Former Red Sox Champion Expresses Concern Over Team's Slow Start

Kevin Millar warns Boston's season could 'get weird' if they don't turn things around soon.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:18pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting in the style of Pablo Picasso, depicting a baseball game or match broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape, conveying the tension and high stakes of the Red Sox's early-season struggles.A cubist interpretation of a tense baseball game captures the fractured emotions and high stakes facing the struggling Red Sox.San Diego Today

Former Boston Red Sox player and 2004 World Series champion Kevin Millar has expressed concern over the team's 1-5 start to the 2026 season. Millar believes the Red Sox can't afford to lose too much ground in the competitive American League East, and warned that the team's circumstances could quickly become uncomfortable if they don't rebound during their upcoming six-game homestand against the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers.

Why it matters

The Red Sox's poor start has put them in last place in the AL East, a division that features improved teams like the Blue Jays and Orioles. Millar, a beloved figure in Boston, is voicing concerns that the team and its passionate fanbase could turn on the players if the losing continues, which could create a difficult atmosphere for the team to turn things around.

The details

Through the first six games of the season, the Red Sox are batting just .347 as a team with only six home runs. Millar wants to see more power production from the offense and is worried about the team's ability to hit 'three-run homers' to get back into games. He believes the upcoming series against the Padres and Brewers could be pivotal, as those teams have the potential to give the struggling Red Sox even more trouble.

  • The Red Sox are currently 1-5 after being swept by the Houston Astros.
  • Millar made his comments on MLB Network's 'MLB Now' program on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

The players

Kevin Millar

A former Boston Red Sox player and member of the 2004 World Series championship team, Millar is now an analyst on MLB Network and is expressing concerns about his former team's poor start to the 2026 season.

Boston Red Sox

The MLB team based in Boston, Massachusetts that Millar played for and won a World Series title with in 2004.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Yeah, I have a little concern.”

— Kevin Millar, Former Red Sox Player

“It can get weird, and these fans can get really weird. You're in a tough division. The Blue Jays are better. The Orioles are better. The Rays are always the Rays.”

— Kevin Millar, Former Red Sox Player

“Who's gonna hit home runs? .... You got to find a way to hit three-run homers. You got to find a way. You got to figure this out. If they will, I'm a little concerned right now early on, but it's just an eye test of six games. Now, come talk to me end of April, we better figure something out.”

— Kevin Millar, Former Red Sox Player

“Padres can get weird, and the Brewers can get weird. You can look up and all of a sudden, you got three wins in the first four series. That can get weird.”

— Kevin Millar, Former Red Sox Player

What’s next

The Red Sox will host the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers for a six-game homestand starting on April 4th. Millar believes these games could be pivotal in determining the trajectory of Boston's season.

The takeaway

Millar's comments highlight the heightened expectations and pressure the Red Sox face as a marquee franchise in a tough division. The team's early struggles have the former player concerned that the situation could spiral out of control if they don't quickly turn things around, especially with passionate Boston fans ready to turn on the team if the losing continues.