At the start of the season, a 46-48 record at the All-Star break would look disappointing for a Boston Red Sox team that had eyes on another trip to the postseason. And for much of the season, disappointing would be an understatement.
For three full months, the team was a complete disaster that appeared destined to sell off parts at the MLB trade deadline. But now riding a nine-game win streak into the break, the Red Sox are suddenly the hottest team in baseball, and the tune in Boston's clubhouse and around it sounds quite a bit different than just a few weeks ago.
The Red Sox have won 14 of their last 16 games, dating back to their four-game sweep of the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. Perhaps the most shocking part about this stretch is who has been on the field.
During this span, the club has seen injuries to key starters Connelly Early and Ranger Suarez, who join the list of high-profile contributors to land on the IL that includes Garrett Crochet, Roman Anthony, and Trevor Story.
But the team, and specifically the pitching staff, has proved resilient in the absence of these stars. This performance has been enough for Story, one of the few veteran leaders, to speak out about the collective belief in the unit.
Story, who underwent surgery on a sports hernia in May, told Alex Speier of the Boston Globe that the team believes the strength of their pitching staff gives them a chance to "win the whole thing."
The 2026 Red Sox were certainly designed to play this way. After losing Alex Bregman in free agency, Craig Breslow pivoted to pitching and defense, signing Ranger Suarez and trading for third baseman Caleb Durbin. The club also beefed up their pitching depth by acquiring right-hander Johan Oviedo, rolling into the season with six realistic starting options for only five spots.
The results have been there, as Boston allows just 3.81 runs per game (1st in AL) and has 47 defensive runs saved (2nd in AL) so far. But the way they have gotten there is not how they drew it up.
After losing Crochet and Oviedo early, the Red Sox leaned on rookie starters Early (3.44 ERA) and Payton Tolle (3.11 ERA) on a regular basis. When Brayan Bello (10.35 ERA as a starter) was forced down to Triple-A, fellow rookie left-hander Jake Bennett was called into action, who has been stellar with a 2.64 ERA in his first eight starts.
The rotation will continue to be tested coming out of the break with Early and Suarez on the 15-day IL, but the recent performances from these young arms has been the number one reason why the season is still alive for the Red Sox, which Story's comments speak to.
What Story's comments also speak to is a belief that, when fully healthy, this rotation could dominate in a playoff series. A team that can roll out Crochet, Sonny Gray (2.54 ERA this year), Suarez (1.48 career postseason ERA), along with a combination of Tolle, Early, and Bennett, will always have a fighting chance regardless of the offensive output.
While the bats have been hot and opportunistic over the last few weeks, it remains the biggest concern for the rejuvenated Red Sox team. In theory, help could be on the way soon without any external moves needed.
Story has been rehabbing with the team recently and resumed full baseball activities in late June. According to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, the 33-year-old infielder is progressing "more quickly than expected." Barring a setback, Story could begin a rehab assignment by the end of the month and be back with the club on the shorter side of his 8–12-week timeline.
Whether he returns as an impactful piece is another question. Before going on the IL, Story was one of the biggest reasons for Boston's offensive woes, slashing just .206/.244/.303 with three home runs in 41 games.
But he started slow last season before becoming arguably their most valuable hitter in the second half, finishing with 25 home runs and 33 stolen bases. If the Red Sox are unable to strike a deal for a big bat at the deadline, a healthy Story may become the ultimate X-factor for a team that, as he stated, has some of the necessary pieces to win it all.
