Rafael Devers Admits Sad Reality of Red Sox' Home-Field Struggles
As the Boston Red Sox prepare to face the Boston Orioles at home on Tuesday, 3B Rafael Devers has made it clear that the team must be better at Fenway Park this season.
There's excitement in the Boston air on Tuesday as the Red Sox prepare to host the rival Baltimore Orioles in their 2024 home opener. Not only will it be home fans' first opportunity to see baseball at Fenway Park this year, but it'll be a special day as the Red Sox honor members of the 2004 World Series-winning team.
While home openers are an exciting experience, you can't blame some Boston fans if they aren't as excited as others. After all, Fenway Park hasn't been kind to the Red Sox in recent years and it's at the point where one of the club's best players acknowledges that things must change going forward.
Rafael Devers highlighted a big "need" for the Red Sox this season:https://t.co/YwdbRSXyi0
— NESN (@NESN) April 9, 2024
Red Sox News: Rafael Devers Predicts Home Success
In an interview with Boston Globe's Peter Abraham, third baseman Rafael Devers spoke about the Red Sox's struggles last season, highlighting the need to be "better" at home. Even though Fenway Park should intimidate visitors, Boston only had a 48.2% winning percentage at home in 2023 — 11th-worst in the Majors.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora also spoke to Abraham, highlighting how the Red Sox must be better at home if they want to return to the playoffs. He also adds that visitors just aren't scared to play in Boston like they used to be.
"We haven’t made Fenway uncomfortable to the opposition in a long while."
- Red Sox manager Alex Cora
The situation is even worse when you consider that the Red Sox have an uninspiring 82-80 record at Fenway Park since the beginning of the 2022 campaign. It's nothing short of embarrassing given how much historical success that has occurred at the iconic ballpark.
The inability to limit opposing bats was a big reason why the Red Sox struggled at Fenway Park last year. When it comes to 2023 home pitching statistics, Boston finished the year 24th in team ERA, 21st in saves, 27th in hits allowed, 23rd in earned runs, and 27th in opposing batting average.
But even if there weren't many positives at home last year, Devers isn't going to live in the past. The two-time MLB All-Star is confident that the Red Sox can be better at home, adding that the passionate fanbase will help get them back on track.
"Last year was last year. That’s in the past. We have the best fans in baseball; we need to enjoy playing [at Fenway Park]."
- Red Sox 3B Rafael Devers
Hopefully, Devers is right and that the Red Sox have better luck in front of their fans this season.
Having said that, oddsmakers aren't exactly in agreement — at least, not yet. FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Red Sox as +110 moneyline underdogs to the Orioles (-130) ahead of Tuesday's home opener.
More Boston Red Sox news and rumors:
feed