intriguing to see how Cora handles a crowded lineup over the closing weeks and into the future.
“Beyond how the rest of this year plays out from a wins/losses perspective, the Red Sox are super-interesting to follow because with Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu, they have about as much impact young talent as anyone in the league,” Kelly said. “Perhaps, dare we say, too much. Trying to make it all work will be an interesting challenge for Cora.
Cora appears to have settled on his preferred configuration, for now. Mayer is sidelined with a wrist injury and is uncertain to return anytime soon. In his absence, Rafaela has seen most of the reps at second base.
Boston didn’t acquire any position players before last week’s trade deadline, but Kristian Campbell could return from the minors as a first-base option. Top outfielder prospect Jhostynxon Garcia is also making his case for a September call-up.
It’ll also be interesting to see how Anthony responds to a massive contract extension. Can Jarren Duran sustain his summer hot streak into October, and will Lucas Giolito and Trevor Story finish their bounce-back seasons strong?
Meanwhile, Kelly ranked Boston’s upcoming opponent second. The Red Sox and Padres begin their first game Friday at 9:40 p.m. ET.
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