Red Sox Star Calls Out 'Unacceptable' Start to Season

Boston's young slugger Roman Anthony criticizes the team's poor 2-7 record through the first nine games.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 4:06am

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The Boston Red Sox have gotten off to a brutal 2-7 start to the 2026 MLB season, tying the worst mark in franchise history through nine games. After a tough 8-6 loss to the San Diego Padres on Sunday, Red Sox phenom Roman Anthony spoke out, calling the team's recent performance "unacceptable" and saying the fans have every right to be upset. The Red Sox's rotation and offense have both struggled mightily, with the team ranking 27th in starter ERA and 3rd-lowest in runs scored so far.

Why it matters

The Red Sox were expected to be a contender this season after an 89-win campaign in 2025, but their dismal start has them digging an early hole. Anthony's public criticism highlights the growing frustration, as the team's talented roster has underperformed so far. A turnaround is crucial to keep Boston in the playoff hunt.

The details

In Sunday's 8-6 loss to the Padres, the Red Sox knotted the score at 6-6 in the 7th inning but then allowed runs in the 8th and 9th to fall short. Boston's rotation has struggled mightily, ranking 27th in the majors with a 5.19 starter ERA, while the offense has also sputtered, scoring the 3rd-fewest runs in baseball so far with just 30. The team's 2-7 record ties the worst start in franchise history through 9 games.

  • The Red Sox fell to 2-7 on the season after their loss to the Padres on Sunday, April 6, 2026.
  • Boston's 2-7 start ties the worst mark in team history through the first 9 games of a season.

The players

Roman Anthony

A young slugger for the Boston Red Sox who has criticized the team's poor start to the 2026 season.

Garrett Crochet

One of three All-Star pitchers in the Red Sox rotation, along with Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez.

Sonny Gray

One of three All-Star pitchers in the Red Sox rotation, along with Garrett Crochet and Ranger Suárez.

Ranger Suárez

One of three All-Star pitchers in the Red Sox rotation, along with Garrett Crochet and Sonny Gray.

Brayan Bello

A Red Sox pitcher with big-time upside who has struggled in the early going.

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What they’re saying

“This is unacceptable. It's unacceptable for the fans. It's unacceptable to the standard that we set for ourselves.”

— Roman Anthony, Red Sox Slugger

What’s next

The Red Sox will look to turn things around quickly, with their next game coming on Tuesday, April 8th against the Tampa Bay Rays. A strong performance in that series could help Boston start to dig out of its early hole.

The takeaway

The Red Sox's struggles to start the 2026 season have been alarming, with the team's talented roster underperforming on both offense and defense. Roman Anthony's public criticism highlights the growing frustration, and the Red Sox will need to quickly right the ship to keep their playoff hopes alive.