<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-alex-cora-legal-seafood-story-proves-beloved-boston');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox manager Alex Cora’s Legal Seafood story proves he’s beloved in Boston');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Sox-manager-Alex-Cora-1.jpg"><figcaption>Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Red Sox manager Alex Cora’s Legal Seafood story proves he’s beloved in Boston</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-12T15:32:52-07:00">September 12th, 3:32pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-12T15:32:52-07:00">September 12th, 3:32pm</time><address><a>Josue Pavon</a>Josue Pavon is an Associate Editor and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer for ClutchPoints. He started his career as a credentialed media member writing about the Boston Celtics for WEEI.com in Boston, where he grew into a local on-camera NBA reporter and podcast host for CLNS Media. Alongside the Celtics radio broadcaster and two-time NBA champion Cedric Maxwell, Josue is the co-host of the Cedric Maxwell podcast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Boston sports fans have a way of telling you when you’re doing a good job, as Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora found out at a local Legal Sea Foods restaurant. As <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/1-red-sox-player-who-must-step-up-in-al-east-race-with-blue-jays-yankees">the Red Sox’s AL East race heats up</a> between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays, Cora saw firsthand how appreciative fans are of his team’s 2025 MLB regular season.</p><p>Cora <a href="https://x.com/SmittyOnMLB/status/1966603287173509572" rel="noopener">revealed a great story</a> about Red Sox fans from dining at Legal Sea Foods, per MassLive.com’s Christopher Smith.</p><p>“Two people offered to pay the check. I was like, ‘Wow. This is going well,'” Cora said.</p><p>Winners of three of their last five outings, the Red Sox are trailing the Yankees by 0.5 games in the AL Wild Card standings. They trail the AL East’s first-placed Blue Jays by 3.5 games.</p><h2><b>World Series champion says Red Sox-Yankees rivalry is back</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Sox-manager-Alex-Cora-2_0b626a.jpg"><figcaption>Eric Canha-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It’s been a while since Major League Baseball has seen its oldest rivalry in an AL East pennant race. 2004 World Series champion <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-news-red-sox-yankees-rivalry-back-kevin-millar">Kevin Millar declared the Red Sox rivalry is back</a>, and he’s here for it, as he believes MLB is in a better place when they’re fighting for playoff positioning against the Yankees.</p><p>Millar believes the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry makes the end of the regular season <a href="https://twitter.com/IntentionalTalk/status/1966565089751834827" rel="noopener">all the more exciting</a>, he said, per MLB Network’s International Talk.</p><p>“There is a buzz in September no matter what,” Millar said, via MLB Network’s Intentional Talk. “I’m only speaking with experience… This rivalry is back. I’ve told you guys this before: certain teams, certain rivalries, the sport is better. Red Sox, Yankees, as much as you’re sick of seeing it when you’re not on the Red Sox-Yankees, if you’ve been a part of it, you understand it… It’s better when they’re both good.</p><p>“It was not fun the last few years when the Red Sox were all the way at the bottom or near the bottom, and the Yankees were really good, or vice versa. It’s good like this,” Millar concluded.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">"There is a buzz… this rivalry is back."<a href="https://twitter.com/KMillar15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KMillar15</a> is excited for the Yankees and Red Sox this weekend!<a href="https://twitter.com/SieraSantos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SieraSantos</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Dempster46?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dempster46</a> <a href="https://t.co/uoBKLPGfxs">pic.twitter.com/uoBKLPGfxs</a></p><p>— Intentional Talk (@IntentionalTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/IntentionalTalk/status/1966565089751834827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Red Sox manager Alex Cora and his team will have an opportunity to take a significant lead in their Wild Card race when they host the Yankees in a three-game series at Fenway Park, starting on Friday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Red Sox manager Alex Cora’s Legal Seafood story proves he’s beloved in Boston

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-exciting-injury-update-rising-star');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox get exciting injury update on rising star');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Sox-Romy-Gonzalez-vs-Athletics.jpg"><figcaption>© Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Red Sox get exciting injury update on rising star</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-12T14:50:07-07:00">September 12th, 2:50pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-12T16:16:46-07:00">September 12th, 4:16pm</time><address><a>Kendall Capps</a>Kendall Capps is a multi-media journalist and editor who is overly passionate about all sports (to his wife's dismay). He's a Senior Editor at ClutchPoints who previously managed SB Nation's golf vertical. He has also done work for FantasyPros and co-hosted the Lay The Points podcast as part of a decade-long career in sports entertainment.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Boston Red Sox will host a crucial three-game series with the New York Yankees this weekend. Both teams are in the thick of both the American League East and Wild Card races.</p><p>The Red Sox have been hit hard by the injury bug during the second half of the season. Roman Anthony, who was becoming a star in the major leagues, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-roman-anthony-2-word-admission-dealing-oblique-strain">may miss the rest of the regular season</a> with an oblique strain. Slugger <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-wilyer-abreu-lands-on-il-ahead-of-yankees-matchup">Wilyer Abreu was recently placed on the injured list</a> with a calf strain.</p><p>Then, the other day, Romy Gonzalez left Wednesday’s game with knee soreness.</p><p>Speaking to reporters on Friday, manager Alex Cora <a href="https://x.com/SmittyOnMLB/status/1966599227389174125" rel="noopener">provided an update</a> on Gonzalez, per Red Sox reporter Christopher Smith.</p><p>“He’s doing OK. A little bit banged up. He’ll be available off the bench today. And hopefully he’ll start tomorrow,” Cora said.</p><p>The 29-year-old infielder is experiencing a breakout season. After struggling to find consistent playing time over the first four years of his career, Gonzalez is hitting .311 this season. Across just 270 at-bats, he has 48 RBIs and 41 runs scored.</p><p>Gonzalez has hit up and down Boston’s lineup this season. With Anthony out for an extended amount of time, he’s been spending more time near the top of the order, though. His ability to get on base has made him the perfect table-setter.</p><p>While he is not starting on Friday, the fact he is available off the bench is huge.</p><p>The importance of this series cannot be understated.</p><p>The Red Sox enter Friday’s game a half-game behind the Yankees for the top Wild Card spot. They are also just 3.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the division.</p><p>Thus far this season, Boston has had New York’s number. The Red Sox have won eight of 10 meetings, including being swept at Fenway in mid-June. They have out-scored the Yankees 56-37 this year, holding New York to three runs or less in six games.</p><p>Boston will roll out their three best starters for the series, with Lucas Giolito, Brayan Bello, and Garrett Crochet taking the bump, respectively.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Red Sox get exciting injury update on rising star

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-news-red-sox-yankees-rivalry-back-kevin-millar');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox-Yankees ‘rivalry is back,’ World Series champion says');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Austin-Wells-tags-out-Jarren-Duran.jpg"><figcaption>Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Red Sox-Yankees ‘rivalry is back,’ World Series champion says</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-12T11:59:34-07:00">September 12th, 11:59am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-12T11:59:34-07:00">September 12th, 11:59am</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/joey.mistretta/" rel="facebook">Joey Mistretta</a>Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. He is originally from Lake Arrowhead, California. Mistretta graduated from Biola University with a degree in broadcast journalism.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>During the offseason before the 1920 MLB campaign, the Boston Red Sox shocked the baseball world by trading a young star by the name of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-yankees/yankees-news-aaron-judge-replicates-mlb-feat-last-done-babe-ruth-104-years-ago">Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees</a>. The result? New York now leads all of MLB with 27 total World Series championships, while the Red Sox endured a championship drought following the Ruth trade and would not win another Fall Classic until 2004. In the ’04 postseason, though, New York held a 3-0 ALCS lead over Boston before the Red Sox came back and won the series. Between the history and storylines over the past century-plus, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/new-york-yankees/yankees-news-aaron-judge-brutally-honest-red-sox-rivalry">Yankees and Red Sox rivalry</a> is one of the most historic rivalries in all of sports.</p><p>However, over the past few years, the rivalry has dwindled. The Red Sox have endured ups and downs while other teams in the division have challenged the Yankees and Sox. Although the Blue Jays currently lead the AL East, New York and Boston are set to enter their upcoming weekend series separated by just a half-game in the standings. New York, at 81-65, is three games back of Toronto while the 81-66 Red Sox are 3.5 games back of first place.</p><p>According to former player Kevin Millar — who was a member of the Red Sox’s 2004 squad — the “rivalry <a href="https://x.com/IntentionalTalk/status/1966565089751834827" rel="noopener">is back</a>.”</p><p>“There is a buzz in September no matter what,” Millar said, via MLB Network’s Intentional Talk. “I’m only speaking with experience… This rivalry is back. I’ve told you guys this before, certain teams, certain rivalries, the sport is better. Red Sox, Yankees, as much as you’re sick of seeing it when you’re not on the Red Sox-Yankees, if you’ve been a part of it, you understand it… It’s better when they’re both good.</p><p>“It was not fun the last few years when the Red Sox were all the way at the bottom or near the bottom and the Yankees were really good, or vice versa. It’s good like this.”</p><p>The Yankees and Red Sox will begin their three-game series on Friday night at Fenway Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM EST.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Red Sox-Yankees ‘rivalry is back,’ World Series champion says

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/1-red-sox-player-who-must-step-up-in-al-east-race-with-blue-jays-yankees');   ga('set', 'title', '1 Red Sox player who must step up in AL East race with Blue Jays, Yankees');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Alex-Bregman-must-come-through-in-the-final-two-plus-weeks-of-the-season.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>1 Red Sox player who must step up in AL East race with Blue Jays, Yankees</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-11T15:20:54-07:00">September 11th, 3:20pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-11T15:20:54-07:00">September 11th, 3:20pm</time><address><a>Steve Silverman</a>Steve Silverman has been covering the NFL for more than 35 years, and his writing has appeared in ESPN Magazine, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Pro Football Weekly, and Forbes.com. He has written 10 books, including "Who's Better, Who's Best in the NFL." He has won multiple awards from the Pro Football Writers of America.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Boston Red Sox are on track to earn a spot in the American League playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season.</p><p>However, with slightly more than two weeks to go in the season, Alex Cora’s team cannot take it’s foot off the gas pedal and think that it will be smooth sailing ahead. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-aroldis-chapman-insane-hitless-streak-ended-athletics">Red Sox</a> and Yankees are tied for the the top Wild Card spot in the American League with the Seattle Mariners in the third spot. If the standings don’t change when the regular season concludes Sept. 28, the the Red Sox and Yankees will meet in the Wild Card round.</p><p>The team with the better record will host each game in a best-of-3 series. If the two teams are tied at the conclusion of the last game of the season, the Red Sox will have homefield advantage because they have gotten the best of the Yankees in the season series.</p><p>However, neither team wants to settle for having the best second-place record of any team in the league. Both would like to run down and catch the first place Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto leads the American League East by 3 1/2 games over both teams with an 84-62 record.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-connelly-early-franchise-record-debut">The Red Sox</a> will travel to Toronto for the penultimate regular-season series of the season Sept. 23. The two teams will meet at the Rogers Centre for three games.</p><p>The Red Sox have strong starting pitching at the head of the rotation with Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito. They have also received brilliant relief pitching from Aroldis Chapman.</p><p>However, the offensive attack must come through in the season’s most important games</p><h2><b>Alex Bregman is the key hitter for the Red Sox</b></h2><p>The Red Sox have gotten solid offensive production this season, but they are not at their peak for the final weeks of the regular season Rookie star Roman Anthony is out with an oblique injury and outfielder Wilyer Abreu has missed multiple weeks with a knee issue. If the Red Sox are going to secure their spot in the postseason, third baseman Alex Bregman must come through with a solid performance.</p><p>After Anthony was promoted from Triple-A Worcester to the parent club, he found his stride after a brief slump at the start. Anthony became the best offensive threat on the team as he slashed. 292/.396/.463 with 8 home runs and 32 runs batted in. Most of his home runs came shortly before he suffered his oblique injury.</p><p>Trevor Story has become an offensive star for the team with 24 homers, 91 RBI and 28 stolen bases without getting caught. Story has also played stellar defensive shortstop as he has finally stayed healthy for the Sox. Jarren Duran has not been as explosive as he was a year ago, but the speedy outfielder has 14 home runs, 79 RBI and 23 stolen bases.</p><p>However, no Red Sox player has a better offensive track record than Bregman, who gained a reputation as a clutch player while he was with the Houston Astros from 2016 through 2024. He played a key role in helping that team win two World Series titles and going to the postseason eight times.</p><h2><b>Bregman has been up and down since returning from injury</b></h2><p>Bregman has been solid for the Red Sox, although he did have to endure a midseason right quad strain that caused him to miss more than 40 games.</p><p>The solid fielding third baseman is slashing .279/.362/.474 with<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bregmal01.shtml"> 16 home runs</a> and 57 RBI in 101 games. While he was productive after returning from his injury, he has slumped during the last two weeks.</p><p>The Red Sox need him to get hot again and start driving the ball over the fence. His swing is built for Fenway Park and he needs to show off his clutch power hitting throughout the rest of the season.</p><p>If he can do that, the Red Sox have an excellent chance of earning the top Wild Card spot and possibly catching the Blue Jays for first place.</p><h2><b>Rafaela needs to go on a hot streak</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ceddanne-Rafaela-is-a-huge-factor-for-the-Red-Sox-when-he-is-getting-key-hits.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>While Bregman must come through for the Red Sox, notoriously streaky Ceddanne Rafaela also needs to start driving the ball consistently as the postseason approaches.</p><p>Rafaela is a major plus in the field as he is one of the best defensive centerfielders in the sport. He can also play infield when Cora asks him to play 2nd base.</p><p>He can also get the job done at the plate when he is not aggressively swinging at pitches outside the strike zone. Rafaela is tied for third on the team with 16 home runs and he has also driven in 60 runs.</p><p>However, his slash line of .241/.285/.410 tells the rest of the story. He rarely gets on base via the walk route and he goes through long stretches where he strikes out far too often.</p><p>Rafaela has demonstrated that he can come through in clutch situations, and the Red Sox need him to do just that as the regular season comes to its conclusion.</p><p> </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

1 Red Sox player who must step up in AL East race with Blue Jays, Yankees

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-aroldis-chapman-insane-hitless-streak-ended-athletics');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox RP Aroldis Chapman’s insane hitless streak ended by Athletics');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Sox-pitcher-Aroldis-Chapman-in-the-ninth-inning.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Red Sox RP Aroldis Chapman’s insane hitless streak ended by Athletics</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-10T16:41:38-07:00">September 10th, 4:41pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-10T16:41:38-07:00">September 10th, 4:41pm</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Even at 37 years old, Boston Red Sox closer <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-aroldis-chapman-extends-3rd-longest-hitless-streak-since-1901">Aroldis Chapman remains one of the best in the business</a>, especially in the ninth inning. He even carried a hitless streak that covered 50 consecutive batters into Wednesday night’s game <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-romy-gonzalez-final-diagnosis-abrupt-exit-athletics-clash">against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento</a>.</p><p>Unfortunately for the eight-time All-Star, that incredible stretch came to an end in the ninth frame of that contest, as he <a href="https://x.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1965903220368368003/history" rel="noopener">gave up a leadoff double</a> to A’s designated hitter Shea Langeliers.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Shea Langeliers ends Aroldis Chapman's hitless streak at 50 batters with a leadoff double</p><p>Chapman had not allowed a hit since July 23rd <a href="https://t.co/BePOCpxJ39">pic.twitter.com/BePOCpxJ39</a></p><p>— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) <a href="https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1965903220368368003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>With the game tied at 4-4, Chapman trailed Langeliers early with a ball on his first pitch. After back-to-back foul balls by Langeliers, Chapman threw an 88 mph splitter that the former sent to the center of the field. Chapman then recovered by retiring Brent Rooker on a lineout after five pitches, but he gave up a game-winning single RBI to Lawrence Butler, as the Athletics came away with a walk-off 5-4 victory.</p><p>Before facing Langeliers, the last time Chapman gave up a hit was during a game on July 23 against the Philadelphia Phillies on the road. Between that and Wednesday’s meeting with the Athletics, Chapman allowed zero hits and issued only four free passes while racking up 21 strikeouts <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=chapmar01&amp;t=p&amp;year=2025#840-856-sum:players_standard_pitching" rel="noopener">through 14.2 innings</a>.</p><p>Despite his rare letdown outing, Chapman still brandishes an elite 1.14 ERA to go along with a 0.67 WHIP and 29 saves on 31 save opportunities, thus far in the 2025 MLB regular season.</p><p>It was quite a rollercoaster of a ride for the Red Sox and the Athletics in that game, with both teams trading leads throughout. The Athletics got on the board first with a home run from Langeliers in the first inning, while Boston got the lead in the third inning. The A’s got the lead back in the fifth before Rob Refsnyder tied the score at 4-4 with an RBI double in the top of the ninth frame.</p><p>Chapman and the Red Sox drop to 81-66 and remain stuck in the third spot in the American League East standings, behind the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees. They will look to get back to their winning ways this coming Friday, when Boston hosts the Yankees for the start of a three-game series at Fenway Park.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Red Sox RP Aroldis Chapman’s insane hitless streak ended by Athletics

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-connelly-early-franchise-record-debut');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox pitcher Connelly Early ties franchise record with stellar MLB debut');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Connelly-Early.jpg"><figcaption>Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><h1>Red Sox pitcher Connelly Early ties franchise record with stellar MLB debut</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-09T22:38:29-07:00">September 9th, 10:38pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-09T22:38:29-07:00">September 9th, 10:38pm</time><address><a>Josh Davis</a>Josh Davis is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints with a focus on MLB. As the founder and creator of OutOfSightSports, Josh spearheads the development and expansion of an engaging social media platform, with a core focus on Twitter/X. A passionate sports writer, Josh is dedicated to delivering compelling content that connects fans and fuels vibrant sports conversations. His vision is to craft stories so vivid that fans feel like they’re standing at the plate or on the field.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Boston Red Sox may have just discovered their postseason X-factor. On Tuesday night at Fenway Park, 23-year-old <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-calling-up-star-prospect-dustin-may-il">Connelly Early delivered a historic MLB debut</a>, dominating the Athletics and tying the Red Sox franchise record with 11 strikeouts across five scoreless innings in a 6-0 shutout win in West Sacramento.</p><p>Making his debut under the lights, Early carved through the Athletics lineup with a lethal three-pitch mix. His fastball sat in the mid-90s, and his changeup became the primary put away pitch, accounting for seven of his strikeouts. According to The Boston Globe’s Tim Healy, <a href="https://x.com/timbhealey/status/1965619140040986965" rel="noopener">the outing officially stamped</a> the southpaw’s name into the team’s record books.</p><p>“Connelly Early has tied Don Aase for the Red Sox record for strikeouts in his major league debut: 11.”</p><p>The Red Sox last saw a 10-strikeout debut in 2007 with Daisuke Matsuzaka, but Early’s performance surpassed that mark and set a new MLB strikeout record — becoming the first pitcher in league history to record 11 strikeouts in five innings or fewer during a debut.</p><p>The victory was Boston’s 81st win of the season and moved the team into a tie for the top wild card slot. More importantly, it gave the rotation a major boost following recent struggles and injuries, particularly with Dustin May on the injured list and younger arms like Hunter Dobbins and Richard Fitts still adjusting to big-league roles. With just 16 games remaining, the Red Sox pitching staff will be tested, especially in upcoming series against playoff-caliber opponents, but Early’s dominance in his debut provides much-needed optimism for the stretch run.</p><p>In 2025, Early had posted a 2.75 ERA and 145 strikeouts in the minors, ranking as the team’s No. 6 prospect. Now, the narrative around the left-handed pitcher may extend into October if the club continues its playoff push. Whether as a starter or long relief arm, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/what-red-sox-must-do-surpass-blue-jays-al-east">Early may be the piece Boston didn’t know it needed</a>—until now.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Red Sox pitcher Connelly Early ties franchise record with stellar MLB debut

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-romy-gonzalez-final-diagnosis-abrupt-exit-athletics-clash');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox 1B Romy Gonzalez gets final diagnosis after abrupt exit from Athletics clash');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Romy-Gonzalez-cover.jpg"></figure><h1>Red Sox 1B Romy Gonzalez gets final diagnosis after abrupt exit from Athletics clash</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-09T22:35:23-07:00">September 9th, 10:35pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-09T22:35:23-07:00">September 9th, 10:35pm</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He's a die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic. In addition to sports writing, he works for Arizona Football in the Player Personnel and Recruiting department and formerly served as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Athletics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>For <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-aroldis-chapman-extends-3rd-longest-hitless-streak-since-1901">Romy Gonzalez, Tuesday night in Sacramento was shaping up</a> to be another showcase of his breakout season. Batting leadoff for just the seventh time all year, the 29-year-old first baseman homered in his first at-bat and doubled in his second, extending his MLB-best hitting streak to 12 games. Then, just as quickly, <a href="https://x.com/timbhealey/status/1965620806584861035" rel="noopener">his night came to a halt.</a></p><p>The Red Sox later announced Gonzalez exited due to soreness in his left knee. He was replaced at first base by Nathaniel Lowe when Boston took the field for the bottom of the second inning.</p><p>Gonzalez wasted no time making his presence felt against Athletics starter Jeffrey Springs, blasting a 426-foot leadoff home run to right-center to open the scoring. In the second, he laced an RBI double into the corner, but appeared to tweak something on his way into second base. Though he remained on the field to finish the inning, his night was over soon after.</p><p>The timing of the injury stings for Boston. Gonzalez has been one of the most consistent bats in the lineup, slashing .311 with nine home runs, 48 RBIs and an .852 OPS across 84 games. He’s been especially lethal against left-handed pitching, owning a .347/.396/.636 line and ranking fifth in MLB in OPS against southpaws this season.</p><h2><b>Red Sox blowout the A’s on Tuesday night</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Romy-Gonzalez.jpg"><figcaption>Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The injury news overshadowed <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-calling-up-star-prospect-dustin-may-il">a remarkable big-league debut from left-hander Connelly Early.</a> Called up from Triple-A Worcester earlier in the day, the 23-year-old struck out 11 over five shutout innings, tying a franchise record for most strikeouts in a debut.</p><p>“It was amazing,” Early said on NESN’s postgame broadcast. “Just to go out there and have that first opportunity… just a bunch of joy.”</p><p>Early became just the fifth pitcher since 2000 to record double-digit strikeouts and allow no runs in his first MLB start. His poise impressed manager Alex Cora, who praised the rookie’s preparation and execution.</p><p>The Red Sox offense backed their debuting starter with plenty of early run support. After Gonzalez’s leadoff homer, Rob Refsnyder launched a 463-foot, three-run blast later in the first inning to make it 4-0. Boston went on to cruise to a 6-0 win, their second straight over Oakland.</p><p>Still, the loss of Gonzalez looms large. The Red Sox already placed outfield prospect Roman Anthony on the injured list with an oblique strain, and Dustin May joined him with right elbow neuritis. Gonzalez’s absence would thin the lineup further as Boston continues to chase a postseason spot.</p><p>There was no immediate word on the severity of Gonzalez’s knee soreness or whether an MRI would be scheduled. For now, his availability remains day-to-day, though his hot bat and defensive versatility make him one of Boston’s most valuable pieces. The Red Sox (and their fans) will hope this proves to be a minor setback in what has been a stellar season for Gonzalez, who has quickly gone from depth piece to everyday contributor.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Red Sox 1B Romy Gonzalez gets final diagnosis after abrupt exit from Athletics clash

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-boston-makes-vaughn-grissom-move-after-placing-dustin-may-on-il');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox make Vaughn Grissom move after placing Dustin May on IL');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Sox-IF-Vaughn-Grissom.jpg?w=1024"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Red Sox make Vaughn Grissom move after placing Dustin May on IL</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-09T16:49:37-07:00">September 9th, 4:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-09T16:49:37-07:00">September 9th, 4:49pm</time><address><a href="https://linktr.ee/jordan.llanes">Jordan Llanes</a>Jordan Llanes is a sports writer and reporter based in Florida. In addition to ClutchPoints, he writes for a few other publications covering the NFL, college sports and Tottenham Hotspur. When he's not writing, Jordan enjoys spending time with his fiancée, cats, family and friends, as well as catching the latest TV shows and movies, and traveling.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Fresh off a 7-0 win over the Athletics in their series opener Monday night, the Boston <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-trevor-story-garrett-crochet-flowers-defeating-athletics">Red Sox are looking to</a> lock in their spot in the AL playoff field. Three games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East, Boston’s third-place status might relegate them to a Wild Card spot. While the Red Sox would be fine with any method of getting into the playoffs, the team still has a couple of question marks. To promote starting pitcher Connelly Early, Boston promoted infielder Vaughn Grissom and then placed him <a href="https://x.com/timbhealey/status/1965547509297885475" rel="noopener">on the 60-Day IL,</a> according to Red Sox beat writer Tim Healey on X (formerly Twitter).</p><p>“The Red Sox called up Vaughn Grissom … to put him on the 60-day IL (thus opening a spot on the 40-man roster for Connelly Early),” reported Healey. “Grissom has plantar fasciitis.”</p><p>While the move to promote Grissom and then place him on the 60-Day IL is useful now, it could hurt the Red Sox when it comes to October. After all, the Los Angeles Dodgers showed during their march towards a World Series title that depth is key to postseason success. Will Early be a part of a potential Boston pitching staff in October? If not, will the team regret not being able to use <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-vaughn-grissom-returns-il">Grissom in the annual gauntlet?</a></p><h2><b>Red Sox look to lock in postseason spot over the next few weeks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Sox-SP-Dustin-May.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Early is coming up to the majors to replace <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-calling-up-star-prospect-dustin-may-il">May in the starting rotation.</a> Another one of the Red Sox top prospects, Early will hope to make an impact similar to Payton Tolle’s, who was also recently promoted. It’s clear that Boston is looking to fill out its playoff pitching staff. The starting rotation will certainly contain ace Garrett Crochet plus right handers Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello as long as they stay healthy.</p><p>The hope was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-dustin-may-opens-up-post-trade-on-field-struggles">that May would join them.</a> After coming over in a trade deadline deal with the Dodgers, the right-hander has locked in a rotation spot. Now, his elbow neuritis diagnosis gives him a murky future. Can Early size May’s rotation spot and clinch a spot on the postseason roster? It won’t be the first time a rookie has made an impact on Boston’s postseason hopes. If Early has his say, then it certainly won’t be the last, either.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Red Sox make Vaughn Grissom move after placing Dustin May on IL

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-calling-up-star-prospect-dustin-may-il');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox calling up star prospect with Dustin May heading to IL');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Sox-players-celebrate.jpg"><figcaption>© Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Red Sox calling up star prospect with Dustin May heading to IL</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-09T09:12:41-07:00">September 9th, 9:12am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-09T09:56:15-07:00">September 9th, 9:56am</time><address><a>Benjamin Adducchio</a>Benjamin Adducchio is a journalist and writer with more than a decade of experience in covering sports news. Ben is a passionate sports fan who loves college football, basketball, and the New York Yankees.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-dustin-may-opens-up-post-trade-on-field-struggles">Boston Red Sox are working their way through an injury</a> to Dustin May. Boston is calling up Connelly Early to replace May <a href="https://x.com/FoulTerritoryTV/status/1965434074597916906" rel="noopener">in the rotation</a>, per Foul Territory. Early is expected to start Tuesday night against the Athletics.</p><p>May is expected to head to the injured list. He is struggling this year, spending time in the starting rotation as well as the bullpen. This year, May has posted a 4.96 ERA while pitching for Boston and the Los Angeles Dodgers.</p><p>May was acquired by the Red Sox at the July trade deadline. He has appeared in 25 games this year, with 23 overall starts. He is dealing with <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/red-soxs-dustin-may-heading-to-15-day-injured-list/" rel="noopener">an undisclosed injury</a>, per CBS Sports.</p><p>Early is considered one of Boston’s top pitching prospects in the farm system. He has posted 10 victories this season in the minor leagues. Early has yet to appear in a Major League Baseball game.</p><h2><b>Red Sox hope to win the AL East</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Sox-3B-Alex-Bregman.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Boston is currently third in the American League East, but they are only three games out of first. Boston is chasing the division crown along with the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees.</p><p>The Red Sox struggled out of the gate this season. Boston was under .500 for a considerable period of time in the season’s first months. Strong pitching from the bullpen has lifted the team. Boston has also found some strength in the batting lineup, following the Rafael Devers trade.</p><p>The club would love to have Early find the strike zone early on Tuesday. Boston is hoping to hop past New York again in the division standings. The teams have traded places for weeks.</p><p>A quality start for Early on Tuesday would continue some strong momentum. Garrett Crochet put together a gem of a game for Boston on Monday. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/garrett-crochet-hurls-10-strikeout-gem" rel="noopener">He struck out 10 batters</a> as Boston won, 7-0.</p><p>“Every win counts here down the stretch, so for me it’s just trying to help the team put our best foot forward every game,” Crochet said, per MLB.com. “I think I’ve got three or four left. I’m losing track at this point. Every start ‘til the finish line and the ones that are following that, just really doing the best thing I can to help the team.”</p><p>The Red Sox play the Athletics Tuesday at 10:05 PM ET. Boston has five wins in their last 10 games.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Red Sox calling up star prospect with Dustin May heading to IL

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-trevor-story-garrett-crochet-flowers-defeating-athletics');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox’s Trevor Story gives Garrett Crochet his flowers after defeating Athletics');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Sox-pitcher-Garrett-Crochet-35-throws-a-pitch.jpg"><figcaption>Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Red Sox’s Trevor Story gives Garrett Crochet his flowers after defeating Athletics</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-09T08:55:05-07:00">September 9th, 8:55am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-09T08:55:05-07:00">September 9th, 8:55am</time><address><a>Rexwell Villas</a>Rexwell Villas is an experienced sports writer covering a variety of sports, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college football. He's a Communications Arts graduate from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines, and he claims to have JR Smith's conscience with his shot selection. He has won a basketball, a baseball, and a football championship in fantasy all within a year.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After three straight losses, the Boston Red Sox are back on track. They scored their second consecutive victory on Monday night, kicking off their series in Sacramento against the Athletics with a 7-0 win. Boston ace Garrett Crochet was simply <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-ex-player-garrett-crochet-tarik-skubal-cy-young-claim">sensational on the mound</a> in this dismantling of the A’s at Sutter Health Park, with the American League Cy Young Award contender pitching brilliantly.</p><p>The 26-year-old Crochet twirled seven scoreless innings, while allowing zero walks and striking out a total of 10 Athletics hitters through 101 pitches. Such a performance also highlighted Crochet’s ability to steady his boat right away following a rough outing.</p><p>Before his start versus the Athletics, Crochet was shelled by the Cleveland Guardians at Fenway Park on Sept. 2, as he surrendered seven earned runs on nine hits, including four home runs, in six innings of work. He was lucky to escape with a no-decision in that contest, thanks to the Red Sox’s offense that keyed the 11-7 victory, but Crochet showed there that he’s human after all.</p><p>Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story, who hit a home run against the A’s and finished 2-for-4 with a couple of runs scored, had <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/garrett-crochet-hurls-10-strikeout-gem" rel="noopener">nothing but praise</a> for Crochet following the game.</p><p>Crochet’s 10-strikeout start also put him in front of Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers and every other pitcher in the big leagues in the 2025 MLB season in terms of total strikeouts. Through Monday, Crochet has 228 punchouts, six more than Skubal.</p><p>“He bounced back after a tough start last time,” Story said of Crochet, per Theo DeRosa of MLB.com. “Like I’ve said all year, that’s what the big boys do. That’s what the aces do. He’s certainly been that for us ever since he got here. He was in form tonight.”</p><p>“He went out there against a tough lineup and pounded the strike zone, had good stuff and gave us more than enough,” added Boston manager Alex Cora.</p><p>On the year, Crochet has a 15-5 record and a 2.57 ERA to go along wtih a 1.05 WHIP through 29 starts.</p><p>The Red Sox are 80-65, still trailing the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees in the American League East standings, but are <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/why-red-sox-will-clinch-al-wild-card-spot">3.5 games inside the AL Wild Card picture</a>.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Red Sox’s Trevor Story gives Garrett Crochet his flowers after defeating Athletics

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-alex-cora-has-what-the-hell-realization-with-jarren-duran-position-switch');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox’s Alex Cora has ‘what the hell’ realization with Jarren Duran position switch');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Alex-Cora.jpg"><figcaption>Eakin Howard-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Red Sox’s Alex Cora has ‘what the hell’ realization with Jarren Duran position switch</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-09T00:56:48-07:00">September 9th, 12:56am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-09T00:56:48-07:00">September 9th, 12:56am</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-aroldis-chapman-extends-3rd-longest-hitless-streak-since-1901">Boston Red Sox are right in the middle of a division race</a>, and on Monday, they faced the last-placed team in the AL West, the Oakland Athletics. While they did take a drama-free 7-0 win at home in the end, the Red Sox <a href="https://x.com/RedSox/status/1965185425716510919" rel="noopener">did raise</a> a ton of eyebrows before the game when they listed Jarren Duran as the starting right fielder — taking him away from his more natural position of left field just so they could fit in Nick Sogard into the lineup.</p><p>Nonetheless, all is well that ends well; Red Sox manager Alex Cora did come to his senses and put Duran back in left field, with Sogard being the one to adjust instead at right field. It <a href="https://x.com/ChrisCotillo/status/1965299447803650277" rel="noopener">even surprised</a> Cora himself that he would think to move Duran, who’s better in left field and has shown above-average to excellent defense at the position before, out of his comfort zone.</p><p>“I made up my mind, like ‘What the hell are you doing?’ Why have two guys out of position? Jarren is one of the best defensive left fielders in the big leagues and Ceddanne is the best one in center field. I was looking in BP and said, ‘Nah, man. This doesn’t make sense,'” Cora said after the game, per Chris Cotillo of Mass Live.</p><p>It wasn’t quite clear why the Red Sox would accommodate for Sogard being in the lineup in this manner; Sogard is a right-handed hitter anyway, and the Athletics were starting a right-handed pitcher on the mound.</p><p>But what’s important is that Cora realized the error of his ways. Cora may simply have been overthinking a lot of things, but the Red Sox manager clearly realized that keeping it simple is the best course of action most of the time.</p><h2>Red Sox keep up the pressure in the AL East chase</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/USATSI_26927154_168404029_lowres.jpg"><figcaption>Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>At present, it looks like the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-alex-cora-emotional-message-fans-amid-playoff-race">Red Sox are safely within the playoff picture</a>, barring an unlikely unforeseen late-season collapse. But they just keep on hanging around in the race for the division title; their 7-0 win over the Athletics has them just three games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the AL East lead, which, with 17 games left, is a deficit that they can make up quite reasonably.</p><p>The Red Sox have two more games in this current series against the Athletics before they head back home to host the New York Yankees in a three-game set that will be crucial in deciding the playoff picture.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Red Sox’s Alex Cora has ‘what the hell’ realization with Jarren Duran position switch

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-aroldis-chapman-extends-3rd-longest-hitless-streak-since-1901');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox’ Aroldis Chapman on 3rd-longest streak of hitless domination since 1901');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Sox-closer-Aroldis-Chapman-vs-Diamondbacks.jpg"><figcaption>© Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Red Sox’ Aroldis Chapman on 3rd-longest streak of hitless domination since 1901</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-08T07:44:22-07:00">September 8th, 7:44am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-08T07:44:22-07:00">September 8th, 7:44am</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-aroldis-chapman-contract-extension-2027-option">has been unstoppable on the mound</a> against the Diamondbacks. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-aroldis-chapman-mlb-best-closer-label">His dominance is giving the Red Sox a crucial edge</a> as the postseason race heats up. Aroldis Chapman’s hitless streak has now reached 17 straight appearances without allowing a hit. This marks one of the most remarkable pitching runs in recent MLB history.</p><p>Chapman’s hitless streak has also stretched to 14⅔ innings, dating back to July 26, and it now ranks as the <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46192642/red-sox-aroldis-chapman-adds-nasty-run-4-strikeouts" rel="noopener">third-longest since 1901</a>. Only Randy Choate’s 20 straight appearances in 2011 and Tim Byrdak’s 18 consecutive outings in 2012 stand ahead of him.</p><p>As a result, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-aroldis-chapman-stares-down-yankees-1-0-shutout-win">Aroldis Chapman’s resurgence has been vital for the Red Sox bullpen</a>. His command and velocity have returned to elite form, and his presence has transformed the dynamic of late-inning situations. Because of this, Boston can now rely on him to shut down opposing lineups when it matters most. Against teams like the Diamondbacks and other playoff contenders, his consistency has given the Red Sox the upper hand in tight games.</p><p>Furthermore, this run highlights Chapman’s ability to adapt. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/pirates-news-aroldis-chapman-sets-new-all-time-mlb-record-loss-to-braves">Known throughout his career for overpowering hitters</a>, he has now added sharper pitch sequencing and better movement to his arsenal. Consequently, hitters are struggling to pick up his slider after seeing a triple-digit fastball, creating a nearly unhittable combination. With each outing, his confidence grows, and so does the team’s trust in him to deliver in critical spots.</p><p>Ultimately, the Red Sox remain locked in a fierce battle for postseason positioning, and Chapman’s dominance has provided a much-needed boost. If he maintains this pace, his historic run could play a pivotal role in Boston’s playoff push. For now, every appearance by Chapman feels like must-watch baseball. The only question left: how long can Aroldis Chapman keep this hitless streak alive and cement his place in MLB history?</p><p>And more importantly, can the Red Sox ride his dominance all the way into the postseason?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Red Sox’ Aroldis Chapman on 3rd-longest streak of hitless domination since 1901

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-ceddanne-rafaela-catch-of-year-candidate-diamondbacks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Ceddanne Rafaela makes Catch of the Year candidate to rob Diamondbacks HR');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ceddanne-Rafaela-2.jpg"><figcaption>Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Ceddanne Rafaela makes Catch of the Year candidate to rob Diamondbacks HR</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-06T19:22:52-07:00">September 6th, 7:22pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-06T19:33:18-07:00">September 6th, 7:33pm</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is the former editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, where he also spearheaded the video department and event production. He is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Arizona Diamondbacks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Boston Red Sox are looking to rebound from their series opening loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-payton-tolle-reflects-on-career-worst-start-cant-feel-sorry-for-myself">Payton Tolle got tagged</a> for five runs in three innings during his second career start. On Saturday, Boston handed the ball to Lucas Giolito. And while Arizona jumped out to an early 4-1 lead, it could have been worse.</p><p>Ceddanne Rafaela made an <a href="https://x.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1964503037885784076" rel="noopener">outrageous catch</a>, robbing Corbin Carroll of a home run in the bottom of the fifth inning.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">CEDDANNE RAFAELA HOW DID YOU CATCH THIS?! <a href="https://t.co/Kd8ILrByjL">pic.twitter.com/Kd8ILrByjL</a></p><p>— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) <a href="https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1964503037885784076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Carroll crushed an 81-mph changeup to deep center. But Rafaela chased the ball down. He timed his leap, planted a foot in the wall and extended his glove over the fence to bring back a sure homer.</p><h2><b>Ceddanne Rafaela continues clutch season for Red Sox</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ceddanne-Rafaela.jpg"><figcaption>Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>After making the catch, Rafaela remained on his knees for several seconds, leading the broadcast team to believe he hurt himself. But it just added to the drama as he eventually popped up and tossed the ball back to the infield, revealing he made the catch.</p><p>Rafaela has made his share of incredible defensive plays in a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-manager-alex-cora-gives-ceddanne-rafaela-gold-glove-endorsement">Gold Glove-caliber campaign</a>. However, Saturday’s remarkable snare is a clear Catch of the Year candidate.</p><p>The wild grab prevented Carroll from going deep in back-to-back games against the Red Sox. He had a big night in the Diamondbacks’ 10-5 victory Friday, belting his 30th homer of the season and driving in three runs.</p><p>In addition to his dominant defense in center field, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-ceddanne-rafaelas-9th-inning-hr-dooms-orioles">Rafaela has been clutch at the plate</a> this season. The third-year pro has a career-high 16 home runs and 75 runs scored in 136 games. He’s also added 19 stolen bases.</p><p>The Red Sox are trying to avoid a three-game skid after winning seven of nine contests. Boston entered 4.5 games back in the AL East with a 4.5-game lead in the Wild Card standings.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Ceddanne Rafaela makes Catch of the Year candidate to rob Diamondbacks HR

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/3-players-red-sox-can-let-walk-in-free-agency');   ga('set', 'title', '3 players Red Sox can let walk in free agency');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/USATSI_26927154_168404029_lowres.jpg"><figcaption>Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>3 players Red Sox can let walk in free agency</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-06T18:48:36-07:00">September 6th, 6:48pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-06T18:48:36-07:00">September 6th, 6:48pm</time><address><a>Zachary Howell</a>Zachary Howell is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints focusing on creating premier MLB content. He is a big fan of the Yankees, Oklahoma City Thunder and the Syracuse Orange. In his free time, he likes to be outside or read.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Boston Red Sox are one of many teams under pressure as the Major League Baseball season winds down. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-alex-cora-emotional-message-fans-amid-playoff-race">Alex Cora got real with Red Sox fans about their team</a> as it fights to get into the playoffs. Players like Dustin May, Rob Refsnyder, and Jarren Duran have a chance to play spoilers if they make it into the American League postseason. However, they may not stick around.</p><p>Looking back on the season, Boston’s year can be defined by its young talent. Players like Alex Bregman and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-garrett-crochet-joins-pedro-martinez-roger-clemens-history">Garrett Crochet have played well for Cora throughout the season</a>, but the prospects stole the show. Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Kristian Campbell got their chance to play at the major league level and for the most part, they delivered on the hype surrounding them.</p><p>Having so much young talent on a team that could make it into the postseason is a great sign. All five teams in the AL East have the pieces to be dominant squads for years to come. The only question is how each contender molds its roster to accommodate the youth while still having enough veterans to consistently win games. Boston is the most volatile of any of those teams.</p><p>On one hand, Cora could lean heavily into the youth on his team. If he does, there is a chance that the Red Sox struggle as the young players gain experience. On the other, dedicating at-bats and pitching starts to older players gives Boston a better chance to win now. However, the team’s long-term future takes a tough blow when it comes to prospects getting big league experience.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-alex-cora-gives-boston-major-endorsement-amid-8-game-winning-streak">Cora has spoken highly of Anthony</a> and other ascending stars on his team. Here are three players the Red Sox could choose to part ways with in the offseason.</p><h2>Outfielder Rob Refsnyder</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Rob-Refsnyder-joined-Devers-in-the-home-run-derby-against-the-Orioles.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-boston-free-agent-decision-veteran-outfielder">Refsnyder was able to survive the 2024 offseason with the Red Sox</a>. The outfielder is a versatile piece that Cora has put all over the field this season. However, most of his value was tied to the fact that Boston did not have another player to fill the holes in its roster. With the emergence of Cedanne Rafaela this season, Refsnyder has become an expendable part of the roster.</p><p>Refsnyder has <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/33411/rob-refsnyder" rel="noopener">played in 59 games</a> this season. He is on pace to play the second-fewest games in a single season of his time with the Red Sox. With how Boston’s roster has evolved, that number could easily go down again next year if he remains on the team.</p><p>Because of that, he could choose to try his luck on the free agency market when his contract expires at the end of the season. It may not be the end of the world for Cora.</p><p>The outfield went from a weakness to a strength for Boston in a year. Anthony, Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu have what it takes to be the trio that brings the Red Sox into a new era. Based on their production at the plate and the field, the group is reminiscent of past teams. If they can match Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Andrew Benintendi, Boston doesn’t need Refsnyder.</p><h2>Starting pitcher Dustin May</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Dustin-May-will-try-to-fill-the-No.-5-starter-role-in-the-Red-Sox-rotation.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-dustin-may-trade-dodgers">The Red Sox traded for May at the July 31 deadline</a>. However, it became evident that the former Los Angeles Dodgers starter was not comfortable in his new home. The product has been far less than Cora would have expected from a pitcher meant to fill the gaping hole in his rotation. Based on what he has done in Boston, he is not worth negotiating a new deal with this winter.</p><p>While the young bats stole the show for the Red Sox this season, young pitchers made their statements as well. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-fans-rave-yankee-hater-hunter-dobbins-taming-ny">Hunter Dobbins quickly won the hearts of Boston fans</a> right after his MLB debut. He and Payton Tolle are the pitchers who could anchor the back of Cora’s rotation next year. That gives the front office the opportunity to get picky when it comes to the rest of the pitching staff.</p><p>The Red Sox’s pitching has become a bigger strength than the offense. Crochet might be one of Boston’s best additions in recent memory. If Cora can find enough players to support him in the rotation, the Red Sox have the balance necessary to compete among the best teams in the entire league. As it stands now, May has not place in the team’s long-term development plans.</p><h2>Outfielder Jarren Duran</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Jarren-Duran.jpg"><figcaption>Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-rumors-jarren-duran-trade-2025-deadline-reality-check">Duran was the subject of many rumors at the trade deadline</a>. The Kansas City Royals were one of many teams interested in adding him to their roster. However, the outfielder survived the deadline and has held on to his spot in Cora’s outfield for now. However, there is no telling when the team will pull the plug and fully cede his spot to a young player like Abreu or Rafaela.</p><p>Looking back, the Red Sox might regret not trading Duran when they could have. Now, the team could lose a former All-Star this winter and get nothing in return. It is a risk worth taking for a dark horse championship contender. However, it could easily backfire if Boston fails to make a deep run or make the playoffs at all. Regardless, seeing Duran walk away would be tough.</p><p>Duran and Rafael Devers were meant to be key pieces of the Red Sox’s long term plans. After <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-rafael-devers-blockbuster-red-sox-trade">sending Devers to the San Francisco Giants, the Red Sox</a> could lose both in the span of a season. However, the team’s future is just as bright without him as it is with him. Boston has some tough decisions to make with its roster, starting with who to keep and who to let walk away.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 players Red Sox can let walk in free agency

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-rumors-insider-says-boston-alex-bregman-remain-perfect-fit');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox rumors: Insider says Boston, Alex Bregman remain perfect fit');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Sox-3B-Alex-Bregman.jpg?w=1024"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Red Sox rumors: Insider says Boston, Alex Bregman remain perfect fit</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-06T12:00:04-07:00">September 6th, 12:00pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-06T12:00:04-07:00">September 6th, 12:00pm</time><address><a href="https://linktr.ee/jordan.llanes">Jordan Llanes</a>Jordan Llanes is a sports writer and reporter based in Florida. In addition to ClutchPoints, he writes for a few other publications covering the NFL, college sports and Tottenham Hotspur. When he's not writing, Jordan enjoys spending time with his fiancée, cats, family and friends, as well as catching the latest TV shows and movies, and traveling.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After years of underachievement, the Boston <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-fatal-flaw-doom-2025-world-series-hopes">Red Sox are finally back</a> in the playoff hunt. Currently possessing the second AL Wild Card spot, if the season ended today, the Red Sox would play their hated rivals from the Bronx, the New York Yankees. Although Boston has lost their last two games, a three-game winning streak preceded it. Third baseman Alex Bregman’s first season with the Sox has been a strong one thus far. The former Houston Astro could opt out of his current contract this winter. MLB Network spoke with insider Jon Heyman on Bregman’s best <a href="https://x.com/MLBNetwork/status/1964382841128571227" rel="noopener">potential fit in free agency,</a> and shared Heyman’s take on X, formerly Twitter.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">What could Alex Bregman's potential free agency look like?</p><p>“I think he fits Boston perfectly… it does feel like Boston is the best fit.” – <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeyman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JonHeyman</a> <a href="https://t.co/CsEEYOBaBD">https://t.co/CsEEYOBaBD</a> <a href="https://t.co/w2PYZWSdI9">pic.twitter.com/w2PYZWSdI9</a></p><p>— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1964382841128571227?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“What could Alex Bregman’s potential free agency look like?” posted the league network on Saturday. “‘I think he fits Boston perfectly… it does feel like Boston is the best fit.’- @JonHeyman.”</p><p>It’s easy to see why Heyman said the Red Sox would be Bregman’s best fit. The 31-year-old is nearing the tail end of his physical prime. However, his skillset is one that should age well, particularly at Fenway Park. After the trade of former franchise star Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants in June, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-roman-anthony-earns-spotless-review-alex-bregman-homer-yankees">Bregman has once again become</a> a clubhouse leader, like he was in Houston. Can Scott Boras, the third baseman’s agent, work out a deal with the Boston front office to avoid an opt out this winter? Or will Bregman once again explore free agency?</p><h2><b>Can Red Sox hammer out new deal with Alex Bregman, Scott Boras?</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Sox-3B-Alex-Bregmans-agent-Scott-Boras.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-scott-boras-breaks-silence-on-alex-bregman-contract-amid-trade-rumors">Boras is notorious for letting</a> his clients explore free agency rather than sign an extension. The majority of the time, that is the tactic that baseball’s super-agent likes to take. Even though Bregman will turn 32 in March, there are still plenty of teams that would pursue him on the open market. The Yankees would certainly be one, as the trade acquisition of Ryan McMahon before the deadline hasn’t worked out as well as New York would have liked.</p><p>Whether it’s the Red Sox, Yankees or another team, the likelihood of Bregman not going to a contender is slim. Based on his age, it feels like a resigning, especially if both sides can strike an agreement before the opt out. For now though, the focus is on <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-alex-bregman-hr-1963">Bregman helping lead Boston back</a> to the postseason. Will the Red Sox finish the deal and clinch October baseball in the coming weeks? If so, don’t be surprised to see the third baseman remain at Fenway Park past this season.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Red Sox rumors: Insider says Boston, Alex Bregman remain perfect fit

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-payton-tolle-reflects-on-career-worst-start-cant-feel-sorry-for-myself');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox’s Payton Tolle reflects on career-worst start: ‘Can’t feel sorry for myself’');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Red-Sox-pitcher-Payton-Tolle-70-throws.jpg"><figcaption>© Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Red Sox’s Payton Tolle reflects on career-worst start: ‘Can’t feel sorry for myself’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-05T23:39:02-07:00">September 5th, 11:39pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-05T23:39:02-07:00">September 5th, 11:39pm</time><address><a href="https://letterboxd.com/splooshpuhrty/films/by/your-rating/">Jedd Pagaduan</a>Jedd Pagaduan is a certified Clippers and Gunners fan, which means he's a very sports-traumatized individual. He now writes about sports instead as a form of therapy.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-payton-tolle-boston-history-debut">Boston Red Sox decided to call upon highly-touted prospect Payton Tolle</a> to come into their starting rotation for the final month of the regular season. Tolle has done nothing but impress in the minor leagues, and even in his first career start, he was very impressive — going <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-payton-toole-mlb-debut-against-paul-skenes">toe to toe with Paul Skenes</a> and endearing himself to the Red Sox fanbase even though they weren’t able to get the win. Alas, his second career start did not go quite as swimmingly.</p><p>On Friday, Tolle started against the Arizona Diamondbacks and was blown up in the early goings, allowing five earned runs in just 3.0 innings of work, leaving Red Sox manager Alex Cora no choice but to pull him early in an eventual 10-5 loss for Boston. While the Red Sox are sitting comfortably in a playoff spot at the moment, they can still realistically make a push for the division crown, so any loss can be costly.</p><p>Be that as it may, Tolle approached this setback he encountered <a href="https://x.com/timbhealey/status/1964193445745958946" rel="noopener">with the poise</a> of a 10-year MLB veteran, with the Red Sox youngster being level-headed even as he experienced the worst start of his career.</p><p>“You hate failing, but if you don’t fail, you’re not going to learn anything. I gotta pull something out of it. I can’t just go back to the hotel room and sit there and feel sorry for myself,” Tolle said, per Tim Healey of the Boston Globe.</p><p>This is a good approach to have for the 22-year-old pitcher; after all, even the most accomplished pitchers in MLB history <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-roman-anthony-homer-off-paul-skenes-gets-props-payton-tolle">have had their fair share of struggles</a>, one way or another.</p><p>It is definitely reassuring that the Red Sox trust him regardless, and that should continue as long as Tolle keeps up the hard work, learning from his past mistakes.</p><h2><b>Payton Tolle will be a Red Sox staple for years to come</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Boston-Red-Sox-starting-pitcher-Payton-Tolle-pitches.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Tolle progressed very quickly through the minor leagues, as he is now in MLB even though he was just drafted in 2024. He’s only 22 years of age as well, so the sky is the limit for this Red Sox southpaw.</p><p>In fact, Tolle received a <a href="https://x.com/timbhealey/status/1964192909902958659" rel="noopener">vote of confidence</a> from Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman even though he did not perform that well on Friday.</p><p>“He wouldn’t be making that start if we didn’t believe in him. So we believe that he gives us a great chance to win every time he steps out there. I look forward to the next one and many more after that,” Bregman said.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Red Sox’s Payton Tolle reflects on career-worst start: ‘Can’t feel sorry for myself’

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/mlb-stories/mlb-rumors-alex-bregman-175-million-prediction-phillies-yankees-tigers-loom');   ga('set', 'title', 'MLB rumors: Alex Bregman gets $175 million prediction as Phillies, Yankees, Tigers loom');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Alex-Bregman-of-the-Boston-Red-Sox-1.jpg"><figcaption>James A. Pittman-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>MLB rumors: Alex Bregman gets $175 million prediction as Phillies, Yankees, Tigers loom</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-04T11:23:26-07:00">September 4th, 11:23am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-04T11:23:26-07:00">September 4th, 11:23am</time><address><a>Benedetto Vitale</a>Benedetto Vitale is an avid sports writer who is an expert at covering the NFL, college football, NBA, and UFC. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2016 with a film degree but has since dedicated his career to sports writing.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>While the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-alex-bregman-makes-statement-losing-roman-anthony">Boston Red Sox are focused on potentially making the playoffs</a> this year, rumors are already surrounding the organization for what could happen in the offseason. Alex Bregman, who has been a huge addition to the roster this season, could be available as a free agent if he chooses to opt out of his three-year, $120 million contract. From the sounds of it, he could sign a monster deal with a new team this coming winter.</p><p>Rumors suggest that the 31-year-old third baseman <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46139027/2025-mlb-free-agency-offseason-early-intel-contracts-schwarber-tucker-imai-bregman-alonso" rel="noopener">could get a $175 million deal</a> if he chooses to opt out of his current contract with the Red Sox, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The popular MLB Insider claims that Boston would probably like to keep him on the roster. However, teams like the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and Detroit Tigers may make a strong push for him if he is available.</p><p>“Complicating matters for the Red Sox, though, are the teams in need of better production at third that might be willing to spend for what Bregman provides,” explains Passan. “The Phillies. The Yankees. The Tigers. And it will take more than three years this time, even though he’ll be going into his age-32 season. After one of the more lucrative pillow contracts ever, Bregman is bound to get the five-year-plus deal at an average annual value of $35 million-plus that eluded him last winter.”</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/why-alex-bregmans-red-sox-contract-extension-may-not-happen-soon">Alex Bregman’s initial contract</a> with the Red Sox gave him two player options after this season. It’s been speculated for several months now that the two-time World Series champion will opt out after this season regardless of Boston’s success. If he does hit the free agent market, then he could be one of the top players alongside Kyle Tucker and Kyle Schwarber.</p><p>It’s been a solid 2025 season for Bregman, as he’s been one of the most productive bats for the Red Sox. Through 359 at-bats, Alex Bregman owns a .281 batting average and .364 OBP while recording 101 hits, 16 home runs, and 54 RBIs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

MLB rumors: Alex Bregman gets $175 million prediction as Phillies, Yankees, Tigers loom

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-alex-cora-jordan-hicks-guardians-loss');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox manager Alex Cora gets real about Jordan Hicks after Guardians disaster');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ACor.jpg"><figcaption>James A. Pittman-Imagn Images.</figcaption></figure><h1>Red Sox manager Alex Cora gets real about Jordan Hicks after Guardians disaster</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-03T21:29:07-07:00">September 3rd, 9:29pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-04T08:45:11-07:00">September 4th, 8:45am</time><address><a>Josh Davis</a>Josh Davis is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints with a focus on MLB. As the founder and creator of OutOfSightSports, Josh spearheads the development and expansion of an engaging social media platform, with a core focus on Twitter/X. A passionate sports writer, Josh is dedicated to delivering compelling content that connects fans and fuels vibrant sports conversations. His vision is to craft stories so vivid that fans feel like they’re standing at the plate or on the field.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Boston Red Sox couldn’t complete the sweep Wednesday at Fenway Park, and a disastrous second inning from <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/rafael-devers-trade-grades-giants-red-sox">Jordan Hicks</a> made sure of it. In an 8-1 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, the reliever’s struggles highlighted a glaring issue in the Red Sox bullpen during a critical stretch of the 2025 MLB season.</p><p>Hicks was called upon to replace Brennan Bernardino with two outs in the top of the first on Wednesday night at Fenway Park, as the Red Sox deployed a planned bullpen game after taking the first two games of the series against the visiting Guardians. With Cleveland already leading 1-0 and a runner on first, Hicks delivered — striking out Jhonkensy Noel on just three pitches to end the inning.</p><p>But the second inning told a different story. The 28-year-old reliever gave up a leadoff double, followed by a two-run homer and two more hits before being pulled, ultimately getting charged with four earned runs in the Red Sox bullpen collapse.</p><p>Following the game, Alex Cora didn’t hold back in addressing the state of his bullpen and Hicks’ performance. The Boston Herald’s Mac Cerullo took to his X, formerly Twitter, account and shared Cora’s postgame message, which <a href="https://x.com/MacCerullo/status/1963423953181081918" rel="noopener">reflected both concern and confidence</a> in the right-hander.</p><p>“We’ve got to figure him out. We need him. That’s the bottom line. Because we’ve got Whitlock as a setup man, we need righties in the bullpen to do their job. We trust the ability but we have to execute.”</p><p>That vote of confidence underscores how valuable Hicks still is to this Red Sox team. Acquired in the blockbuster deal that sent Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, the hard-throwing reliever was expected to bring stability to the middle innings. But through 21 appearances in 2025, Hicks holds an 8.20 ERA and a 1.98 WHIP, allowing 17 earned runs with just two saves. Despite his powerful arm, inconsistency has placed his role under the spotlight during a tense Red Sox playoff race.</p><p>With only 21 games remaining, every performance matters for the Red Sox. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-alex-cora-gives-optimistic-jordan-hicks-stuff-despite-struggles">Cora’s continued support for Hicks</a> reflects a belief that internal improvement is still possible, but consistent execution is no longer optional. Tied for the second Wild Card spot, Boston gets Thursday off before heading west to face the Arizona Diamondbacks in a weekend series that could carry major postseason implications.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Red Sox manager Alex Cora gets real about Jordan Hicks after Guardians disaster

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-fatal-flaw-doom-2025-world-series-hopes');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox’s fatal flaw that will doom 2025 World Series hopes');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Alex-Bregman-with-Red-Sox.jpg"><figcaption>© Eric Canha-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Red Sox’s fatal flaw that will doom 2025 World Series hopes</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-03T17:47:53-07:00">September 3rd, 5:47pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-03T17:50:05-07:00">September 3rd, 5:50pm</time><address><a>Kendall Capps</a>Kendall Capps is a multi-media journalist and editor who is overly passionate about all sports (to his wife's dismay). He's a Senior Editor at ClutchPoints who previously managed SB Nation's golf vertical. He has also done work for FantasyPros and co-hosted the Lay The Points podcast as part of a decade-long career in sports entertainment.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Early on in the 2025 MLB season, it appeared as though the Boston Red Sox’s season was going down the drain. Following a loss to the Cincinnati Reds on July 2, Boston was five games under .500 at 45-50. They had <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/giants-rafael-devers-blockbuster-red-sox-trade">traded Rafael Devers, their best hitter, to the San Francisco Giants</a> for peanuts. All signs pointed to the Red Sox throwing in the towel.</p><p>Since that time, Boston has the best record in baseball at 35-17.</p><p>The starting rotation, headlined by Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, and Lucas Giolito, has been exceptional. The lineup, even without Devers, has been among the best in the league. Even the bullpen, which was a glaring weakness over the first couple of months, has been vastly improved.</p><p>With only a few weeks remaining in the regular season, the Red Sox are tied with the New York Yankees atop the American League Wild Card chase. <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/standings/_/view/wild-card" rel="noopener">They are 6.5 clear of the first team</a> on the outside, looking in (Texas Rangers). ESPN has the Red Sox with better than a 98% chance to make the playoffs.</p><p>Additionally, they are just 2.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East.</p><p>Everything I have outlined specifies a team that has a legit chance at a World Series crown. But all of that took a turn for the worse on Tuesday night.</p><h2><b>Red Sox’s fatal flaw for World Series hopes</b></h2><p>During Boston’s 11-7 win over the Cleveland Guardians, rookie sensation <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-alex-cora-roman-anthony-il-timeline">Roman Anthony suffered an oblique injury</a>. On Wednesday, Red Sox manager Alex Cora opted not to put a timetable on the injury but revealed that the injury typically takes four to six weeks to recover.</p><p>The regular season ends in 25 days. So, even if he heals quickly, he might miss the start of the playoffs. But oblique injuries tend to linger. If this takes six weeks or longer, he might just miss the playoffs entirely.</p><p>Well, so long as Boston would still be playing, because it might not be long without him.</p><p>The middle of the Red Sox lineup is filled with guys who can drive in runs. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-rumors-why-alex-bregman-drivers-seat-boston-contract-talks-insider">Alex Bregman has turned in a great first season</a> with Boston. Trevor Story has had a resurgent season. Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu have 77 and 69 RBIs, respectively. But outside of Bregman, no one is hitting better than .260 this year.</p><p>Anthony is the table-setter for Boston’s offense. He leads the team with a .292 batting average and a .396 on-base percentage. The Red Sox rank sixth in the majors with 118 stolen bases. They are adept at playing small ball when needed. But without Anthony, a likely Wild Card matchup with the New York Yankees might prove difficult.</p><p>Anthony’s injury is truly a shame. The Red Sox had all of the parts needed to go on a World Series run. Their starting pitching is solid. Their bullpen, led by the best closer in baseball (Aroldis Chapman), has become an asset. But without Anthony atop the lineup, the Sox might struggle to score in the postseason.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Red Sox’s fatal flaw that will doom 2025 World Series hopes

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-roman-anthony-2-word-admission-dealing-oblique-strain');   ga('set', 'title', 'Red Sox’ Roman Anthony makes 2-word admission on dealing with oblique strain');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Red-Sox-rookie-Romany-Anthony.jpg"><figcaption>Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Red Sox’ Roman Anthony makes 2-word admission on dealing with oblique strain</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-03T17:06:09-07:00">September 3rd, 5:06pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-03T17:12:17-07:00">September 3rd, 5:12pm</time><address><a>Abdullah Imran</a>Abdullah Imran works as an Associate Editor for All Sports at ClutchPoints. He’s been a sports fan his entire life and enjoys writing about every sport. He has spent three years in sports journalism and loves analyzing games. In his free time, he very much enjoys binge-watching shows and playing video games.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Red Sox</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-roman-anthony-earns-spotless-review-alex-bregman-homer-yankees">Boston Red Sox rookie outfielder, Roman Anthony, one of the most impactful first-year players</a> in the American League this season, has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain. The injury will likely keep him out for the remainder of the regular season.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-roman-anthony-exits-guardians-apparent-injury">Anthony, 21, exited Tuesday’s 11-7 win over the Cleveland Guardians</a> after striking out in the fourth inning, visibly grabbing at his lower back. He later admitted the discomfort began on a check swing during the at-bat. An MRI conducted on Wednesday confirmed the strain.</p><p>According to Red Sox Beat Reporter at MassLive.com, Christopher Smith, when asked how he felt afterward, Anthony summed it up <a href="https://x.com/SmittyOnMLB/status/1963346751093637605" rel="noopener">in two words</a>:</p><p>“Not great.” He added, “Yeah, not much different than I did yesterday. So not feeling great.”</p><p>Manager Alex Cora said oblique strains typically take <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-alex-cora-roman-anthony-il-timeline">four to six weeks to heal</a>, a timeline that would keep Anthony out until at least the postseason. The Red Sox have 22 games left, with the regular season set to end on Sept. 28. That schedule all but ensures Anthony’s absence until the start of the AL Wild Card Series, should Boston secure a playoff berth.</p><p>The injury is a significant setback for the Red Sox, who entered Wednesday tied with the New York Yankees for the top Wild Card spot and 2.5 games behind the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays. Since Anthony’s debut on June 9, Boston has gone 46-36, climbing from fourth place in the AL East and out of the postseason picture to firmly in contention.</p><p>Anthony’s offensive production has been a driving force behind that turnaround. In 71 games, he has batted .292 with an .859 OPS, recording 18 doubles, eight home runs, 32 RBIs, and four stolen bases. His 138 wRC+ ranks second on the team among qualified hitters, trailing only Nathaniel Lowe. He also posted a 13.2% walk rate in 303 plate appearances, giving the Red Sox a consistent presence at the top of the order. Since August 6, he has led off 22 of 25 games, during which Boston won 10 of 13 to strengthen its Wild Card standing.</p><p>Anthony’s best stretch came in August, as he was named American League Rookie of the Month after hitting .304/.390/.520 with six homers, 13 RBIs, and two steals in 26 games. Such a performance justifies why <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-news-roman-anthony-130-million-contract-extension">Boston signed him to an eight-year, $130 million extension</a> on August 6, securing him through 2034.</p><p>This injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Red Sox, with fellow outfielder Wilyer Abreu still sidelined by a calf strain. That leaves Ceddanne Rafaela and Jarren Duran to anchor the outfield, with Rob Refsnyder, Masataka Yoshida, Nate Eaton, and newly recalled Nick Sogard likely to rotate in.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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