Boston Red Sox: 3 things the team needs to do to break their slump
It’s official; the Boston Red Sox are currently undergoing an absolute meltdown. After finding yet another way to disappoint in the first game of today’s doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays (a walkoff home run on the first pitch thrown by Matt Barnes), this team has now lost eight of their last nine games.
Making matters even worse is the fact they have do it all over again later tonight in the second game of the doubleheader. There have been signs that the Sox were heading towards a slump, and now we are here. The lack of activity from the Sox at the trade deadline only makes things more confusing.
Either way, Boston is in danger of losing out on a playoff spot at this point. They are now three games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in first, and the New York Yankees and Blue Jays are two and three games behind the Sox in second, respectively. They need to figure things out, and fast.
Playing the red hot Blue Jays certainly isn’t helping anything, but Boston just lost two of three to the woeful Detroit Tigers, so this isn’t an isolated incident. They need to right the ship, and they need to do it soon. Here are three things the Sox need to do in order to break out of their current slump.
Boston Red Sox slump buster No. 3: Get healthy
For most of the season, Boston hasn’t really dealt with many players heading to the injured list. Their lineup has stayed in tact for the most part, and they’ve only had a couple relievers hit the shelf for a week or two.
That has changed to open the second half of the season. Players are starting to drop like flies, whether it be injury or COVID issues, and it’s starting to mount.
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Danny Santana and Christian Arroyo both hit the injured list right after the All Star break, and their versatility has been sorely missed. Arroyo in particular had been a revelation in the lineup, and his ability to consistently get on base hasn’t been replicated by his replacements.
In the bullpen, Matt Andriese has been on the injured list for some time, and he was joined by Darwinzon Hernandez a few days ago. Hernandez has been one of the better relivers for the Sox this season, and has left fellow lefties Josh Taylor and Austin Davis a lot of outs to pick up.
The lineup has only been hit harder this week. Recent call up Jarren Duran hit the COVID list yesterday, and was joined by J.D. Martinez today. This all goes without mentioning Chris Sale, who’s been on the injured list all season, or Kyle Schwarber, who was picked up at the trade deadline.
To say Boston has been hit hard with injuries lately in an understatement. The fact that it has coincided with this slump is only making things harder. Unless their healthy players start to pick it up, Boston is going to need to get healthy soon if they want to get back on the right track.