Red Sox Season Off to Slow Start, Begin Season 7-11 Record
The Boston Red Sox have not begun this season off to a great start. The initial six series for 2022 did not bode well for Boston. They have not performed well against their American League East Division opponents, the New York Yankees, The Toronto Blue Jays, and the Tampa Bay Rays.
In all but Boston’s second series of the season against the Detroit Tigers, the Red Sox have either lost or split every series so far. They are currently 7-11 on the season. They have yet to be swept in a series this year, but that may not be far away. In the current series against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Red Sox’s offense and defense have not been able to keep up with each other to pull out a win.
While the Red Sox offense has been stagnant over the past few weeks, most of Boston’s losses have not been complete blowouts. Several have gone into extra innings, with the Sox pitching not being able to hold off the opposing offense.
Pitching continues to be the Red Sox’s kryptonite. Boston’s bullpen becomes quickly depleted, and even some starters have not performed the way they have before. Other issues quickly arose when playing in Toronto given Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions. Red Sox starter Tanner Houck and reliever Kutter Crawford did not make the trip up to Canada given their vaccination status. In addition, a minor COVID-19 outbreak among Boston’s catchers began last week. Red Sox manager Alex Cora tested positive last week, and also did not make the trip to Toronto with the team.
Boston currently stands in fourth place in the American League East, only .5 games ahead of the last-place team, the Baltimore Orioles. The team will meet the Orioles for the first time this season in their next series, beginning Friday, April 29. The Red Sox and Orioles both stand at least five games out from the first-place Blue Jays.
If the Red Sox cannot turn the tides and get both pitching and offense under control, this will be a long and difficult road to September.
