Setting Sale for Third

So here's the good news with the Red Sox: They're 5 games over .500, they have three of the most statistically impressive players in baseball (Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers), and they just swept the Indians in order to keep them from staying in 1st place. They are the most successful spoiler in the AL, because they're still good enough to beat you, but not beat division rivals.

Bad news: yeah...they're...not good enough to touch not only the Rays and Yankees...but also the A's and Indians, who are 7.5 games ahead of them in the Wild Card race. So a year after winning it all, the Red Sox don't have the team to rush right back into the race, and unless there's a giant push in September, which I am praying doesn't happen, they'll be a non-factor in the playoffs.

Even worse: the once strong pitching staff has folded a bit. Now David Price is injured, Rick Porcello's lost his velocity, and Chris Sale is still having his most human year. Yes, I know, he's got 218 strikeouts, and that's awesome, but...he's got a 6-11 record and a 4.40 ERA, which are career lows for him. I'm hoping it's just a bad year for him, because prior to this he was among the best arms in the league, and I still want him to grab a Cy Young one of these days. But...the Sox' ace is struggling, and after a World Series win, no less.

And also, the bullpen's in tatters, there's like 3 options for closer, Andrew Cashner's already been moved to the bullpen, and it's ruining a great season for the Red Sox' lineup. Looking at everyone in that lineup, they're all doing insanely well, even Brock Holt who's filling in for Michael Chavis. It's almost universal growth from everybody, and...I wish it would have happened in a better season for them.

Look, if they seriously fix what's wrong with the pitching staff, their 2020 team could win it all again. It's insanely tangible. The Red Sox have probably had one of the most impressive decade runs of them all in the 2010s, winning two different rings with two different incarnations of the team. If they've dominated the last two decades, I imagine they'll equally dominate the next one.

Coming Tonight: Yep, wouldn't be shocked if he wins another Cy Young this year.