Red Sox Slide in MLB Power Rankings Amid Concerning Offensive Slump originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox’s historic summer surge has given way to their most concerning stretch in weeks. Boston dropped one spot to No. 7 in MLB.com’s latest power rankings, falling behind the New York Yankees after losing seven of its last nine games.
The slide comes immediately after the Red Sox completed the best 30-game stretch in franchise history with a 27-3 record. Boston briefly looked nearly unstoppable, but its offense has cooled considerably during a difficult 2-5 road trip. The Red Sox concluded the trip Sunday with an 8-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Patrick Sandoval allowed seven runs over four innings, while Boston managed only five hits and struck out 13 times.
Connor Wong supplied the only meaningful offense with a three-run homer in the fifth inning. Any remaining momentum disappeared during a two-hour, 34-minute weather delay.
Chad Tracy Remains Confident in Red Sox Offense
Boston is averaging only 3.56 runs over its last nine games. The Red Sox have posted a .236/.323/.350 slash line with six home runs and a .673 OPS during that stretch. Those numbers are concerning, but interim manager Chad Tracy believes the current struggles are different from the offensive problems Boston experienced earlier in the season.
“I do feel like, before the hot streak, there were plenty of games where we weren’t even really generating a ton of traffic for a good chunk of the game,” Tracy said. “So I still think we’re doing a much better job as far as swing decisions and getting people out there. We just gotta get them in, and we will.”
The Red Sox have maintained an 11 percent walk rate over their last nine games, supporting Tracy’s belief that the offense still is producing opportunities. The problem has been finishing those opportunities.
Boston went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position Sunday. Wong’s homer accounted for all three runs, while the first three hitters in the order combined to go 0-for-10 with six strikeouts.
Adley Rutschman Searching for Breakthrough
Adley Rutschman has struggled since joining the Red Sox in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles. The former No. 1 overall pick is 1-for-17 with five walks and nine strikeouts through his first five games with Boston. Rutschman was dealing with left wrist inflammation before the trade and played only two minor league rehabilitation games before being activated.
“I think the competitor in me, I want to go out there and perform,” Rutschman said. “Bottom line: I want to perform for these guys and come out here and be able to do what I do.”
Rutschman will make his Fenway Park debut Monday when the Red Sox open a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The timing could be important. Boston needs its newest acquisition to provide another dependable presence in a lineup currently missing Masataka Yoshida, Roman Anthony, Trevor Story and Triston Casas. Despite the recent slump, the Red Sox remain 66-58 and occupy third place in the American League East. MLB.com’s ranking also reflects the strength of their overall season rather than treating nine difficult games as a complete collapse.
Sonny Gray gave Boston one significant positive over the weekend by earning his career-high 15th win with a scoreless outing against Pittsburgh. The veteran continues to strengthen his American League Cy Young Award case.
The Red Sox have enough pitching and offensive talent to recover. Their margin for error, however, has become smaller. Tracy believes the offense still is creating chances.
Now Boston must start converting them before a short slump becomes something more serious.