gshc2020.com

Boston Red Sox’ Cool Winter Pitching Plan Made Red-Hot Summer Win Streak

BOSTON: Ranger Suárez of the Boston Red Sox poses for a photo at Fenway Park before a press conference announcing his contract agreement on Jan. 21, 2026. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Getty Images

The Boston Red Sox made it clear last winter that pitching would be the key to their 2026 season. Their pitching performance during a recent record 15-game winning streak proved the plan was prudent.

The Red Sox gave up only 32 runs during the streak, an average of 2.13 per game.

Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow was the architect of the blueprint. Even when his job appeared in jeopardy after the Red Sox started 2-8 to tumble into last place and stay there, he remained confident that good pitching could turn it all around. He told Kaley Brown of Boston.com on June 26:

“We have to win a lot of baseball games and we don’t have a ton of time to do it. I believe that we’re capable of doing it. It’s going to require more consistent play on the field. But I see no reason that with the pitching that we have and the consistency of the starting pitching, with the strength of the backend of the bullpen, we can’t get ourselves in a position where we do win these games.”

Guess what? Since waking up on June 25 with a 32-46 record, the Red Sox went 20-2 until dropping the second game of a doubleheader to the Baltimore Orioles on July 22. They outscored the opposition 115-44 in the wins and were outscored 18-3 in the losses.

Overall, Boston has allowed 381 runs, fewest in the American League.

MORE FOR YOU

The Pitch For Pitching

A year ago, Boston claimed a wild-card spot in the playoffs with an 83-79 record. The Sox scored 786 runs, third in the AL, and allowed 676, fifth fewest.

Breslow added first baseman Willson Contreras from St. Louis and third baseman Caleb Durbin from Milwaukee in off-season deals, but his main focus was on upgrading the entire pitching staff. The plan was steadfast to pile up premier pitchers to help veteran ace Garrett Crochet (18-5 in 2025) and closer Aroldis Chapman (32 saves in 2025). Boston added, in order:

• Nov. 25: RHP Sonny Gray in trade from Cardinals.
• Dec. 4: RHPs Johan Oviedo and Tyler Samaniego in trade from Pirates.
• Dec. 10: RHP Ryan Watson in trade from Athletics.
• Dec. 15: LHP Jake Bennett in trade from Nationals.
• Dec. 18: LHP Alec Gamboa signed minor-league contract.
• Jan. 9: RHP Tayron Guerrero signed minor-league contract.
• Jan. 21: LHP Ranger Suarez signed for five-years, $130 million.
• Mar. 13: LHP Danny Coulombe for one-year, $1 million.
• Mar. 19: RHP Tommy Kahnle signed minor-league contract.

All of these pitchers worked during the recent streak, though Coulombe and Kahnle were recently released. Kahnle subsequently re-signed a minor-league deal with Boston and is at Triple-A Worcester (MA).

In addition, Patrick Sandoval made his Red Sox debut on July 9. The lefty signed a two-year, $18.25 million contract with Boston in December 2024 and missed all of 2025 and the first half of 2026 rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

A five-game win streak June 25-29 signaled something big was on the horizon. It started with a four-game sweep of the New York Yankees – Boston’s first four-game wipeout of their arch-rivals since August 2018.

The Red Sox tacked on a 6-3 win over Washington before the pitching went sour for 8-1 and 10-2 losses to the Nationals.

Then came nine consecutive road wins. Boston gave up only 14 runs (1.55 a game) in winning three apiece at the Los Angeles Angels, Chicago White Sox and New York Mets. The Red Sox scored 48 runs (5.33 a game).

Back at friendly Fenway Park, the Sox swept four from the first place Tampa Bay Rays by an accumulated 28-10 score and beat Baltimore in two see-saw battles, 6-5 and 6-3.

“I think we can beat anybody,” Contreras told Ian Browne of MLB.com. “That’s lesson No. 1. We are a good team that battles. We are resilient and a team that stays together, winning or losing. That was a great ride.”

The streak tied the team record for consecutive wins set 80 years ago when Boston was in first place every day in 1946 and went 104-50. Their Opening-Day 6-3 triumph at Washington was sparked by a home run by Ted Williams.

It Was Not Easy

This streak was accomplished without five expected team leaders in 2026. That includes Alex Cora, who guided the Red Sox to a World Series win in 2018 but was fired as manager with a 10-17 record in April. Ironically, it came after a 17-1 win at Baltimore. Chad Tracy has managed them to a 42-32 record since.

Oviedo pitched only 3 2/3 innings after being acquired. He hurt his right elbow on March 30, has avoided surgery and recently resumed throwing on the sidelines.

Crochet went 3-3 before being shut down April 29 with an inflamed left shoulder and lat muscle strain. He recently said he may not pitch again this season unless Boston makes the playoffs.

Shortstop Trevor Story has been out since May 14 after hernia surgery and said today he hopes to start a minor-league rehab assignment in August.

Outfielder Roman Anthony, one of the Red Sox’ most exciting players, has yet to swing a bat after tearing a ligament in his right ring finger on May 4.

Boston Red Sox’ Future

The Red Sox have 61 games to play and can’t quit now. They are seven games behind Tampa Bay and 4 1/2 in back of the second-place Yankees in the AL East. They hold the first wild-card spot by 1 1/2 games over Texas but Seattle, Minnesota, Baltimore, Houston, Detroit and Toronto are all within 6 1/2 games.

You can’t ask for more from Gray, who has a 12-1 record. The Red Sox could use some offense and a return to health by two key starters.

Suarez, out with a groin strain, is due back in the rotation this weekend. Left-hander Connelly Early has not pitched since June 30 due to an inflamed elbow. Tracy said yesterday the rookie has been throwing on flat ground and could get some mound work this weekend and then perhaps go on a minor-league rehab.

Rookie Peyton Tolle has pitched well (3.31 ERA) in 16 starts since being called up in April to help the injury-riddled rotation. Guerrero, who pitched in Japan last season, has walked only 2 and fanned 27 in short relief outings to help.

Contreras has 22 homers and put on a show in the 2026 All-Star Home Run Derby. But Boston is 12th in the AL in scoring and last with 96 home runs. That is almost unheard of for a franchise playing in hitter-friendly Fenway Park since 1912.

Thus far, Breslow has avoided the urge to call up top prospect Franklin Arias. The 20-year-old infielder has 18 homers and .319 average at Triple-A.

Breslow may seek to add a bat or two at the trading deadline, but don’t discount adding a pitcher. That’s what clearly has gotten the Boston Red Sox this far in 2026.