Red Sox’ Offensive Blackout Reaches New Depths During Yankees Sweep The Boston Red Sox endured one of their most disheartening stretches in their storied rivalry with the New York Yankees, as their offensive struggles reached an unprecedented low during a three-game sweep in New York. The historic rivalry, which dates back to 1903—when Teddy Roosevelt was president—has seen countless battles over the decades, but the Red Sox’ performance this week marked a rare and alarming chapter. The team’s hitters managed just 13 hits in 92 at-bats against the Yankees, posting a .141 batting average, the worst mark in a three-or-more-game home series in the rivalry’s 123-year history. The offensive collapse left the Red Sox with just three runs across three games and only 20 baserunners, a stark contrast to the expectations of a team that entered the season with hopes of contending. The Red Sox’ struggles extend far beyond this week’s sweep. Entering the weekend, the team sat in last place in the American League East with a 9–16 record, just one game ahead of the Royals and Phillies for the dubious distinction of holding the worst record in baseball. Their offensive woes are the primary reason for their struggles, as the team ranks last in slugging percentage (.331) and is tied for last in home runs (14). They also trail in several key offensive metrics, including OPS (.636), wRC+ (78), batting average (.223), and runs scored (92). Pitching, while not a strength, has been slightly better, with a 4.37 ERA ranking 19th in the league, but the offense’s collective failure has been the most glaring issue. The Red Sox are the only team in Major League Baseball without a single player boasting an OPS above .800, a testament to their overall offensive ineptitude. The closest players are Wilyer Abreu (.#boston_red_sox #new_york_yankees #wilyer_abreu #willson_contreras #teddy_roosevelt
Opening Day 2026: Fan Questions Answered About the Red Sox Boston Red Sox right fielder Roman Anthony (19) led off at the top of the order against the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Boston Globe sports reporter Alex Speier hosted an Ask Me Anything session Thursday morning on Reddit focused on his coverage of the Red Sox and what to expect from the 2026 team. Speier is entering his 25th season covering the Red Sox, and has covered sports for the Globe since 2015. Below are some highlights from the AMA, which have been condensed and edited for clarity. Questions are in bold from Redditors who participated. Out of the new signings and promotions to the big-league roster, who do you think will have the biggest impact? What is your prediction for the team’s record this year? Speier highlighted Willson Contreras and Marcelo Mayer as the players with the most potential to impact the team’s performance this season. He noted that the 2025 struggles at first and second base were a major drag on the team’s results, and the reliability they can bring—Mayer defensively, Contreras in his all-around game—will be critical. Speier avoided making specific win predictions, emphasizing that the excitement of Opening Day lies in the uncertainty of the season ahead. Is Roman Anthony winning his first MVP this year, or does he have to wait until next year? Speier acknowledged the rapid rise in expectations for Anthony, calling it “mind-blowing” that a player with limited big-league experience is already generating MVP buzz. He praised the question’s humor but stressed that Anthony’s early-season performance is unlikely to sustain elite production.#boston_red_sox #roman_anthony #alex_speier #willson_contreras #marcelo_mayer
