With the start of the 2019 season rapidly approaching, I believe it’s time that we give you the ultimate breakdown of each division and predict their position in the standings come season’s end. It’s hard to predict record, so we’ll just give you their placement in the standings. Of course, this is coming from a fan’s perspective and what we think it could look like, not what it will. Today, we focus on the American League East and the defending champions:
Boston Red Sox
2018 record: 108-54, 1st in AL East
Projected Lineup:
LF Andrew Benintendi
RF Mookie Betts
DH J.D. Martinez
1B Mitch Moreland
SS Xander Bogaerts
3B Rafael Devers
2B Dustin Pedroia
C Christian Vazquez
CF Jackie Bradley Jr.
Starting Rotation:
LH Chris Sale
RH Rick Porcello
LH David Price
RH Nathan Eovaldi
LH Eduardo Rodriguez
Kell Bullpen Pieces:
RH Matt Barnes
RH Ryan Brasier
RH Heath Hembree
RH Tyler Thornburg
Key Bench Pieces:
UTL Brock Holt
INF Eduardo Nunez
1B/DH Steve Pearce
UTL Blake Swihart
The Boston Red Sox look to be pick up right where they left off, returning the majority of their roster from 2018. We got the reigning MVP in Mookie Betts, MVP candidate, JD Martinez, young up and coming star, Andrew Benintendi, and the 2019 ALCS MVP, Jackie Bradley Jr. One name that we see here that we didn’t see in 2019 would be Dustin Pedroia. Entering is age 35 season, Pedroia has been hit hard with the injury bug in recent years and is far from the impact player he was early in his career. His last big season was 2016 where in 154 games he batted .318 with a .378 OBP, 201 hits and 32 doubles. It’s hard to imagine that Pedroia will come close to those numbers again, but if he can produce at the half that rate, then it enhances an already strong lineup.
The Sox rotation headlined by Chris Sale, who has been nothing short of dominant during his 9 year career with his last two in Boston. In 2018, Sale pitched just 158 innings, but had 237 strikeouts, 102 hits allowed and a 2.11 ERA in 27 starts. The Sox also have David Price, but if you ask me, the name that is big for this rotation is Porcello. Heading into the season as the primary right hander in that rotation, I’m looking for Porcello to return to his Cy Young performance of 2016 (although Verlander probably should have won that year but that’s the past). I don’t think he can top that season again, but he can come close it in terms of production. Over the last two season, he has not been as effective. He did have a decent year last year with 190 strikeouts, a career high but he also pitched to a 4.28 ERA with 16 hit batsmen. The re-signing of Eovaldi was a must for the Sox, who proved he can be an asset in both the rotation and in relief. He will be key to that pitching staff come October, where the Sox are destined to be again.
With the loss of Kimbrel and Kelly, the Sox bullpen seems to be the biggest question mark heading into the new year. With no true shutdown reliever, Boston will have to rely on the collective work of guys like Brasier, Barnes and Hembree. The bullpen will be what can make or break the Sox for this year.
This lineup did help Boston win a franchise best 108 wins in 2018 so it’s hard to argue how they’re not the favorites in the division heading into 2019. They’re gonna be at or near the top of this division all year long, but I don’t believe they will be raising a division title banner at Fenway after 2019.
2019 prediction: 2nd in AL East
