Red Sox Stumble Out of the Gate with Pitching, Hitting Woes

Boston's starting rotation struggles and situational hitting falters as the team matches its worst 10-game start in franchise history.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:25pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game in motion, with sharp, overlapping planes of red, navy blue, and white, conceptually representing the competitive tension between the Red Sox and Yankees.A cubist interpretation of the Red Sox's struggles to overcome their divisional rivals, the Yankees, as the season gets underway.Boston Today

The Boston Red Sox have stumbled out of the gate to open the 2026 MLB season, matching the worst 10-game start in franchise history with a 2-8 record. The team's primary issues have been a starting rotation that can't go deep into games, forcing the bullpen to shoulder too much of the workload, and an offense that is struggling with situational hitting, especially with runners in scoring position.

Why it matters

The Red Sox were expected to be a contender in the AL East this season after making the playoffs in 2025, but their dismal start has them already trailing the division-leading Yankees by 5.5 games. If the pitching and hitting issues persist, it could derail Boston's postseason hopes early on.

The details

Red Sox starters have consistently been pulled before the fifth inning, forcing manager Alex Cora to burn through his bullpen. Even ace Garrett Crochet couldn't make it past the fifth in his second start, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits against the Astros. This lack of starting pitching depth has created a domino effect, with tired relievers entering games in the sixth and seventh innings and narrow leads disappearing. Offensively, the Red Sox are failing in high-leverage situations, batting just .208 with runners in scoring position and no home runs in those situations. Key hitters like Trevor Story, Roman Anthony, and Jarren Duran have struggled, combining for 30 strikeouts in just 10 games.

  • The Red Sox's 2-8 start matches the worst 10-game beginning in franchise history.
  • On Monday night, the Red Sox lost 8-6 to the Brewers, a game that served as a microcosm of their early-season struggles.

The players

Garrett Crochet

The Red Sox's ace starting pitcher, who has struggled to go deep into games this season.

Alex Cora

The Red Sox's manager, who is tasked with navigating the team's pitching and hitting issues.

Trevor Story

The Red Sox's veteran infielder, who has combined with Roman Anthony for 30 strikeouts in 10 games.

Roman Anthony

The Red Sox's young outfielder, who has also struggled with strikeouts early in the season.

Jarren Duran

The Red Sox's outfielder, who has just six hits and no home runs in 30 at-bats to start the season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The Red Sox will look to turn things around in their upcoming series against the division-rival Yankees, who currently hold a 5.5-game lead over Boston in the AL East standings.

The takeaway

The Red Sox's early-season struggles with starting pitching and situational hitting have put them in a deep hole in the AL East, and they'll need to quickly address these issues if they want to remain in contention for a playoff spot.